TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 2:23-4:10
And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? - Luke 18:7a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Positioned in front of a Hollywood backdrop, with staff in hand and a stoic expression on his face, Charlton Heston made a formidable Moses in the classic movie The Ten Commandments. More recently, the story of Exodus received an animated face-lift in 1998’s The Prince of Egypt, complete with awe-inspiring special effects. While both movies take liberties with the biblical account of the Israelites’ flight from Egypt, they draw attention to an event so significant that its memory permeates the whole of the Old Testament and the history of the Jewish nation.

God responded to the Israelites’ cry because of His covenant with Abraham and His ensuing relationship with the patriarchs. But He was also motivated out of compassion for their sufferings, which included infanticide and forced labor. To set His people free, God called upon the reticent Moses. And through the battle of wills with Pharaoh, the escape, and the establishment of society in the wilderness, God’s role in the lives of the Israelites moves from that of distant deity to personal and present provider. “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” (Deut. 4:7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Oppression and injustice are a fact of life for many people around the world. But groups like the International Justice Mission (IJM) are working to confront these evils in the name of Christ. The IJM serves all victims of injustice by investigating allegations of abuse and pursuing evildoers worldwide. The IJM also seeks to mobilize the American Christian church to aid the victims of injustice overseas. Visit their web site today at http://www.ijm.org. Lift in prayer the work of organizations like this.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 4
My justice will become a light to the nations. - Isaiah 51:4b
TODAY IN THE WORD
The ancient world didn’t have the modern blast furnaces that are used to produce today’s cast iron. The IVP Bible Background Dictionary points out that the melting point of iron, 1,537°C, could not be consistently attained with ancient technology. “But once the iron is heated beyond 1,100°C, it takes a spongy, semisolid form that can be forged. While a furnace can certainly be a metaphor of oppression, the fire of a smelting furnace is not destructive, but constructive. It is the furnace that transforms the malleable ore to the durable iron product. The exodus experience transformed Israel into the covenant people of God.”

In today’s passage Moses reminds the people that they should never take their transformation for granted--it was unique. Whereas many of their neighbors served a pantheon of deities in a blind hope that they were in favor with the gods and that their sacrifices were pleasing, Israel was both chosen by God (vv. 34, 37) and told what to do by God (vv. 33, 35). Election and revelation were the two major features of the Abrahamic covenant and set Israel apart.

But by the time we get to Deuteronomy 4, the generation that fled Egypt was dying after 40 years in exile. After God’s deliverance from slavery, they demonstrated such a lack of faith that God forbade all those over the age of 20 from entering the Promised Land (Num. 14). Now the time was nearing for a new generation to enter Canaan and Moses was compelled to leave his people with explanation and exhortation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Trials and tribulations are as much a feature of modern life as they were in ancient times. Everyone, including you, can say that they’ve faced plenty of ups and down in their life. Take a moment and make a list of the major difficulties you’ve experienced. Then, next to each entry, commit to paper what you learned from that event or period of time. Evaluate your list and then say a short prayer thanking God for His faithfulness in shaping you into the person He desires.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Lev. 25:35-43; Deut. 24:10-22
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. - Psalm 112:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
On a hot, sticky day in the middle of summer, a businessman pulled change out of his pocket in order to pay for a cold drink at a gas station. Among the coins was a small white cross and the surprised clerk muttered, “What a strange place to carry a cross.” “It’s really not all that strange a place,” replied the businessman. “When I’m tempted to spend money foolishly, I’m reminded that the cross has first claim on it.”

Today we are constantly being told how to spend our money. Utility providers insist we pay our bills, children insist on growing and needing new clothes, our families insist on eating dinner . . . and among these legitimate expenses, advertisers of every possible kind insist we need the latest and the greatest products on the market. In the middle of all these voices demanding their share, how often do we stop to consider the proverbial cross in our pocket?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Take out last month’s credit card statement or your checkbook’s balance record. Scan the entries to get a sense of what you spend your money on. Evaluate your spending in light of Scripture. During your time in prayer today, ask the Lord to show you how to be a better steward of your resources and how to use your money in a way that glorifies God. Are there areas where you would have to cut back spending? Over the course of this month, as you do your shopping, keep these areas in mind.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 35:9-34
With the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery. - 2 Chronicles 19:7b
TODAY IN THE WORD
“An earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice,” wrote William Shakespeare in his famous play The Merchant of Venice. This idea, expressed at a pivotal moment of the play, conveys a truth about the relationship between justice and mercy that is rarely grasped in our day-to-day lives. We often think of God’s justice and His mercy as two separate and distinct functions. But in reality, mercy is a property of God’s justice; it “seasons” God’s justice.

In today’s look at the Mosaic Law, we see how God’s desire to maintain proper relationships between men, the land, and Himself prompts Him to establish cities of refuge. As He made clear in His covenant with Noah (Gen. 9), God holds life sacred and demands an accounting for all deaths. A family member was responsible to avenge the death of his kin according to biblical law. This strict rule was based on the importance of the land: “Blood-shed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it” (v. 33).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The city of refuge didn’t restore even the accidental murderer to the community. Neither does the time prisoners spend in jail now restore their places in the community. Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship says that offenders do not simply need rehabilitation, they require regeneration of a sinful heart. This ministry strives for such renewal by serving inmates and their families in the name of Christ. You can help them by doing anything from writing a letter to buying a Christmas toy. Check out the details at pfm.org.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ruth 1-2
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. - Isaiah 1:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bodie Thoene, coauthor of bestselling Christian fiction Zion Chronicles, once worked for John Wayne as a scriptwriter. In Today’s Christian Woman Thoene tells how that opportunity came about. “I was commuting to Los Angeles and doing feature articles on different stunt men and other film personalities for magazines. An article I cowrote with John Wayne’s stuntman won the attention of the Duke himself. One day he called and invited [my husband] Brock, and me to come to his house. He talked to us as if we were friends, showing keen interest in us as individuals. From that day on, I began writing for his film company, Batjac Productions. We were awestruck. Here was this man who had been in film for fifty years and he takes a young couple with small children under his wing! Once I asked him, 'Why are you doing this? You’re so good to us.’ He replied, 'Because somebody did it for me.’ ”

It appears that John Wayne had something in common with Boaz from the book of Ruth--both understood that goodness doesn’t originate in us. We receive and then we give. God is good to us, that’s why we are able to be good to others. Today’s reading illustrates the implementation of God’s “welfare program”: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 19:9–10).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The story of Ruth is a beautiful tale of love, loyalty, and redemption. Ruth stands as a shining example of the power of caring as she is brought into a relationship with God due to the provision of Boaz. Read the rest of the book of Ruth and then think about it in today’s terms--you may even rewrite the story as a modern narrative. Decide where you think Ruth would go today to search for help, whether she would receive it, and what the result would be.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 21
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. - Proverbs 28:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Rosa Parks, mother of the civil rights movement, was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give her bus seat to a white man. Boycotts and protests followed and eventually the Supreme Court ruled racial segregation unconstitutional. In Quiet Strength she writes: “When I sat down on the bus that day, I had no idea history was being made--I was only thinking of getting home. But I had made up my mind. After so many years of being a victim of the mistreatment my people suffered, not giving up my seat--and whatever I had to face afterwards--was not important. I did not feel any fear sitting there. I felt the Lord would give me the strength to endure whatever I had to face. It was time for someone to stand up--or in my case, sit down. So I refused to move.”

Standing up to injustice, regardless of where it comes from, is a daunting prospect. But that’s what God calls His followers to undertake time and time again. In today’s passage we see two devout men, Naboth and Elijah, standing up to the wicked King Ahab. When Ahab asked to buy Naboth’s vineyard, Naboth’s refusal was based on his desire to maintain his family’s inheritance in the Promised Land. All of Israel belonged to the Lord and He had granted a perpetual lease to each Israelite family. Royal power in Israel is limited by covenantal law (Deut.17:14–20; 1 Sam. 10:25), so Ahab had to respect Naboth’s refusal. But he wasn’t happy about it. His wife, Jezebel, was determined to act no matter what. She arranged to have Naboth tried and convicted for blasphemy. Once he was dead, Ahab was free to possess the land.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ahab and Jezebel have gone down in history as two of Israel’s most despotic rulers. Their practices were more influenced by the their pagan neighbors than by God’s Law.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Nehemiah 5:1-13
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. - Psalm 103:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1995 Jane’s International Defense Review reported that Norinco of China was offering to export a weapon that used laser beams to damage the eyes of the enemies. The weapon is called the ZM-87 portable laser “disturber” and its users can render their opponents blind, making them worthless for battle.

In much the same way that blind soldiers are worthless in battle, Christians who are blind to the world around them are unable to make a stand for Christ. Satan knows this and has his own weapons for blinding Christians, such as pride, conceit, and stubbornness. One of Satan’s most effective weapons is greed, for it compels men to favor wealth over just relations with one another and with God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We are inundated with news all day long--and most of it is bad. At times it’s easy to become indifferent, to stop caring and just go about the business of living our lives. But as Christians, we must resist indifference. Today, look for a difficult situation in which you can offer support. For example, if you know a family in your church or in your neighborhood that is going through financial problems, contact them and ask how you might be able to help them out with a hot meal, toys for children, or a donation of clothes. Be creative!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 15
The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. - Isaiah 33:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Like a tree that’s planted by water, we shall not be moved.” This refrain to a well-known African-American spiritual makes reference to both today’s reading (Psalm 15:5) and Psalm 1:3. And as the New Interpreter’s Bible notes, the juxtaposition of the two psalms helps reveal a profound meaning of both of them. Its primary purpose is to portray what it means to be constantly open to God’s instruction, to take refuge in God, to live under God’s rule.

Psalm 15 begins by asking the question, “What does God want from a worshiper?” or “Who is righteous enough to approach God?” As Christians, we come into the presence of God in faith and on the authority of His Son (Heb. 4:16). But for David, who wrote this psalm, the traditional answer to this question was that one must present sacrificial offerings.

However, David answers his own question with “He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and cast no slur on his fellow man, who despises a vile man but honors those that fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent” (vv. 2–5). There’s no mention of sacrifice here. And with the psalm, David becomes a forerunner of the prophets who proclaimed that sacrifice was not enough. Justice, righteousness, knowledge, goodness, and love (Isa. 1:12-17, Hos. 6:6, Amos 5:21-24, Mic. 6:6-8) must all be a part of worshiping God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes Sunday morning may be an ordeal: you’ve got to get kids dressed, put breakfast on the table, sit in traffic, maneuver for a parking spot, find the nursery . . . and just make it into a pew by the time the first song begins. But just as the Jews used a ritual to prepare themselves for entrance into the temple, we need to prepare ourselves for entering God’s presence on Sunday morning. Take a few minutes to think through your Sunday morning routine. Then, write out a plan of action that would get you to church ready to offer praise to a holy God. Put it to use this Sunday!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 72
Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice. - Proverbs 29:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
Amid charges of ballot irregularities and violence, Robert Mugabe was elected to his fifth term as president of Zimbabwe on March 13, 2002. The defeated opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, said the election was rigged and that the result was “daylight robbery.” Most foreign and local observers agreed that the elections, in which many were not allowed to vote and others were physically intimidated by the ruling Zanu-PF party, was deeply unjust.

President Mugabe retained power by what appeared to be, at best, dubious means. But this is not a new story. Since the beginning of civilization, kingdoms have been won and lost in battles fought by men whose lust for power held more sway than their desire for justice. This pervasive reality makes the portrait of a just ruler in Psalm 72 both an important example of what God desires from those in authority and a source of hope for the world’s citizens.

The original context for this psalm was probably the coronation of the Davidic kings, and possibly the yearly celebration of their ascension at the New Year Festival. The effusive language of the psalmist would seem strange addressed to the far-from-perfect rulers of Judah, were it not for the fact that the language is grounded in the picture of the ideal king based upon the nature of the kingship of God Himself. When Israel went into exile and the monarchy ended, the psalm was preserved as a vision of the Messiah’s coming reign.

The writer is asking God to instill His sense of justice in the ruler. But this justice is not equality for all. It’s care for those who are poor and oppressed. “For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence” (vv. 12–14).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we think of rulers, we often think of our politicians. But if you are a parent, you are, in a very practical sense, the ruler of your own kingdom. Your children are like citizens, with their own abilities and needs entrusted to you to develop and meet. Reread today’s psalm and think of it in terms of your own domestic kingdom. Then, spend some time in prayer for your “citizens” and ask God to instill in you a sense of His justice as you “rule” your kingdom.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 37
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. - Proverbs 16:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his State of the Union address in the winter of 2002, President George Bush labeled North Korea, among others, as part of an axis of evil that threatened the peace of the world. An article published in the March 9, 2002 issue of World magazine illustrated the plight of the North Korean people. In it Anne Morse recounts the observations of a doctor who witnessed children forced into labor while starving and families unable to receive adequate medical treatment--many of them are Christians who oppose the Communist government of North Korea. Meanwhile, the political and military leaders live a luxurious lifestyle. And the situation begs a question that has plagued Christians for centuries--how can God be a just God when the wicked are allowed to prosper?

Today’s reading--along with Psalms 49, 73; and the book of Job--addresses this question and is often labeled a “theodicy,” which literally means “justice of God.”

Addressed to believers who are troubled by the successes of those who do not follow the ways of the Lord, Psalm 37 speaks to people who are in the throes of a crisis of faith. It’s important to note that the people whom the believers reviled here were not wicked because they were wealthy--they were wealthy because they were wicked (vv. 14, 32). And this is, as one commentator put it, “a scandal to the spirit of the faithful.” The psalmist offered no excuses based on psychology or sociology for the reality of the situation. Instead, he gave a reminder of who God is and what He does: God loves justice (v. 28). God laughs at the wicked (v. 13, cf. 2:4). The “consolation” for believers is in the fact that their lives are founded upon Him and that He is the foundation of the universe.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It has been said that power and prosperity are generated better by autonomy than discipleship. And yet, Christians of all economic levels are called to discipleship. If you’ve never been involved in any sort of formal discipleship program, talk to you pastor about participating in either a group or a one-on-one mentoring relationship focused on deepening your knowledge of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 146
Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. - Jeremiah 20:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Thomas Carlyle once said, “Foolish men imagine that because judgment for an evil thing is delayed, there is no justice, but only accident here below. Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is sure as life and death!” In short, God is a God who keeps His promises.

The author of today’s psalm would agree with this statement. Psalm 146 is a song of praise that appears to be prompted by the failings of mortal men (vv. 3–4). In contrast, God is both willing and able to restore righteousness. The psalmist praises God for who He is, based on what He does: He upholds the cause of the oppressed, He gives food to the hungry, sets prisoners free, gives sight to the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down, watches over the alien, and sustains the fatherless and the widows (vv. 7–9). While mortal men have a moral responsibility laid on them by God, justice ultimately comes from God.

The psalmist drew attention to the three categories of people that were most likely to be mistreated in Israel: the resident alien who had no civil rights and the widow and orphan who could be easily taken advantage of. But as one commentator said, “God is their champion. And if He can and does meet such needs as these, no kind of need is beyond His help--He is king, powerful and unlike human leaders.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 105:2 commands the nation of Israel to “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” Today, sharpen your pencils and warm up the singing voice and spend some time writing your own hymn of praise to the God of the universe. Start with the tune of “Amazing Grace” or a favorite chorus or hymn and make up your own lyrics thanking God for His justice, faithfulness, and provision in your life. When you’ve finished with the words, sing your new song to the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 35
Your God will come . . . he will come to save you. - Isaiah 35:4b
TODAY IN THE WORD
On Saturday, March 9, 2002 cousins Melissa Cook and Jill Semplinski-Nelson were visiting Chicago with their mothers to celebrate Melissa’s 30th birthday. But their trip turned tragic when high winds blew a piece of scaffolding off of the 43rd floor of the John Hancock Building while the party was waiting in traffic below. The heavy equipment flattened the front of their car. The mothers, sitting in the back seat, watched in horror as their daughters were killed. The falling debris killed one more motorist, injured eight bystanders, and left witnesses in shocked disbelief. The accident provides a horrific example for how random violence and destruction can seem in this world. Such events could easily lead us to despair if it weren’t for God’s promise of justice in the final kingdom.

Today’s Scripture reading gives us a vivid picture of what we have to look forward to as we walk in a right relationship with God. Isaiah 35 is the counterpart to the previous chapter’s description of God’s vengeance on the wicked. In chapter 34, Isaiah proclaims God’s displeasure not only with Edom (34:5), but with all of the nations (34:2). In a display of power that is absolute and complete, God vows to destroy the nations and, ultimately, all those who oppose Him (Isa. 63:1-6).

In chapter 35, Isaiah goes on to describe the other side of this equation, the blessing of the righteous. While in chapter 34 God promises to destroy the wicked, in chapter 35 He promises to transform the world into a place where the effects of sin are reversed and creation functions in proper relation to Him once again.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Take a walk around your neighborhood today. As you survey God’s creation, imagine that you are on the “highway” spoken of in today’s Scripture reading. Note the beauty of God’s mark on the terrain and in your neighbors. Pray that God would instill in you a deep-seated sense of joy for His presence in your life and express your anticipation for the world to come, when creation will be restored. Make this walk a weekly habit of praise and prayer as a reminder of God’s promise.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 58
This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right.” - Isaiah 56:1a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Karl Menninger, the famous psychiatrist, once gave a lecture on medical health and answered questions from the audience. Someone asked, “What would you advise a person to do if that person felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Most people thought he would say “Go see a psychiatrist immediately,” but he didn’t. To their astonishment, Dr. Menninger replied, “Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find somebody in need, and help that person.”

Dr. Menniger had a firm grasp on the fact that helping others is, oftentimes, the best way to help oneself. And in today’s passage Isaiah gave a similar message to the people of Israel: if you want to be blessed by God, be a blessing to others. This is true worship.

Isaiah responded to the renewed observances of fasting and the Sabbath in today’s reading. Unfortunately, these observances did not accompany true humility and the prophet was used to voice God’s rebuke. Verses 1-9 address the people’s frustration that God does not hear them despite their fasting. But Isaiah finds two problems: their fasting is insincere (v. 3) and it is not accompanied by any regard for the needy (v. 6). The people were relying on religious formalism to gain them God’s attention, when what God truly desires is justice lived out in every sphere of life. “Your fasting end in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high . . . Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (vv. 4, 6).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It’s the middle of the week--Wednesday. But let’s look forward to the coming weekend. In the spirit of today’s scripture reading, think how you can be a blessing to others during your days-off. How can you help your neighbor in a way you’ve never done before? You can donate your time at a local food pantry or crisis pregnancy center. Look into what opportunities exist in your community and make it a group event by involving your family or friends.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 94
Awake, my God; decree justice. - Psalm 7:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
For some time, the Chicago Tribune Magazine ran a column about people’s jobs. A writer would interview a cop or a baker or legal secretary about their professions. One column told the story of a man named Neil Boyle who read depositions in jury trials. Boyle told of one crazy lawsuit he had seen. A hospital supply corporation falsified its annual reports, misleading the shareholders about its financial situation. An auditing firm came in, but the company manipulated its inventory, moving the same goods to the warehouse the firm was inspecting at the moment. When the fraud was finally discovered, the corporation sued the auditing firm for not catching them. The auditing firm finally won, but it took eleven years.

During those 11 years the auditing firm was in litigation, the legal system probably seemed like a cruel joke to them. In a similar way, when we sometimes see the legal system fail, it might be difficult for us to believe that justice will ever prevail.

But today’s psalm teaches us that God will be faithful to ensure righteousness. Psalm 93 paints a picture of a majestic King who rules the entire world. And in Psalm 94, the psalmist calls on this all-powerful king to awake and avenge the wrongs done to His people by the hands of wicked men. God is the King, and the writer asks Him to come and put the end to all the injustice he sees around.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What season of your life are you in right now? Are you having some problems, or even feel that you are in the midst of a trial? If you are, write a petition to God asking Him to come to your aid. In your petition explain the situation in detail, what you are going through, and how you feel about it. Then close the petition by writing down Psalm 94 and affirming your trust in God’s ability, power, and desire to restore justice. Keep your petition close at hand and reread it when you need a reminder that God is in control.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 4
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. - Psalm 33:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
There once was a man who married a woman named Gomer. The man loved Gomer, but she was unfaithful to him. She acted like a prostitute, but he loved her still. He gave her a home, his name, his reputation, his love, and she responded by living with other men. Still, he pleaded with Gomer to come back. She humiliated him, and yet he held out hope for her. The man in this story is the prophet Hosea and he prefaces his message to the nation of Israel with this personal and painful love story. But Hosea’s motive was not simply self-disclosure. His marriage illustrates an even more tragic love story: God’s relentless pursuit of the nation of Israel.

Today and tomorrow we are going to look at the same situation--Israel’s rejection of a right relationship with God--from different viewpoints. In tomorrow’s passage, Amos expresses shock at the injustices he sees running rampant in the nation. Hosea expresses the frustration that accompanies his inner feelings about Israel’s rejection of God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In their book, The Sacred Romance, John Eldredge and Brent Curtis write that the God who saves is a God who woos His own to a relationship of the heart. “As we draw closer to Him, we must choose to let go of other less-wild lover, such as perfectionistic drivenness and self-indulgence.” Take stock of your own romance with God. Are you completely faithful to Him? Thank God for His continued pursuit and love for you. Write a love note to God and post it at a visible place as a reminder of His passion for you and your ability to respond.