“We love because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
Let’s be real.
There are a lot of mixed messages out there. One side says if you don’t pray enough, fast enough, read enough, God’s disappointed in you. The other side says don’t worry, grace covers everything, just float through life and God’s still smiling. But neither side speaks to the heart of a man who’s actually tasted His presence.
Because once you encounter Him…not religion, not rules, not man made pressure..but Him, something shifts. Something breaks. Something wakes up.
Because of Him, I want to be a better man.
Not to prove anything. Not to earn anything. But because of who He is. Because He’s that good. That faithful. That patient. That holy. That kind.
Because of Him, I want to love.
Because of Him, I choose to forgive.
Because of Him, I grind to keep what He gives.
Because of Him, I discipline myself to grow.
Because of Him, I desire to love my wife and honor her with every breath.
Because of Him, I want to lead my kids with passion, presence, and purpose.
Because of Him, I want to be real with my brothers, not fake.
Because of Him, I examine my heart daily so I don’t drift.
Because of Him, fruit is growing that I couldn’t grow on my own.
See, this isn’t about doing things to avoid punishment or get a blessing. This is about love. And real love makes you want to protect, honor, and stay close to the one who holds your heart.
When you love someone…your wife, your kids, you don’t need a list to know how to act. You want to protect the connection. You want to treat their name with honor. You want to check your tone, your energy, your decisions, because their value means something to you.
That’s the same with God.
The more I draw near to Him, the more His desires begin to shape mine. It’s not pressure, it’s passion. It’s not obligation, it’s overflow. It’s not, “I have to,” it’s “how could I not?”
The truth is, I’ve lived without Him. I’ve tried building life on my own strength, pride, hustle, and performance. And I saw what that produced…burnout, brokenness, shallow fruit, and a restless soul.
But because of Him, I found peace I couldn’t earn, healing I didn’t deserve, purpose I never knew was possible, and a fire in my bones to love better, lead stronger, and walk faithfully…not out of fear, but out of love.
This is real relationship. This is where transformation lives.
CHALLENGE STATEMENT:
If you’ve been performing, stop.
If you’ve been drifting, return.
If you’ve been confused between law and love, let clarity rise.
Because of Him, we don’t have to fake it, force it, or figure it all out. We just need to draw near.
Fall in love with the God who pursued you first, and everything else will fall into place.
Let that love transform you from the inside out.
PRAYER
Father, I don’t want a surface connection with You. I want real depth. I want my life to respond to Your goodness, not out of fear but out of love. Thank You for loving me when I was far. Thank You for staying near even when I drifted. Thank You for calling me to more. Because of You, I want to grow. Because of You, I want to love, forgive, lead, and honor better. Keep shaping me, stretching me, and transforming me. Make me more like You. Because of You, I choose to stay in the fire until I look like the man You designed me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.