We're Better Together :)

Devotional: God Gives Good Gifts

There are seasons in our lives when we are more discouraged than encouraged.

It's inevitable that all of us will experience those moments, and it's often in the face of insurmountable grief or negative experiences that this happens.

But Romans 15:5 reminds us that there are three things that God gives to those who believe in Jesus.

Romans 15:5 NIV [5] May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,

The first is that God gives endurance. When we begin to grow tired of doing good things, or living our life for God, it's often because we are living with the wrong motivation.

True motivation comes from living for God, not ourselves. It is God who gives us the endurance through the Spirit to make good choices and live for Him.

The second thing God gives us is encouragement. In seasons of discouragement when we feel let down by people, God gives us lasting encouragement.

He reminds us that we are loved. He reminds us that we are being transformed. We don't need to strive for approval or acceptance because we're already sons and daughters of God.

The third thing that we can pray for God to give us is unity of mind toward each other. This means that we consider others how Jesus would consider them.

Instead of seeing their flaws or mistakes, we see them as people loved and cared for by God. We should work towards unity with each other rather than division.

All three of these things are worthy of spending time in prayer, asking God for: endurance, encouragement, and unity with each other.

If you're feeling tired and want to quit, ask God for the endurance to continue doing good for those around you.

If you're feeling discouraged and down, ask God for encouragement that only He can give. And above all, ask God for the same heart and mind of Jesus that brings us together in unity rather than division.

It's just like the saying... "A house divided cannot stand," that saying is true to this because if we're all divided, we won't flourish

If one person's opinion is different then the other, and thus causes division, how could we live the life Jesus lived? The fact is we can't when we're divided...

Jesus was the son of the creator of the universe, and everything was made through Jesus.... When he was on earth, he showed unity rather then divide, peace rather then anger, and love rather then judgement

His ministry, meaning his disciples, and him weren't divided based on power, they were together based on love, love that cannot compare to this worlds love

Everyone today is divided based on how they look, act, feel, seem, even politically people are divided. But God wants us to work together!

Everything is easier to go through when you know you have someone thats right there with you going through the same thing, it brings people together, bringing unity rather than division.

So today... Love others as Christ did, pray and ask for encouragement, unity, and the same mind Jesus Christ had. Because the love from Christ is true love. And when we know true love, working together becomes our nature, and that is what Christ wants :)

Keep going, because he sees you

Jesus loves you :)