Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

1 Corinthians 13 NIV

Take time to click above and read today’s featured scripture that is commonly referred to as the love chapter in the Bible. This chapter is often used in weddings as a summary of what love is and how love should look. Only God has shown perfect love, but we should always work to be more like Christ and reflect the love of God.

Today is Fruit Friday. As you probably know, Julie’s word for 2026 is “fruit of the Spirit” guided by Galatians 5:22-23 — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Click here to read Julie’s post from January 1, 2026 about her word of the year.

The first characteristic of showing the fruit of the Spirit is love. How are you showing the fruit of love? Do others know you are a Christian by your love? What actions have you taken to replicate the love of Christ? 

Join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, may each day I grow more like Christ by loving others as You would have me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

1 John 4:19-21 NIV —  We love because he first loved us.Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Ouch! My toes are getting stepped on this week. As I shared yesterday and in today’s featured scripture, God commands us to love others. He doesn’t say to just love those who love us or only love those who agree with our thinking. He says to love all. Today’s scripture also tells us that if we hate others then we are lying about loving God. God loves even those whose words and actions make them unloveable. Loving all is not easy and loving all must be intentional. I am reminded that loving all must be a daily, hourly, moment by moment commitment. Today I challenge you to write out and commit to memory a short sentence you can pray throughout your day to remind you to love others, even when their words and actions are unloveable. We must love others because God loves us.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to love as You love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

1 John 4:7-12 — Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Do you love others? Be sure to really read the scripture above and pay attention to God’s words about loving others. Measured against the scripture, do you love others?

If I am being honest and transparent, I find it easy to love others who are like minded with me. I freely shower them with kind words and actions. However, it is also easy to ignore others who have not been nice to me or who have purposely shut me out of communication. I can simply avoid situations or areas where there are others whoare different from me or may challenge me. No matter how uncomfortable I may be, God’s word tells me that Jesus came for all and as a result, I should also love all. 

I ask again, do you love others? Who is God calling you to love this Water Walking Wednesday? Are you willing to step out of your boat of comfort and walk on water and truly love others?

Join me in prayer. Heavenly Father, open my eyes to those I have avoided loving to protect my comfort. Give me the courage to truly love others as You have charged me to do, just as you have love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Thoughts by Deborah Ard

John 3:1-21 NIV

John 3:16 NIV — For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Whether you are a Christ follower or not, you have probably heard of and are familiar with the scripture John 3:16. Search the internet for the most popular or most widely known scripture and John 3:16 is the first or second result. You may have seen John 3:16 on billboards, bumper stickers, T-shirts, or the faces of football players. In fact, it was the first scripture I memorized as a child.

While you may have seen or heard of John 3:16, do you understand or believe the message of this popular scripture? It in fact holds the meaning of the Gospel in just a few words. John 3:16 encapsulates God’s overwhelming love for us. Have you accepted and embraced God’s love for you? How can you share God’s love with others?

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for your eternal love that encompasses me. May all that I say and do reflect Your love as I trust You to guide and direct my steps. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard

This week will be filled with love. I will share some biblical thoughts on love each day and we will end on Saturday, February 14th, which is Valentine’s Day which is known as the Day of Love. Before we start our week, take some time to read and meditate on the scripture verses below that will be featured this week.

John 3:1-21 NIV

1 John 4:7-12 — Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:19-21 NIV —  We love because he first loved us.Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 Corinthians 13 NIV

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV — Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

This week we will focus on love. There are so many Christian songs about love since love is at the center of Christianity. However, I have chosen a few that focus on the focus of the blog this week. Take some time to worship and praise God as you listen to the songs below.

God So Loved by We The Kingdom

Love of God by Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham

By Our Love by For King and Country

Today’s thoughts are by Julie Wicker

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

We all have the same opportunity to surrender to God’s will as Jesus did in today’s key verse. This week we have shared on getting unstuck.

We don’t always understand why things happen the way they do. It is easy to get stuck in our faith when there is evil and sickness in the world. Life isn’t a Hallmark movie. You don’t always fall in love, or get healed, or get the promotion. We can’t let what we see get us stuck from knowing the goodness of God. It is not easy praying for God’s will. 

Are you feeling stuck? On January 3, 2026 Ray shared his mantra for this year, “accept what God allows.” Acceptance is the first step toward getting unstuck and surrender to God’s perfect will. How will you use your God opportunities to move forward? Just as God didn’t forsake Jesus, He has not forgotten you. God sacrificed His only son so that we could have eternal life. This side of heaven is just a vapor of time. If you don’t know Jesus as your personal savior, we encourage you to visit our Steps To Peace page.

Let’s pray David’s prayer through Psalm 86.

We hope you will continue to join us daily to read and hear God’s word. You can subscribe to our daily blog at waterwalkers29.com.

@biblegateway @youversion