Driving Notes

Today, we continue our devotions from the book “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman.  Our focus today is the power of God’s love and how it impacts us.

LET YOUR GREATEST LOVE BE GOD

Deuteronomy 7:9

⁹ Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Think about this: everything that we do and don’t do, face and don’t face is touched by God’s continuing love.

Everything about us is hanging on love; some might even say hinged on love, because God, who IS love, created you and me in his image. And because God loves us, He gives us blessings and lets us share them.

When we pray and are told to wait, it is because He loves us and knows that we need time to grow. When the overwhelming choices before us make it hard to know which way is up, our Lord and Savior shows us our need to depend on His guiding love…

…and until we come to understand and believe that at our deepest, innermost level…that God is love…we will continue to struggle with trusting him. With obeying him. And seeking him wholeheartedly.

One of the keys to our spiritual growth is believing in God’s love EVEN when we cannot see it.

FOCUS IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

Mark 12:30-31

³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^] There is no commandment greater than these.”

When we talk about being a Christian and living the Christian life, we know that everything hinges on the first two commandments.

There is first, the vertical commandment: to love the Lord with all of your heart soul mind and strength. Then the second is a horizontal commandment: to love your neighbor as yourself.

The essence of these verses is, of course, love! Love for God and love for each other. It is the kind of love that seeks no reward or personal gain, but rather desires to honor God by sharing his grace and generosity with those around us.

Great character and great morals are built on this foundation…and when we practice these in everyday life the Lord is lifted up. He is glorified! And we are also blessed.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

More devotions today from the book “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman.  Our focus today is on the blessing of trusting in the Lord; plus, the importance of our relationship with Christ.

THE BLESSING OF TRUSTING IN THE LORD

Psalm 62, verses 5-7, reads:

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God^[c];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

No matter where you travel in Life, or what challenges you may face as a father, the Rock of God goes before you; inviting you to trust in the Lord with all your heart (from Proverbs 3:5).

When you hand over your troubled emotions to him, he will always be there. Let nothing separate you from the love of Christ. Depend on his Spirit to give you strength and to guide you every day, through whatever life may bring.

God’s desire for your family is that each one of them will know the loving grace and mercy that only God can give. Let each day be filled with the power of God’s presence, as you trust him to give you his wisdom and understanding.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JESUS AND YOU

John 15:5-7 says:

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

The relationship you have with Jesus Christ is the most important relationship you will ever have; in fact, it’s the most important decision you will make in your life: whether to accept or reject Christ.

When you belong to Christ, you have been called to play a significant role in the kingdom of God. This role can only be fulfilled if you allow Jesus to live his life in and through you.

Remember, apart from him you can do nothing; but IN him you can do anything he calls you to do. Jesus did not want you to lead an unproductive or unfocused life.

He chose you not only for salvation, but also to fulfill a specific purpose for the glory of him and his kingdom.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd