April Devotions: Filling Your Heart with God’s Love
Photo by Tyler Nix
MONDAY
Filling Your Heart with the Comfort of His Love
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion… (Phil. 2:1 NIV)
God’s love is intensely comforting. Sometimes when we think of the word comfort, we picture a little kid getting injured in a silly way and running to the parent for comfort. A mother’s kiss can make a booboo better.
We tend to think that comfort is nice for kids, but it isn’t really an “adult” word. That mindset can push God’s comfort away from the sore places where it’s needed. We need to approach His comfort like children and not like adults. When God comforts us with His love, the sore places are healed. “I am the Lord, who heals you” (Ex. 15:26 NIV).
Today’s journaling question: Where does your heart need to know the comfort of God’s love? Ask Him to come and comfort you in that place.
May your Monday be blessed, and may you experience the comfort of His love.
TUESDAY
Filling Your Heart with the Warmth of His Love
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Isa. 43:1 NLT)
Do you think Isaiah 43:1 is a good description of God’s heart toward you? When He looks at you, do you think He feels that much fervor? Would He say with warm acceptance, “You are Mine,” and really mean it?
The truth about you is pretty simple. You are His beloved child and a much-desired member of His family. Even if you don’t feel like He wants you, Isaiah 43:1 remains true.
Today’s journaling question: If your heart doesn’t know whether or not God really wants you, meditate on Isaiah 43:1 and journal about it.
May your Tuesday be blessed, and may you come to realize God’s love for you in a new way.
WEDNESDAY
He Lavishes His Love
Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. (Deut. 7:9 NLT)
When was the last time you used the word lavish in regular conversation? It’s a unique word that carries extravagant emotion, and that is how God loves you. He lavishes His love on you—love that is unfailing, love that is faithful in all things, love that heals all wounds and brings comfort to all hurting places.
Keep the word lavish in your thoughts today. Maybe write it down somewhere you can see it easily.
Today’s journaling question: Is God’s love easy for you to feel? Not just know about in your head, but feel in your heart? Spend some time thinking about His love, and let your heart feel it. Write down your thoughts.
May your Wednesday be blessed, and may you come to feel His love for you more.
THURSDAY
Filling Your Heart with the Tenderness of His Love
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Heb. 1:3 NASB1995)
Jesus did only what He saw His Father doing, so everything He did on the earth was what the Father wanted done.
Consider what that means practically. It means God the Father stopped to raise the widow’s son from the dead. He saw her mourning, and it moved Him. God the Father reached out to touch the man whose disease terrified everyone around him—but the Father thought about him differently. He saw someone He wanted, and so He moved. God the Father didn’t shame the woman who was sleeping with someone who wasn’t her husband. Instead, He saved her life.
All those things—that’s what He’s like for you.
Many people are afraid of God, especially when they’ve sinned, but even then He is gentle and humble in heart (Matt. 11:29).
Today’s journaling question: Do you feel like God the Father is tender toward you? Why or why not? Ask God to show you His tenderness.
May your Thursday be blessed, and may your heart rejoice in His tenderness today.
FRIDAY
Filling Your Heart with His Mercy
His mercy toward us is powerful.
Yahweh’s faithfulness endures forever.
Hallelujah! (Ps. 117:2 NOG)
The Lord’s mercy is powerful. It doesn’t change its mind. It doesn’t look at you and run away. Every day His mercy floods your life.
Don’t allow fear or shame to convince you that His mercy isn’t enough in your case. Trust His love and allow His mercy to be part of your thoughts: “God is merciful toward me. He will always treat me with mercy. His mercy isn’t worn out because I keep making mistakes; it’s new and fresh every morning.”
Today’s journaling question: Is there anything in your past that makes you feel awkward or ashamed? Forgive yourself for those things, and let God’s mercy seep down into those places. Write Psalm 117:2 in your journal, and ask God to speak to you through it.
May your Friday be blessed, and may your confidence in the Lord’s mercy rise up strong.
SATURDAY
His Love Through His Works
Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago. (Isa. 25:1 NIV)
God shows His love in many, many ways. The entire earth is filled with His love (Ps. 33:5). He has good plans for you, things He put together long ago, and He accomplishes them over time. He’s a good Father, who gives good gifts and operates according to abundance.
His faithfulness toward you and your family is a strong “current” of His love. Even if you feel like you can’t see His love in your life, it is certainly there. Sometimes we have no idea what’s actually happening around us until God opens our eyes. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to His love.
Today’s journaling question: Think of one thing you did this week. It could be anything: going to the grocery store, visiting a new coffee shop, etc. Then ask God how He showed His love to you through that event. Write down what you think He says, even if it seems “small.”
May your Saturday be blessed, and may you behold the Lord’s love in unexpected places.
SUNDAY
Filling Your Heart with His Kindness
Yahweh appeared to me in a faraway place and said,
“I love you with an everlasting love.
So I will continue to show you my kindness.
Once again I will build you up,
and you will be rebuilt, my dear people Israel.
Once again you will take your tambourines,
and you will go dancing with happy people.” (Jer. 31:3–4 NOG)
The Lord sees everything about you—your strong points, your weak points—and that’s what He says about you: “I love you with an everlasting love.” You don’t need to protect yourself in case you fail, because if you fail, He will rebuild you. You don’t have to get everything right or perfect, because He will continue to show you His kindness.
His love for you is bigger and more faithful to you than you know. He will always be kind toward you. It is impossible for Him to be anything else, because kindness is His nature.
Today’s journaling question: Do you feel like you have to perform well so God will love you? That isn’t a true thought. He will make you strong in the very places where you feel like you never perform well. “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak” (2 Cor. 12:9 NOG). Journal about His kindness.
May your Sunday be blessed, and may your heart overflow as you realize the kindness of God.
Interested in reading more about dating, relationships, and your walk with God? Here are a few articles on related topics:
For more information on sex, marriage, and finding the person who is right for you, get a copy of Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. You can also order the book in Spanish.