You Are Loved!

Hi friends :)

I wrote this short devotion the other week to be sent out for WLChapel’s daily devotion emails but I thought I would share it here as well.

But of course, I have to start with…

Dear Jesus, today I am thankful foooorrrr

1. This past weekend, my parents and I were able to go to Ohio to visit Adam!!! It was a short trip packed full of so much fun since we had a game night, went to an AMAZING book store, and got to go to the Columbus zoo!! I am very thankful it happened.

1. A productive morning! It is exam week(s) here at UW Madison and yesterday I was draaaiiinnneddd all day. All that I wanted to do was lay on the futon. SO that’s what I did! And that’s 100% okay! I was also in bed before 11 so I was able to get a good night’s rest and wake up early to conquer the day today!

1. The phlebotomist who poked my arm yesterday. That sounds strange, I know, but she asked me what I do when I feel stressed. I WAS TAKEN ABACK… this girl is stressed do I really want her putting my needle in?! But I gave her an answer- probably not a great one- but it gave me a needed reminder that I am not the only one who feels stressed often. And though my answer to her was rushed it gave me time to reflect that the best person to turn to in stress is God.

& now, here is the devotion about love that I wrote at 1 in the morning last Tuesday… please enjoy

I am writing this devotion while watching a cheesy romance movie so naturally, I thought the only acceptable topic for this devotion is love.

Watching romance movies without feeling a tug on your heartstrings is difficult. Do you discover that you are cheering for the couple to get together, agonizing when roadblocks occur and rejoicing when they overcome? You may find yourself asking “How can I find a perfect love like that”?!

SPOILER ALERT! You already have it.

Instead of writing about a cheesy love story like Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky have in the To All the Boys series, I want to tell you about an eternal love story.

This a love story between you and our God.

1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love

It is a story about the love of God the Father who wanted nothing but eternal life for you and would stop at nothing to gain that for you.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

It is the story of the love of God the Son who was willing to die to save you even when you have done nothing to deserve it.

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It is the story of the love of God the Spirit who continues to work in your heart every single day.

Romans 5:5

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

So friends, though it is sometimes not easy for us to go through a holiday such as Valentine’s Day, or to sit and watch cheesy romance movies where the couple always ends up together, don’t lose heart! We have the greatest love story of all.

And since we know God’s love we live it and share it with others!

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Go with God’s love! His love is the perfect love that takes away our fears.

Sharing my love for Jesus and his love for you!

Annika Bilitz