We have another frigid day today. Yesterday was balmy compared to the temperatures today. I am so grateful for the sun being out both days. Yesterday was a check off list day. Things that had been hanging over me were accomplished. here’s what I realize as I ponder, I dreaded these tasks and yet, now that they are done, I feel calmer. I feel as though I did something. The build up before, gave me reason to procrastinate, yet, if I could speak to the Cara of yesterday morning..

I would say these things can be done. You can do things that are hard. You can breathe. Worrying about these things only exhausts you more. This is not the worst thing. Why does this matter? I know for a fact God answered prayers in my day yesterday. I saw a written out note to myself at the beginning of the week and it has been answered.

I need to keep writing out my requests, tangible. Seen. I serve my God who answers prayers and I have the proof. This expands my faith. This reminds me in the midst of chaos and confusion, my God is still here.

In today’s reading of 1 John, I, again, am circling this idea of love. Well, I’m not, John IS. Haha. I don’t believe I am meant to forget this. I am meant to implement and respond.

“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.4.20-21.ESV

My love for people is a witness. When my love extends to all people in my life, I am not loving on my own strength. I am loving in HIS. I believe I learn to love hard people through prayer. When I know who abides with me and loves me, even when He knows my every thought and action, I am humbled. Guys, when Paul says in Romans 7:

“For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.7.22-25.ESV

He knows he is the greatest sinner, yet he knows, even more certain, that Jesus rescues. Jesus knows my every thought and I am still loved. so, my prayers on behalf of those who are difficult, my choice to move my mind, comes from the Spirit of God transforming me and changing me.

“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.8.23-25.ESV

Guys, the Spirit prays when we don’t have the words. The Spirit counsels our hearts. Reminds. Pokes. Humbles. We need only listen and respond.

This is our hope. The cross has spoken. We hope in what we cannot see, but know. Trust. Abide. Let us pray for those who challenge us. Let us ask for more love of people. Children of God. Children God loves too.