February Devotions: Drawing Closer to God's Heart
Photo by Edu Grande
MONDAY
Understanding the Truth of God’s Love
Romans 4:5 (NLT)
But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
Countless people don’t really understand how much God loves them. Perhaps you find yourself among this number.
It’s like an epidemic. We think we have to prove ourselves and have everything in working order before we’ll be good enough for Him. That’s often how the world works—but it isn’t how God thinks at all. He loves us without rules, and He delights in showing mercy.
If you’re struggling to understand how much God loves you, consider these truths:
He rescues us when we don’t deserve it (Rom. 5:8).
His love for us will never run dry or grow tired (1 Chron. 16:34).
He always loves us first, before we love Him back (1 John 4:19).
Today’s prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your epic love for me! Thank You that I don’t have to prove my worth to You. I don’t have to do anything to earn Your approval. You count me as righteous because of Jesus’ work, not mine, and I just get to rest in You. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Monday be blessed!
TUESDAY
God Set You Completely Free from Shame
Psalm 34:4–5 (TPT)
Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress
and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears!
Gaze upon him, join your life with his, and joy will come.
Your faces will glisten with glory.
You’ll never wear that shame-face again.
Are you carrying the weight of shame?
Don’t be afraid to give that weight to God. He is the One who sets people free. Not sort of free, somewhat free, mostly free, conditionally free—but completely free.
If you’re struggling beneath shame or ungodly guilt, consider these truths:
God delights in us—we give Him GREAT joy (Zeph. 3:17).
He isn’t interested in punishing us (1 John 4:18).
He is more gracious than we understand and more compassionate than we could ever expect (Neh. 9:17).
Today’s prayer: Father, You call me Your beloved child. Thank You that shame has no place in my life, because Jesus saved me out of darkness and brought me into Your light. Your light is where I live, completely free from the chains of sin! In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Tuesday be blessed!
WEDNESDAY
Choosing to Forgive Yourself
2 Corinthians 5:21 (TPT)
For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.
Do you have a hard time forgiving yourself after a mistake?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:21 again but more slowly this time. Perhaps even look it up in a few different translations and see which one speaks to you the most. That verse is a description of YOUR life in God. It isn’t for other people only—it is true of YOU. You have been made the righteousness of God.
If you’re struggling to understand how forgiven you are, consider these truths:
God delights in forgiving us (Prov. 10:12).
His banner over us is never-exhausted love (Song 2:4).
We are new creations because of Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17).
Today’s prayer: Father, thank You for taking away my sins and transforming me into Your righteousness. YOU are my purity—not any good deeds I do or how I perform. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Wednesday be blessed!
THURSDAY
Your Shield and the Lifter of Your Head
Psalm 3:3 (TPT)
But in the depths of my heart I truly know
that you, Yahweh, have become my Shield;
You take me and surround me with yourself.
Your glory covers me continually.
You lift high my head when I bow low in shame.
No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God wants to be your shield and the lifter of your head.
As your shield, He protects you from all your enemies. As the lifter of your head, He’s the One who comes close to comfort you and show you how much you matter to Him. It’s an act of worship every time we allow God to be these things in our lives.
If you’re struggling to understand how important you are in God’s sight, consider these truths:
God has good plans for us that He arranged a long time ago (Eph. 2:10).
We are His masterpiece (Eph. 2:10).
We are beloved, holy children of the only wise God (Col. 3:12).
Today’s prayer: Father, You are so gentle with me. I am amazed at the depth of Your love and how You are unafraid of my sins and mistakes. Please soften my heart so I can know Your love for me more and more. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Thursday be blessed!
FRIDAY
Telling Your Emotions What’s Real
Psalm 43:5 (TPT)
Then I will say to my soul,
“Don’t be discouraged; don’t be disturbed,
for I fully expect my Savior-God to break through for me.
Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again.”
Yes, living before his face is my saving grace!
Do you feel lost? Forgotten? Cast aside? Broken beyond repair?
There are times when we need to take hold of our emotions and tell them how we want them to behave. “I am a child of God. I am not lost. I am not forgotten. Those words don’t line up with who He is or how He made me.”
If you’re struggling with your emotions right now, consider these truths:
God is greater than our hearts and He knows what’s going on (1 John 3:20).
He’s the anchor of hope in our lives (Rom. 15:13).
We don’t have to be perfect before He comes to save us (John 8:10–11).
Today’s prayer: Father God, I give You this emotion I’m struggling with: _________. Thank You that I get to keep my eyes on You and listen to Your voice as You faithfully lead me. I trust You to see me through this storm. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Friday be blessed!
SATURDAY
Immersed in God’s Presence
Romans 13:14 (TPT)
Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires.
You and I get to live “immersed” in Jesus. The New Living Translation says it this way: “Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Beloved child of God, you get to be close to Him on a daily basis. He isn’t far away or holding you at a distance until you grow up or learn how to do things correctly. You get to draw near to Him and live immersed in His presence.
If you have trouble seeing yourself as welcome in God’s presence, consider these truths:
We get to confidently turn to our Father when we’re struggling (Heb. 4:16).
He invites us to be with Him like little children (Matt. 19:14).
The longing of His heart is to be with us (Matt. 1:23).
Today’s prayer: Father, I really want to understand that I’m welcome in Your presence and that You want me with You. Please open my eyes and my heart to know how much You love me. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Saturday be blessed!
SUNDAY
The Great Delight of God
Matthew 6:31–33 (NLT)
So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
You are the joy of God’s heart. He rejoices over you GREATLY. Think of a loving father playing with his little child—that’s a picture of how God loves you.
If you’re struggling to believe you’re God’s delight, consider these truths:
God takes pleasure in those who fear Him (Ps. 147:11).
He rejoices over us the way a groom rejoices over his bride (Isa. 62:5).
He came and traded Himself for our sins, so we could be with Him forever (John 3:16).
Today’s prayer: Father, Your Word says You delight in me, and I believe You. I am the delight of Your heart, and You’re my safe place. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Sunday be blessed!
Interested in more? Check out some of our other prayers and declarations:
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