As we begin this time of Prayer and Fasting, let’s begin with what is most important—God, His love, and our relationship with Him! God’s unending love for us is really beyond human comprehension. It’s not limited by our feelings, our circumstances, or our choices in life. He loves us despite all of that! In fact, God loves each one of us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His own Son for us.1 1 John 4:9 (NIV) says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” And Romans 5:8 (ESV) says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If God loves us that much, we can be confident that He wants a relationship with us that goes beyond a one-time decision to ask Jesus to forgive us for our sins and become our Savior. He wants a continual, growing relationship with us. Once Jesus is our Savior, we are now part of God’s family. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now…” (1 John 3:1-2 ESV). Are you confident that God loves you? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you view Him as your heavenly Father? Or do you just view God as a distant higher being who doesn’t care about the little details of your life? If it’s the latter, know that God is not distant from you. He loves you and desperately wants to be in a relationship with you! Spend time today listening for His voice and telling God how much you need Him and want to be loved by Him.

Have you confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you have a deep relationship with God? If not or the relationship seems to be faltering at the moment, take some time right now to let God speak to you through His Word, spend some time talking to Him through prayer, and record those thoughts and prayers in your journal. God is waiting for you to come to Him!