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….❤️
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..