August Study: God's Love

Intro| I cannot wait for this month as we read and study about our amazing God! I am praying that you are growing in your faith and that God is showing us areas where we can start loving Him and others more. This study has taught me very much about our God and His unfailing & constant love!! I appreciate and love you all very much & if you want to chat about anything, email me anytime! khigdon04@gmail.com

August 1~ 1 Corinthians 13 | Today I thought we found to start with one of the most famous passages of scripture known for the topic of Love. The first few verses give us an example of having great faith and understanding, yet without love...we gain nothing. How true!! We can be a great Christian. We can go to church every single week. WE can memorize scripture. We can do all these good things, but if we don’t have a love for God and love for others, we have NOTHING. This is something I want to work on. I want to go try to go out of my way to spread God's love to others! In 1 John (we will read this one later lol) it says that God IS love. in verses 4-8, it’s naming characteristics of our God. Of course, we are not perfect because of our sinful nature, but this is a chance to live more like God and His love!! It also says “love never fails.” God’s love extends to EVERYONE... and it’s not just for a time, but it is unfailing/ constant!! And finally, it says “faith, hope, and love... the greatest of these is LOVE!!” Love from God and sharing God’s love with others is something that is mentioned many times in the Bible. It’s so great! Today: Thank God for His unfailing/ constant love!! Help us to do “good” things, but rather to be bounding in love! Pray and ask Him to give us opportunities today to share the LOVE of God with someone!!

August 2~ Genesis 2 | He has made all the nature, animals, and so much, yet He still decided to make us (humans) to enjoy His creation and worship Him! He gave Adam a plentiful amount of food to survive and live off of. (V.18) it is not good for man to be alone, God decides to make a companion for him. I think God shows His love through how he cares for us. People who normally love someone, also care for them! In this same way, God-realized and cared that Adam needed company, so He made Eve. Today: Thank God for caring so deeply for us! Thank HIm for displaying His love through His care for His creation!!

August 3~ Ecclesiastes 3 | He demonstrates His love for us in how He has already taken care of our future. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (verse 1) Meditate on verses 1-8. Every season is planned and has a purpose. God and His works are forever. God plants the seed of eternity in everyone. WOW. We can never fathom all that God has done for us from “beginning to end.” There will be a time for judgment too. Are we living right, a life to be judged?

Today: Thank you for showing your love through planning EVERYTHING. I pray for us to TRUST you Lord and live a life preparing for the judgment day.

August 4 ~ lamentations 3:1- 19| Lamentation: the passionate expression of grief or sorrow. Prefacing lamentations over the next few days, a city was destroyed and the people are in a season of lament to God. They are upset and broken; they think that God has abandoned them. This land was promised by God to His people, but over hundreds of years the people have chosen to neglect God and so He allows Babylon to take over their city. The people are upset at God but they were the ones who had sinned. Chapter 3 comes from an anonymous man who is writing how upset he is. >> As we can read from his words in this passage, He is completely broke and angered at God. He explains how upset he is and what all is happening throughout the city. Today: Thank God for showing us His love through correction. It might seem like everything is bad now but as we continue reading over the next few days we will see the hope of the Lord. I’m thankful that He allows things to happen to me to get my attention if I’m not honoring Him always. I’m thankful He loves us enough to correct us when we mess up!

August 5~ lamentations 3: 19-48| This chapter takes place with a man telling God about his hope in Him despite the hardships he’s going through. He is choosing to acknowledge God’s great love (v.22) mercies, and compassion even in the hurt he's gone through. He chooses to put his hope in God and make Him his portion. He chooses to love God and brings the only “hope” in the whole book of lamentations. He challenges us in verses 39/40 to watch complaining of hardships when we have sinned! Today: Thank God for showing His love through hardships and hope. Pray that people you know going through hardships would look to Jesus!!

August 6~ lamentations 3: 48-66 | These last few verses in lamentations 3, to me feel like this man is describing God as an advocate and friend. He is talking about how God answers Him and tells him “not to fear” (v.57). This man asks God to fight his enemies on behalf of him and what all these people have done to him. The lord has seen all the hardships that this man had gone through and comes to give him a friend. Today: Thank God for showing His love for us through being our friend and advocate over all people and circumstances! Pray whatever is on your heart today!

August 7 ~ Isaiah 40 | I encourage you to read this chapter in its entirety. There are so many examples of who He is and His comfort. (V1) “Comfort, comfort, my people” is how the chapter begins!! This is totally up to you, but I encourage you to go through with a highlighter and as you read, highlight the verses that stick out to you. Here are some of these verses that stuck out to me V: 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 26, 28-30. God gives comfort to His believers. Many times it reminds us that He is the ruler of Heaven/ controls the Earth!! He is everlasting, understanding and He cares about you and me!! In Verses 30/31, He recognizes that we as humans will fail... will grow weary... but He loves us enough to give us His strength....and not just enough strength to continue, but rather an abundance of that strength/ comfort to “soar on wings like eagles.” Today: After you finish reading, go back and reread the verses that stuck out to you. Thank God for showing His love for us through His comfort and strength! Pray whatever is on your heart today.

August 8~ Isaiah 54 | Shout for Joy!! Do not hold back! Do not be afraid! Those who are in Christ, have no shame or fear. The mountains = shaken, hills=removed. We will have a hard time, but with God, it’s so much better than having to go through them alone!! He has compassion and unfailing love for us; plus a covenant of peace. Today: Thank God for showing His love to us by being with us through challenges.

August 9~ Matthew 22 | This chapter is very fun, it’s a little different than what we’ve been reading lately because it’s filled with a few parables but each has such good lessons. I challenge you to read them and think about what is going on!! I find it so interesting that Jesus knew every answer to those who were trying to test Him. I find it interesting that He says you don’t know the Bible to those who are falsely speaking the word. I pray that we would NEVER be that way, that whatever I say and speak about it true and right in the eyes of the Lord. We are called to LOVEEE others AGAIN!! if Jesus has not made His point to me/us yet then goodness LOL. Today: help me, Lord to love others as you have first loved me. Thank you for displaying your love to us. Help me to NEVER speak any false words but only truth. Help me to give you my whole heart, my whole soul, and my whole mind.

August 10~ 1 Peter 1 | God has given us so much. He gave His son. We have been given a beautiful hope and peace. During our sufferings, (v.7) it “refines” us it results in glory, praise, and honor to JESUS! Even though we haven’t physically seen Jesus, we still TRUST and BELIEVE in Him. We love God, even though we haven’t seen Him yet. We are filled with joy and faith when we do this! Be holy, be alert, be sober-minded because this is what we’re called to do. As obedient children, we should lay back on our old and evil ways we once walked in (v. 13-15). JESUS is the reason we have eternal life... the reason we have the hope in Christ and a relationship that promised eternal life. (verse 21: reread this verse!!!) Things of this earth WILL pass but Jesus lives forever (v. 25). Today: Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for us and “refining” us in your love poured out on the cross! Prayers for today that you would help us live in the ways you have called us to today & help us meditate on your word!!

August 11~ Micah 6 | The Israel people are going through a tough time. They want to question God and ask why these things are happening to them? Micah speaks of the people and goes back to tell them all that the LORD has been saving them from and despite these challenges, He is GOOD!! today: trust in His love for us! He has a plan for everything and it might be hard but He might be protecting us from something!

August 12~ Hosea 11 | “God's love for Israel” God showed love for His people. He guided them and “let them grow up.” Then they turned on Him. They chose to worship idols and honor other things and not God. He continued to watch over them but they didn’t realize it was God who had saved them (v. 3). Loved this verse-> “I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them, I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” Hosea‬ ‭11:4‬. Today: thank God for Love through our sinning and evil lives. Thank Him for constantly being there for us and calling us back to Him!

August 13- Psalm 23 | This chapter is so good, it’s also a little short so I challenge you today to read through it slowly and try to understand what God is teaching you today!! God is the Good Shepherd for us. He guides us, refreshes, and comforts us. We are the sheep, He is the Shepard. This psalm is so sweet!! God shows His love to us through caring and guiding His sheep. “The LORD is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Verse1) If we have God, we have everything we need! Today: I love how God shows His love to us through being our perfect and caring Shepard! Thank you Jesus for loving us and guiding us in our lives!

August 14- Psalm 25 | I put my trust in You. No shame for those who have hope in Him. verses 4-5 >>🔥 “Show me your ways Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” God forgives our old sins IF we are saved and truly follow Him. Remembering His love, you are GOOD!!!! “All of the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful to toward those who keep the demand of His covenant.” (v. 10) “My eyes are EVER on the Lord!!!” (V. 15a). My hope is in YOU!! (v. 21) today: Thank you Lord for showing your love to us by your forgiveness, and graciousness. Thank you for loving us despite our failures and for forgiving us sinners, because we are saved through Jesus' death on the cross! Help us to live out verses 5 and 20-21 today!!!

August 15- Psalm 27 | The Lord is..... our SALVATION, our light, stronghold, protection from darkness, beautiful, our shelter and goodness!! There is much to learn in this chapter. There is NOTHING to fear in Him because He is the stronghold of our lives! We desire and long for the day to be in Heaven with Jesus. He keeps us safe and “sets me high upon a rock.” “Teach us your ways God and lead me in a straight path.” (Verse 11). Be STRONG & take HEART in the Lord today in the waiting. Today: thank you Lord for showing your love to us through many of the things we read today!! It was filled with truth about You and we are so glad to get to know you more and more!! Thank you for all your goodness; we love you! Amen.

August 16~ Psalm 36 | This passage is so powerful!! verse 1, to fear God, is to know God. It says that “their own eyes they flatter themselves“ >> we shouldn’t have any heart of pride in us. We should act wisely, do good, and reject what’s wrong (v.3/4) His love is described so many ways in the next few verses. His love can reach any depth and it’s priceless!! His love is unfailing and protects the ones who live Him. It’s light and can fulfill our lives. (V. 5-12) today: thank God for extending his love to us. Thank Him for giving us his unfailing and priceless love. Help us today to fear the Lord and do good!

August 17~ Psalm 63 | David is writing as he is in a desert. He’s talking to God and praising Him. I challenge you to read slowly through these verses and meditate on how close of a relationship Jesus wants with us!! We glorify God always and lift our hands for his praise! His love is better than our entire lives and He can satisfy us like nothing else in this world can! God is our help and He gives us His protection (v. 7) We can cling to His protection! Today: Thank God for displaying His love through a relationship with us. Help us today to love God more than our own lives. Thank Him for giving us His protection and in return, we will praise Him!! Today help us to honor God with our whole beings. I want to thirst for Him only and teach me to fully satisfied in HIM only!

August 18~ Psalm 89| Words of the Lord's faithfulness has come up many times in this chapter. GOD IS FAITHFUL. He loves us and wants the best for us to further His kingdom. He is the God over the earth and the Heavens (v. 11) His love remains forever (v. 2) He protects us! It says the enemy gets the better of him (v. 22) God's love is always with us despite our failures (v. 24). Today: Thank God for his love and for being the God of everything. Help us to be found in His love today and thank Him for the cross.

August 18~ Psalm 107 | WOWWW, I absolutely love this chapter! This might be one of my favorites. It had a repeating few verses. The whole chapter is of thanksgiving to God. In this chapter, it talks about a group of people who are letting their sin drag them into a life spent away from God. They end up hitting a rough spot and begin to cry out to God for help. He loves them so much, so he delivers them from their hardships and the people are so grateful and they praise Him for it! Then...... this scenario repeats a few times. Finally, things go from good to bad, and from bad to good. It ends by telling us that the wicked people will hear/see/read this and will shut their mouths. While the upright will REJOICE their God and his actions! The final verse says (v. 43). “Let the one who is wise heed (notice, pay attention too) these things, and ponder (think about, study) the loving deeds of the Lord” Psalm 107: 43. Today: Dear God, help us to be the wise people who understand the depth of your love and praise you for it. Help us to never let our circumstances make us view your love differently. Thank you for constantly showing your love to us!

August 19 ~ Psalm 119 | We learn that by seeking God, following His word and walking in His ways, that’s what it means to follow Jesus. He calls these people blessed. It keeps us pure, delighted, and honoring in God. As I read this, I wrote down the verse that stood out to me the most. I thought about this verse and what it means for my life. Today, I challenge you to try it also. Maybe you want to write this in a journal or highlighting it and meditate on how to apply this to your life!! Mine was verses 36 & 37. “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”Psalms‬ ‭119:36-37‬. I love this verse because it talks about the giving of ourselves to be made complete/full in Jesus. It’s hard sometimes, but this verse is a great reminder that everything He has, is better. Today: Meditate on the verse you chose. Think and pray about how you can apply that to your life! Thank God for showing His love to us through caring about our faithfulness/heart to Him.

August 20~ John 13: 1-17 | He loved until the end!! (This doesn’t mean that His love ended there obviously, but it helps us understand that He loved & loved & loved & continued to love others, until His time on earth was complete! Jesus was humble and loving to stop and make a beautiful example of washing the disciple's feet. He shows His love through serving and challenges us to follow in this as He demonstrated (v. 14-15). He loved everyone and served them that night even knowing that one would betray Him. Today: Thank you Lord for showing your love for us/others by giving us an example of serving others. You showed us how to love others despite what they might do to us. Help us today to serve in love like you did in your amazing example.

August 22 ~ John 14: 15-30 | If we love God, we will keep His commands (v. 15) This means sacrificing our desires and following what His word says. We should do this because we LOVE Jesus and choose our relationship with Him over anything! It is so much easier said than done!! I was thinking about this today. The Holy Spirit and God are our advocates and they can help us (v. 16). The father brings peace through His Son. It also elaborates again on how those who truly love God will strive to keep His commands (v. 21). “Anyone who loves me will obey my teachings.” - Jesus, v.23. Jesus loves the Father and obeys His commands (v. 31).

August 23~ 1 John 2 | Jesus is OUR advocate. He is the PERFECT atonement for our sins and ALL OF THE SINS the world (v.2). Those who keep His commands, know Him. If we claim to know Him, we MUST live as Jesus did...verse 6. We cannot hate someone and love Jesus at the same time. We cannot love the world and love Jesus at the same time, because they conflict. The world and it’s things WILL pass away but the Lord remains FOREVER! Today: Help us to live as you did because we know You! Thank you for showing your love through being our atonement sacrifice and for helping us to live like you!

August 24~ 1 John 4| We need to pray for discernment between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood. “LET us love one another, for love comes from God.” (Verse 7). GOD IS LOVE!!! those who love know Him truly (v. 7-8). GOD loved us so much that He sent His son to die the death we deserved on the cross for our sins.. that we could have a relationship with Him!! He calls us to love as He first loved!! This is not by our love at all, but only by His. “... His love is made complete in us.” -Verse 12. That’s why we must love others so that they can see Jesus through us and want to KNOW Him!! He has given us His Spirit if we are His children (v.13). We MUST love others... so so important (verse 21). Today: Thank you Lord for showing us your love through your LOVE & commands!! Give us opportunities today to love people!!! Let your name be glorified and reign overall!!

August 25~ Proverbs 3 | Today’s chapter is full of Truth!! love and faithfulness are the two main characteristics that she calls to be FAVORABLE in the sight of the Lord!! It says to “...write them on the tablet of our hearts.” It should “...never leave us.” And other verse says to TRUST in the Lord with our whole being and NEVER to trust in our understanding but only Gods! If we submit to Him and His plan for our lives, He will straighten our paths. We should fear the Lord and shun evil (v. 7). In verse 11-12, she tells her son not to dislike the correction God gives to us. she compares it to a father who parents his child and corrects them when they misbehave. The father does this out of love for his kid to grow up and behave better. It’s the same way with God. We are His children and he loves us and out of that love, He corrects us when we do wrong. Finally, it talks about a godly woman. Notice how never is it mentioned about her physical beauty.... it never says she fits this specific body type, she has this color hair or wears these clothes. It never says anything about that. Rather, it says she is full of wisdom. She is more precious than rubies. She is peaceful and blessed. She is honorable and a blessing to others. Today: Thank God for showing His love through His correction in our lives. Thank Him for letting us read this chapter of wisdom to help grow us closer to Him. Help us to write these godly characteristics on the tablets of our hearts and never to look at the physical appearance but rather focusing on the inner one!

August 26~ Proverbs 10| We have two choices. Do we want to follow God and allow Him to make us righteous and wise? Or do we want to follow the world and be foolish/ wicked? It gives us so many examples in these verses on which is which. Some of these to be completely honest, I’m not sure where I fall :( it was convicting to read things about holding your tongue (v.19) and accepting correction (v.8). Today: thank God for showing His love to us by helping us see wise/ foolish choices. I pray that you would help correct us in any way we act foolishly!!

August 27~ Romans 5 | We have hope because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. THANK YOU JESUS. We stand and preserve through suffering because that leads us to character... and character leads us to hope (v. 4). God’s love was poured out for us!!!!! (V. 5) He died for the ungodly, to have a relationship with us. We were sinners who were dirty and wicked, in need of a savior.. and he poured out his heart and sacrificed His life for us to be that SAVIOR. We shall be saved, through HIS life!! (V. 10). The next few verses finishing the chapter remind us that just as one man/ sin started the sinful nature curse.... the sake of one man's life sacrificially dying for us, is what can save us all!! Today: THANK YOU JESUS for dying on the cross for me and those reading this today. I know that some may not know you and I pray you would reveal to them the life that you can give and forgiveness you bring. For those who know you, remind us to never become numb to the goodness of the cross. Thank you for the freeing life you give to us through your sacrifice and thank you for displaying your love through the cross!!

August 28~ Romans 8 | The law of the spirit > the law of death/ sin. “A sinful flesh to be a sinful offering.” Jesus cane and was the sinful offering for us, he was sinless yet He took on our sin so that we could live in Him. The spirit's desires bring life and peace, the flesh’s desires bring death. Flesh: hostile in what they do, cannot submit to God's law, cannot please God. The Holy Spirit gives us life!! If we are truly saved and know God, we will have the Holy Spirit in us. He calls us to put to death the desires of the world to gain more of Jesus and truly live!! We must choose to live in the spirit or the flesh. Obligation: duty or commitment. Today: Reveal to us our obligations. Am I truly living in the spirit on all occasions? Thank you for sending your son Jesus and allowing us to have the Holy Spirit in us!!

August 29~ Galatians 2 | Our works cannot get us to heaven. It’s a false idea that we all have tried to achieve before, that what I do can earn how much or little God loves me. In the Bible, it says that Jesus died for our sins and if we choose to follow Him we can be saved and live with Him in heaven eternally. You cannot work to EARN your salvation. Your works or good deeds we do can be used to glorify God and serve others, but it never determines if we are saved or not. It also can never change how God views you and your life. Today: Thank God for showing His love through how He loves us despite our failures and reminds us today that deeds/works can’t determine God's love for us or earning our salvation.

August 30~ Galatians 5| This is SO good y’all!!! God wants us to be free, that’s why He sent His son for us!! if this is true, then WHY should we ever be bonded to anything. Also, we have been reminded that nothing matters except “...faith expressing itself through love (v.6)” We need to watch who we surround ourselves with because they can persuade us, to be evil or obeying the truth (v.7). God granted us freedom when Jesus died on the cross. This freedom comes from life in Jesus/ relationship with Him. This freedom is NOT to live as the world says too, but rather to live freely in who He has called us too. We should use our freedom to honor God and glorify Him not to gratify the flesh. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There it is love again... showing God's love to others. In verses 19-21, it lists sins that we all commit. We need to give these to God and allow Him to forgive us of them... people who live without forgiveness over these cannot inherit the kingdom :( that’s why it’s our job to show them this free & amazing gift of Jesus with them!! So that they can be forgiven, in a relationship with Him, and inherit the kingdom one day!! There is NO LAW over those who are in Him!! Praise God, we are not held to that standard !! Let’s live in the spirit! Today: THANK YOU JESUS showing your life through the freedom you give to us!! Remind me today to live “in step” with the spirit. Help me to extend love to others and help them to know you so they can experience all that YOU have to offer!! Help others to seek a relationship with their amazing and awesome Father! Thank You again, Jesus!

August 31~ Luke 6 | Today’s chapter had many many valuable lessons to be learned. As we read today, let’s try to focus on what God is wanting us to hear in each paragraph!! Here’s what I got as a review from today:

•v.1-11: Jesus lived out of step with the normal worldly views. He did good and He honored His father before He followed what the world said.

•v.12-16: He spent so much time praying to God, that’s an encouragement to me!

•v.17-26: if we are saved, we have soo much hope in Jesus and Heaven. What a day to come! Be careful if everyone talks good about you because if we’re following Jesus correctly, not everyone should like us.

•v. 27-36: Help us to be merciful God. Help us to love all people, people who do us wrong, and people who do us right. They are all worthy of your love and praise.

•v. 37- 42: if we judge others, we will be judged. If we don’t judge others, we won’t be judged. Help us to not live hypocritically.

•v. 43- 45: let us be a good tree that bears good fruit and honors God always.

•v. 46- 49: we should build our “house” our lives in a strong foundation. We can do this by reading God's word and obeying it!! We should put into practice His command.