9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Romans 12:9-16 NLT
Life feels really heavy sometimes, doesn’t it? With so much division, heartache, and unknowns swirling around us, it can be tempting to let our hearts grow cold or closed off. But God gives us a different way — a better way — to live and love, right here in Romans 12.
He invites us to a love that’s real. Not surface-level, not obligatory, not “love” just because it sounds nice — but a love that digs deep, shows up, and truly cares. A love that holds tightly to what is good even when the world around us feels anything but good.
And notice, it’s not all about big, flashy gestures. It’s about steady faithfulness.
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Work hard.
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Serve God with passion.
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Be patient in trouble.
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Keep praying, even when you don’t see the answer yet.
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Practice hospitality — not only when it’s convenient, but because people need to know they’re seen and welcomed.
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Bless even those who make your life difficult.
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Celebrate with the joyful. Sit in sadness with the grieving.
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Stay humble. Stay teachable. Stay connected.
This isn’t just an instruction manual for surviving hard times — it’s a guide to thriving with a heart that looks more and more like Jesus.
Friend, we’re in this together. You’re not expected to do all of this perfectly or all at once. But every small step of real love, every choice to honor, serve, bless, and pray — it matters. It shapes us. It shines light into dark places. And it brings the Kingdom of God a little closer here on earth.
Let’s Pray:
Take a moment today to ask God to root these words deep in your heart.
Pray for strength to love well, even when it’s hard.
Pray for hope to keep going when you’re tired.
And as a special step of encouragement, pray for the person who commented before you.
May we hold tightly to what is good, together.
Struggle has been the word of the day for quite a while now. The dark valley is pretty deep. To be brutally honest I do lose my way at times, but I always find my way back to prayer and His word. My word for this year is “breathe”.
I pray for my fellow strugglers out there…
Same. But the point is and all that matters is that we keep coming back to Jesus. Breathe, Sandy….❤️
Sandy,
Prayers that you feel God near you always. Know that He loves you more than anything. Asking God to comfort you & walk you through this dark valley to the other side.
Blessings 🙂
Lord I lift Sandy up to you. Please ease her struggles and help her to see You in the little things as well as the big. Thank you for this community of prayer warriors. May we lift one another up daily. In Jesus’ Name..
Please pray for me to walk in purity and genuine love. To have compassion without compromise. To stay faithful to Jesus.
Thank you,
Sasha
Sasha, I’m praying for God to strengthen your spirit in these beautiful qualities of purity, love, compassion, and faith. What an inspiring prayer request for each of us!
Beautifully written. I love the NLT version of the verses, so much easier to understand.
I’m praying for you Sandy.
Praying for you Sasha, Gods got you trust and lean into him.
Please pray my two adult sons’ hearts, minds, and spirits will be healed and renewed by our heavenly Father’s loving touch and divine intervention. Thank you.
Kathleenb,
Father God please work in the hearts, minds & souls of Kathleen’s two adult sons. Renew them & bring them back to you. AMEN
Blessings 🙂
My husband and I are at a Family Life Weekend to Remember and this devotional was the perfect compliment to the whole weekend. Almost 40 years in and we have definitely not been honoring the scripture referenced here. But God. God is faithful and He is at work on my heart. Thank you for this (in)couragement!
Father, thank you for Sharon. She is your treasured daughter and I ask that you would shower her with your love today. Amen.
Lord, I lift up Kathleen and her sons. Please bring peace to this mama’s heart. Please place your hand on her sons hearts! Call them to you, we pray. Amen.
Praying for you, Mary. The Lord delights not in perfection but in your heart and perseverance.
Lisa
My family and I have been living apart due to a job loss and other circumstances that are bringing us back to our hometown after living abroad for 5+ years. I’m tempted at times to lose hope. Life feels overwhelming and we can’t yet see where God is leading us. But, God’s grace and compassion keeps chasing after me and the love and hospitality of friends abound. Lord, keep my eyes on you and use me to bless others and love them well.
Dear Lisa…Something went wrong when I wrote my message to you, so please look under my comment and find my prayer that is for you. Sorry for the mistake………..Betsy Basile
Lisa,
Prayers for peace & comfort as you navigate this transition. Don’t lose hope in Jesus. He will answer your prayers in His perfect timing. Rest in His love, grace & compassion. Take life 1 day at a time. Asking God to send people to you to make you feel welcome & assist in any way they can.
Blessings 🙂
To my beloved (incourage) community of women. You have certainly kept me going ever since my Holy Spirit guided me to your organization. I really love this devotion especially on Sunday, our day that we are getting ready for church and listening to the church bells ringing. All of the points that you made are something that we all should read and remember. It gives us the wisdom to really know what we should be doing. My biggest issue that I need to get past my grief due to my ex- husband now, my son and his wife and my sister who has not spoken to me for 9 years now and I don’t even know where she is. “To Bless the people who have persecuted me, I have no problem to do that, but when it is your only family left my heart just won’t allow me to do it. I have not seen or heard from my now almost 15 year old grandson. The last time I saw him he was 11. My husband then of 54 years has dementia – the violent type and refused to believe it and would not do what the doctors told him he needed to do. I would leave voicemails for my son every week on his father’s condition. He called and told me I was a liar and he did not consider me his mother anymore and that they would not allow me to see or even talk to my grandson. Before I needed to divorce him, he tried to kill me in one of his “Dementia rages”. The doctors had told him the first thing he needed to do was stop ALL alcohol. Instead he increased his drinking and abused me every night for the 3+ years I stayed with him before they told me I had to stop worrying about him and start thinking about my own safety. The neurologists and all my support groups told me after he tried to kill me, that the next time he would kill me with one of the guns that he had in the house and 10 minutes later, he would forget that he did it. Things only got worse from there, but I have taken up enough of your time. It continues and it is not good. I am weary and do pray frequently over every day. This devotion has helped me to read and read and go to my Bible. Thank you so much (in courage) women. I love you all…………..Betsy Basile
Hi Betsy, I read your responses yesterday and today. I’m sorry for what you’re enduring. You are loved. You are brave and You are seen. You are a beautiful daughter of the most high King and He is proud of you. He delights over you in singing – Zephaniah 3:17
Abba Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, triune God; thank you for saving the life of Betsy. Thank you for watching over her and guiding her, thank you that we know that she is not alone. Please redeem and restore the family she has lost with friends that love her and recognize her value. Heal the wounds of her heart and patch them up so that she may receive the love of others. Guide her through the difficult path of forgiveness so that a bitter root doesn’t take over. Bless her and fill her up today. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen
Father, I agree with Rebecca in prayer for Betsy.
Please help all of these lovely ladies feel Your love and presence.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Dear Lisa………….I am so sorry that you are going through all this chaos. I will pray for you and hope that God will get you on the right path for yourself. Living abroad and coming back to the States must be very difficult. None us know what God’s plan is for us so it does get so confusing at times. I am in that season myself for 5 years, but I can tell that Lisa, you are a spiritual person and I think the hardest thing is the waiting until something very good comes our way. You and I must not lose hope as He will answer our prayers in time. The main thing I have found over the years it we need to keep praying and try (it is not easy) to be patient. My love and prayers I send to you. I am 77 years old and have much love to give and I do love you Lisa. Please take care of yourself and we will get though this together…………………..Betsy Basile
Thank you for these words! I have been writing my son a letter for his college graduation and these words are wonderful reminders as he begins a new chapter in his life.
I lift up your son, Heather. May he stay strong in the Lord, even when times are tough and he feels and sure. And I lift you up to Heather at this change in your life. may your relationship with your son grow strong and mutual faith. God bless.
Great! Thanks for publishing!
Praise God!
Thank you for your words of encouragement. Where there is pain hope is my strength.
Thank you for the reminder. Sometimes it’s all so overwhelming- my husband had a stroke 2 months ago, our son is trying? To be a ” recovered”? Addict, and is looking everywhere for a job
Our home is in need of renovation for handicapped- but I know God is with me through everything.
Lord, I lift up Mary to You. Please give her strength, peace and hope. I pray for more and more healing for her husband, from the stroke. I pray for her son that You help him be completely free of alcohol and that You bless him with a good job. Please provide in every way for Mary and her family. Bless her to have her house renovated for they need it Lord. Father God, thank You for Mary’s humble heart. Help her in every way she needs help. Show her more of Your goodness Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God nudged me to read your words today. Your post was the encouraging reminder I needed. Thank you for listening to God’s prompts to share His hope.
My work has been heavy with hurting children and families. Their pain and the repercussions for lack of intervention have felt overwhelming to me. I so needed the reminder of what my responsibility is in the role God has given me and the hope that is available, not only for me, but especially for them. I may feel overwhelmed, but He is not.
Lord, I pray for JJ. Bless her and refresh her as she is feeling overwhelmed. Give her rest. May she cast all her worries and cares on You, Lord. You care for her and love her so much, all the details of what she is going through. You feel her pain with her. Bless her as she follows Your Holy Spirit, she follows Your nudges. Continue to guide her, protect her and bless her in Jesus’ name. Amen.
I love your devotional, as always it was so encouraging. I read it this morning. The first part of the verse really stuck out to me today.. “Don’t just pretend to love others, really love them”. During church today, I prayed for the people God put on my heart, including the lead pastor and his wife. When talking to people after church, I tried to really love them, have more eye contact, support and encourage them. My husband and I lingered longer after church than usual, maybe 30 minutes or so. To fellowship and build up and learn from others in the body of Christ. I need to do this more, I need to love people better. With God’s love pouring through me to others. Thankful for (in)courage. Have a blessed, restful Sunday.
First off, I want to pray for all of the comments before mine and after mine. I pray for all your needs and know that God is with you through it all. I pray healing, comfort, peace, encouragement and more are brought to you.
Also, I would like to ask for some prayers for my mom and my sister. They have both had stomach issues for years and it has gotten worse recently. They are both scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy within the next couple of weeks. I ask for healing for them and for some good results from these tests.
In Courage,
A song by Matthew West “Don’t Stop Praying” seems appropriate for this post. Chorus:
Don’t stop praying Don’t stop calling on Jesus’ name
Keep on pounding on Heaven’s door And let your knees wear out the floor
Don’t stop believing ‘Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father’s heard every single word you’re saying So, don’t stop praying.
No matter what you’re going through don’t lose hope. Jesus is close to brokenhearted.
Praying for everyone here. God send your love, peace, & strength to everyone here. Bless them financially, with a discerning mind, & whatever you know they need. Help us all keep the faith in these trying times. May we all know that you are as near as a spoken word.
Blessings 🙂