1 John 3:18-20 — “My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves”. 

February is known as the month of love. In February 2023 I shared my word of the year: “love;” and mantra: “your grace is my armor.”

That particular year I added goals that I could journal and evaluate throughout the year. They are similar to the goals I strive for with Run for God which encourages us to grow spiritually, physically, and mentally closer to God.

Spiritually: Love God first! Matthew 22‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Physically: Love my body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Honor it with self-care and preventative medicine. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 

Mentally: His grace is my armor. Shut down debilitating self-criticism. John‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 

I encourage you to think about your own goals as you meditate on today’s verses.

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