What has your heart? Is it your family, friends, your hobbies, career, or even your ministry? Maybe it’s a passion for art, travel, music, entertainment, or food. It’s easy to find ourselves living with half-hearted devotion to God.

James urges believers to humbly submit to God in order to overcome temptation and resist Satan. He gives an invitation, and promise of God’s presence, when we wholeheartedly seek Him. God’s love for His people is eternally unconditional, inexhaustible, and perfect. Believers need God’s supernatural love because we daily combat supernatural hate.

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

Through Jesus Christ, God draws near to us in passionate pursuit.  The holy covers the unholy.  The infinite reaches down to the finite. Perfection actively pursues the imperfect.

Our relationship with God does not simply consist of a one-time confession of faith in Christ Jesus. In the same way that a marriage is much more than simply the wedding ceremony, our life in Christ does not end on our day of salvation.  

The moment we surrender our lives to God, we are a new creation with God’s DNA.  We are immediately united as one in love, through faith, with God Almighty. However, this spiritual relationship must be nurtured and developed in order to grow.

“We have as much of God as we actually want.” ~ A.W. Tozer

Our relationship with God strengthens as we make a commitment each and every day to put Him first. God already took the initiative to put us first – to give us His best – when He made the supreme and ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. God the Father covers us with His love. God the Son pleads and prays for us each and every day.  God the Holy Spirit lives within us comforting and helping us in our weaknesses.   

We have all of God, but does He truly have all of us?  

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Distractions and temptations will come. Our hearts will constantly be drawn away from the goodness of God towards our responsibilities and our obligations at home and at work. We will be seduced by the lure of everything this world has to offer. We will be tempted to doubt the goodness and love of God, especially when we are suffering and heartbroken. Yet, we must fight to draw near to God.

Nothing about us surprises God. He knows every single one of our sins, our weaknesses, our flaws, and our failings. God knows us intimately and loves us still. So even when we fail Him, God will not fail on the promises He has made. He remains committed when we stray. He pursues us when we wander. He loves us even when we disregard Him. God’s love compels Him to move towards us full of compassion, mercy, and grace.           

“For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

James teaches us in this chapter that true faith is strengthened as we diligently commit to God.  As we rest in God’s overflowing grace, we are free to live the most radical life of love and sacrifice here on earth.  We won’t be perfect. We will stumble. All believers are eternal works in progress, and construction sites are often messy.  However, we persevere and press into God.

This is not a passive relationship to which we are called. Believers must choose God each and every day.  We must submit to Him each and every day. We keep drawing nearer to Him each and every day.  We keep cleansing and purifying ourselves to grow more and more like Jesus each and every day. We persevere in this because it is the love of Christ which compels us.

God rescues undeserving and unworthy believers from death and the bondage of sin through the sacrifice of His Son. God places infinite and immeasurable value on us, so He can be absolutely trusted with our full devotion. We can humbly give all of ourselves to Him because He gives all of Himself to us.   

  1. How intentional have you been when it comes to diligently drawing near to God?
  2. Where are you struggling to give of yourself fully to the Lord?
  3. How can we pray for you as you strive to give God your wholehearted devotion?

Peace and grace to you,

 

 

 

Terria Racy

Terria serves on the LGG encourager and social media teams. She lives in Virginia with her husband.   She is a proud mother of two beautiful girls in college. Her passionate goal is to ignite and empower a generation of millennial women to grab hold of God’s truth and cling to it.  She can be tracked down hard at work in busy hospitals listening to patients’ stories while sharing the lessons and love that God has poured out in her life. Despite the sometimes chaotic circumstances of Terria’s life, God always shows Himself strong and loving.

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

Friends, we are excited to announce our next study, Fear & Anxiety: Learning to Overcome with God’s Truth!

Begins: February 26th

You can grab your copy of this powerful 6-week study on Amazon here!

Terria Moore

Terria Moore

Terria Moore serves on the Love God Greatly encouragement team. She is a Georgia native, but currently lives in Virginia with her husband. She is a lover of naps, Oreos, and, especially, Jesus. Her passion is to ignite a generation of millennial women to grab hold of God’s truth and cling tightly. By day, she works serving patients tirelessly in local military hospitals. At night, she loves to read and write about the lessons and love that God has poured out in her life. Despite the tumultuous circumstances of Terria’s life, God always shows Himself strong and loving.

Grab a journal, build a community,
change women's lives.

Shop our Bible study for women, Triumph Over Trials: 1 & 2 Peter!

Thanks! Make sure you like our Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest pages - and let us know if you'd like to get involved with sharing God's Word with women globally!

Pin It on Pinterest