21 Days of Prayer & FastingSample

Relationships

Loving God is knowing God through personal experience. It’s easy to wonder how someone can call themselves a Christian and act in selfish or unkind ways. The truth is, a genuine relationship with God requires action—unselfish acts of love and sacrificial kindness, not just knowledge or admiration from a distance. Without personal experience of God's love, we become like fans who know a lot about someone but have no real connection.

In our faith journey, it's not enough to know about God; we must know Him intimately through the actions we take in His name. This happens when we are led by His love, not by selfish gain or desires. As I reflect on my own life, especially in my roles as a spouse and parent, I realize how often I need to change my attitudes and actions to align with God’s love. This is where the process of Revelation, Reflection, Inventory, and Amends can make a significant difference.

In Luke 6, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand by telling him to stretch it forth. In the same way, we all have areas in our lives—like impatience or unforgiveness—that need healing. When God reveals these to us, He invites us to stretch forth those areas to Him, trusting His power to bring wholeness. Through prayer, reflection, and humility, we allow God to transform our hearts and actions.

By spending time in God’s Word and in prayer, we open ourselves to His voice and His healing touch, allowing Him to bring life to the parts of us that need restoration. This is how we deepen our relationship with Him and grow in His love.

Reflection Questions:

• In what areas of your life do you feel disconnected from God’s love, and how can you invite Him to heal those areas?
• How can you show unselfish love and sacrificial kindness in your daily interactions?
• What steps can you take today to build a deeper, more personal relationship with God?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your love that invites me into a deeper relationship with You. Help me to move beyond knowing about You and truly experience Your love in every area of my life. Reveal to me the places where I need healing and give me the strength to stretch forth and surrender them to You. May I reflect Your love in all that I do, and grow closer to You each day. In Jesus' name, Amen.