God demonstrated His perfect, abiding love for us when He sent His only Son as the sacrifice for our salvation. There’s no greater love. It’s through our actions and obedience that we demonstrate our love for God.
God graciously extends His mercy and truth to all who seek refuge in Him. His love for us is the foundation of faith. It’s also the foundation of our love for Him, demonstrated through our willingness to remain faithful, grateful, and obedient to His commandments and His will.
What does it mean to be “faithful”?
Growing up, I remember my Dad often saying, “Be true to your word because your word is your bond.” As a kid, I didn’t fully understand what that meant. I do now.
Being in recovery for the past seven years has shown me that being faithful isn’t about how much faith you possess, it’s about keeping the faith of those who place their trust in you. It’s making sure there’s consistency between what you say and what you do, between what you believe and how you behave, and between what you promise and what you perform. A faithful person is true to their word.
I haven’t always been faithful. My struggles with alcohol pretty much obliterated any consistency between my words and actions. I chose myself and my wants over others countless times. By the time I entered recovery, my word meant nothing to the people who should’ve been able to trust me the most — my husband and our daughters.
But, God is always faithful.
God knew we’d fall short in our walk of faith at different times and in different ways throughout our lives. That our words and deeds would often be at odds. He knew we’d fall and we’d fail. Still, He loves us.
God is patient, merciful, compassionate, and forgiving. What’s more, He meets us where we are. He met me in my darkest moment of despair where shame and self-loathing covered me and He lifted me. Despite my sins, He was right there. What could’ve destroyed me became an open door to full life in Him.
I can trust in God’s word and His promises. Because God always delivers, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness,” Lamentations 3:22-23.
Grateful in all circumstances.
Let’s face it, when things don’t turn out the way we expect, it’s hard to be grateful. When we’re angry, struggling, distracted, or overwhelmed, gratitude is the last thing on our minds. When our focus is on what we lack, or rather what we think we lack, rather than on our blessings, it’s impossible to find anything to be grateful for.
The idea of being grateful in all circumstances is challenging. Yet, that’s exactly what we’re called to do. Like faith, gratitude is essential in deepening our relationship with God. We don’t always understand God’s plan or His purpose for us. Indeed, we might very well question it. If we turn inward when we’re struggling rather than to God, we’re not demonstrating our trust in Him or fulfilling His will for us.
Gratitude is a powerful spiritual discipline that has the ability to shift our perspective and focus from our problems to the blessings we have received. It is an acknowledgment of God’s provision and faithfulness, and it fosters a sense of contentment and joy in the midst of our circumstances. In a broader sense, gratitude also reflects an understanding of our own dependence on God and our recognition of His sovereignty over all things.
Bible Art
Being obedient to God is an act of love.
Jesus showed us exactly what it means to be obedient to God. True obedience flows from a heart of gratitude for the grace we’ve received through Christ. Loving God and obeying His commandments are inseparable. Being obedient to His plan and purpose for our lives is part of that.
God calls us to serve in different ways. He’s given each of us gifts to be used for the glory of His name and to benefit and bless others. But, it’s not enough to simply desire to do His will, we have to fulfill it. To go where He leads us and do what He asks of us. We have to follow through. Oftentimes, that’s hard. God takes us out of our comfort zone for a reason. When we’re too comfortable we become complacent.
Obedience requires more than just hearing the word of God, it requires us to live it.
God wants us to actively pursue a deeper relationship with Him — to commune with Him, turn to Him, and trust Him, even when we don’t understand. When we obey God, we demonstrate our faith and are blessed in return, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it,” Luke 11:28. To experience the blessings that come from obedience and aligning our lives with the truth of God’s word, we have to be more than hearers, we have to be doers.
Faithful, grateful, and obedient,
You call on us to be.
To walk with You, to talk with You,
to bring honor to Your Name.
You created us in abiding love,
breathed Your life into our lungs.
May we firmly keep our eyes on You,
from the rising to the setting sun.
Your Spirit dwells within us,
living inside our souls.
To strengthen us, to guide our steps,
as Your will for us unfolds.
Your plan for our salvation,
set before the world begun,
was paid in full for all mankind,
with the blood of Your own Son.
Faithful, grateful, and obedient,
to Your Word, to Your Commands,
to turn to You in times of need,
to surrender to Your plan.
Your Mercy’s everlasting,
Your Faithfulness won’t end.
Your Grace bestowed on every heart,
for the forgiveness of our sin.
Nothing can separate us,
from Your Love, from Your Embrace,
until our time on earth is done,
and we meet You face to face.
You are the Lamp that lights our way,
the Shepherd that guards our path,
the Truth that conquers every fear,
until we dwell with You at last.
JN Fenwick (© 2025) | mothjournal14
JN Fenwick (© 2025) | mothjournal14
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