Tuesday's Verse of the Day Devotional

Good morning! I recently preached at a youth rally in Ashland, OH. There were a lot of people who were struggling with turmoil and being hated for their faith. During the message, The Lord prompted me to say something profound.

It wasn't my thought, He gave it to me in the moment. It was, "If God loves you, then why worry about who hates you?" So often, we spend so much time thinking and worrying about who hates us rather than God who loves us so deeply.

Jesus promised in this life there would be trouble. He told us to prepare us for the fact that living for Him would bring trials and tribulations. But, we must remember who loves us and gave us joy for strength. You never know how strong you are until you face resistance. Being self-controlled in the midst of trials is not easy, but is a byproduct of the testing of your faith.

Let the testing produce patience in you. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit and we need it more and more as darkness rises up. God allows the testing to purify you like gold in a fire. So, let joy be your portion even in the midst of trials. God is for you and He loves you. Let that be enough so you can always make a great day!