If you give Him your love, your obedience, and your life…

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. (1 John 5:5 ESV)

 Challenging times are meant to be stepping stones to a closer walk with the Lord, and onwards to greater faith and victory! And what is victory in God’s eyes? “Our faith.”
 He requires a lot of us, but He gives us the strength to meet those demands. He requires your all—heart, soul, body, mind, and strength. But He gives all in return. If you give Him your love, your obedience, and your life, He will give you His power and might and strength and anointing, so that you will be able to do great things for Him and others!
 When we’re tempted to despair, we can count His many blessings. Count them, name them one by one, and it will thrill your heart when you see what He has done!
 What do you do when someone gives you a valuable gift? You get excited about it, and you thank them and tell them over and over how much you appreciate it!
 What about the Lord and the immeasurable, unlimited, boundless gifts that He’s given His children and that He continues to give us and continues to pour upon us, trying to show us how very greatly He loves us? Don’t neglect to thank and praise the one who has given you everything, the one who continues to give you everything—the one who is your best friend, your protector, your guide, your Savior! —Maria Fontaine [1]

 He who loves allows the beloved time to grow. —Anselm Grün

[1] Anchor Holding on to the Joy Set Before Us