Casandra Martin

There aren’t any songs about staying in love. Falling in love gets all the melodies and attention. Those first moments when everything is fresh, new, and simple are what inspire poetry, love songs, and movie scripts. Falling in love finds us with stars in our eyes, carefully chosen outfits, and fresh manicures. Staying in love has to deal with the reality of dirty socks, sick kids, overdue bills, and empty cereal boxes. It is better pictured with a little less style and a lot more substance. Falling in love is easy. Anybody can trip and tumble into a song, a date, or a romantic moment. It takes something deeper to get up and daily make the choice to walk together – no matter what the day holds.

Staying in love means staying when escape sounds so much better. It means cleaning up messes you didn’t make, forgiving what hurts, listening with grace, praying through the pain, wrestling with worries, and seeing when all you want to do is close your eyes. This determination to stay in love goes beyond marriages. Its resolve flows into the core of what it means to be friends, parents, siblings, children, and neighbors. To stay in love is to stay. To plant our hearts in the relationships that define us, digging down deep to create roots that will nourish us, anchor us, and connect us for the long run.

We learn how to stay in love with our spouses, friends, and families by living in the stay-in-love reality of the cross. God’s love sees us through the tough times. He stays, even when I am less than beautiful, less than gracious, less than holy, and less than who He wants me to be. Every day, He holds out His hand and makes the stay-in-love choice to walk with me through the ugly and the lovely.

My Jesus Resolution today is to stay in love. Margaret Bonanno said, “It is only possible to live happily ever after on a daily basis.” I love that thought. If I want to live happily ever after, I have to decide how to do that today. The best way to stay in love is to fix myself firmly in the love of Christ. His love empowers me to stay in love in all my other relationships.

Love is on everybody’s mind. Valentine’s Day is approaching and everyone’s attention is turned toward celebrating the relationships that make our life sweet with joy and rich in wonder. This season of love is also a good time to reflect on our relationship with Christ. Are we growing closer to the One who loves us beyond measure? Are our times together sweeter, our conversations deeper, our walk together closer? Like all relationships, our connection with God grows when we invest our hearts in His heart.

Here are ten ways to fall in love with God all over again.

1. Listen to His voice.

2. Spend time in His presence.

3. Hold His hand.

4. Be quiet together.

5. Take a walk.

6. Learn His heartbeat.

7. Name His attributes.

8. Count your blessings.

9. Trust His love.

10. Tell Him your heart’s desire.

My Jesus Resolution today is to open my heart to deeper love. No relationship survives long on cruise control. All relationships need time, attention, and a commitment to being fully present. This is especially true of my relationship with the Lord. I want to be overwhelmed by His love and give my heart fully to loving Him. I am going to take some time this week, as I express my love for the special people in my life, to remind my heart why I love Jesus and to delight in all the ways that He loves me.

The worry wraps around my heart like a cord, strangling my peace and suffocating my joy. This darkness squeezes my soul tight. Fear sneaks in, causing me to waver. I tell myself to breathe. This season will pass. The heaviness that presses in, making the way seem muddled and unsure, will lift eventually. Right? I hope so. I desperately want to hope so.

Struggles do more than wrench our peace. They can change the way we see. The mountains look more daunting, the valleys have more shadows, and the path seems to twist dangerously close to the edge. What came easily before requires more effort and energy than our hurting hearts can manage. Our lives spin upside down, causing us to lose our balance and our sense of being able to move forward.

On days like this, I need to remember a perspective-changing truth. Billy Graham put it this way. “I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.” Here is truth that my heart aches to hear. We know the end of the story. This difficult chapter is just that – a piece of the story. But it isn’t the final word. God has already revealed the ending. It finishes with an enemy defeated, a Lamb enveloped in glory, and a heaven filled with Christians who held His hand till the end.

My Jesus Resolution today is to remember the end of the story. What happens today is a page in my story. In every story, there is conflict, struggle, and heartache. The beauty of the story is found in the way that those difficulties help move the character toward the final purpose of the author. This chapter may be filled with tears, but the end of the story is pure joy.

We live in an “I can” society. Everything is measured by what we can do. The more we can do, the more valuable the world says that we are. There is enormous pressure to not let your “can’ts” show. We become adept at hiding our “can’ts” because we fear what others will say when they find out the truth. Our world makes it clear that it doesn’t have any place for those with more can’ts than cans.

Here is the truth. I can’t. And that is okay. Learning to say those words opens the door to freedom. I can’t be strong enough. I can’t do enough. I can’t know enough. I can’t be good enough. Faith is built on the reality that I can’t, but God can. If I never learn to say “I can’t,” then there is no room in my life for all the God cans.

Paul spoke about the grace that is found in learning to say “I can’t” in 2 Corinthians 12:9. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Sometimes our I can’ts are the best framework for God’s I cans.

My Jesus Resolution today is to admit I can’t. It is hard to say. I like the façade of having it all together, knowing all the answers, and being able to do it on my own. But “I can” can hide me from the beauty of grace. It takes humility to admit that I am broken, weak, and not able to do it myself. But every time I can say “I can’t,” God’s love envelopes me and whispers, “I can.”

What has God called you to do?

I have been spending time in the book of Colossians. The beginnings of the epistles rarely get much of our notice. They are the prologue that we skim through in order to get to the meat of the letter. But within these opening words, there is great truth and places for us to stop and reflect on God’s call on our lives.

Colossians begins with this statement. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,” (Colossians 1:1). Paul serves as an apostle by the will of God. Bearing the message of Christ to the Gentiles is what God called Paul to do. How would you fill in the blanks in that sentence? _______________ (insert your name), a ___________________ (what do you do for Jesus?) by the will of God. How you complete that sentence is important. Understanding that we walk in the purpose and will of God gives our days definition and direction.

Are you a mom? Love your kids knowing that God has given them to you for His glory. Are you a teacher, a nurse, an accountant, or an executive? Do your job with the understanding that God has put you in that place in order to shine as a light for Him. Do you teach Bible class, rock babies, make casseroles, or send cards? Walk into each one of those moments knowing God’s hand guides you as you serve Him.

My Jesus Resolution today is to frame my identity within the will of God. God has opened doors of opportunity for me to serve Him. The particulars don’t matter nearly as much as my understanding that God is working in me and through me to accomplish His purpose. When I can hold onto the truth that my family, my job, my service, and my friendships all hold the potential to reflect Jesus, it changes how I see the little things that define my days. Each task, each conversation, each item on my to-do list becomes a moment in which I can see God and others can see Him in me.

“…but the righteous are bold as a lion.” – Proverbs 28:1b

My son loves the Disney movie The Lion King. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times we have watched that movie. The story follows a family of lions as the youngest, Simba, discovers who he is and whether he has what it takes to follow his destiny. Simba’s father, Mufasa, is everything that the King of the Beasts should be – strong, confident, wise, and larger-than-life. His evil brother, Scar, uses lies, trickery, and deceit to steal the throne, banishing Simba even as he destroys his confidence and steals his future.

When we talk about being bold, the world often pictures Scar. He is bold in the sense that he is willing to take risks in order to steal the spotlight. He knows what he wants and takes whatever steps he needs to take in order to get what he wants. Simba, on the other hand, has to find a different kind of boldness in order to reclaim the legacy that is his birthright. Friendship, honesty, humility, and certainty of purpose empower Simba to face his uncle and take his place in the circle of life.

God means for you to be bold. Boldness is the fruit born in a heart that has put on the armor of God. Bold really has two different definitions. The first is the idea of courage. Boldness is the inner strength to step up, speak out, and stand firm. The second is a picture of distinctiveness. Bold type stands out from the page. A bold color draws the eye. A bold move sets one apart from the crowd. Putting on Christ gives us the boldness, the courage, and the fearlessness we need to stand with God in the middle of our struggles. It empowers us to take the next step, speak the needed word, or get up one more time. Wearing the armor of God makes us distinctive in a world that wants us to blend in and gives us the boldness we need to live in His purpose.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be bold. Boldness is not flashy or flamboyant. Boldness is the courage to look like Jesus every day, in every place. It isn’t noisy and doesn’t call attention to itself. Boldness simply does what is necessary to follow Jesus all the way.

“Pray without ceasing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Some days we move through this world as the walking wounded. Our hearts hurt. Tears fall. Fear and faith feel like they are in a wrestling match in our souls. Putting on the armor of God helps us stand, rather than stumble as we navigate the struggles of this life. Prayer is the final piece that pulls all the rest together.

In prayer, very simple but amazing things happen. When we pray, we make a declaration of faith that transforms us even as the first words are spoken. Bowing our heads acknowledges that God is here, God is real, and God is listening. Prayer helps us look at our circumstances and see through them, around them, and  beyond them. When we pray, we do so because we believe that God is active in our world and willing and able to move on our behalf. Prayer understands that the One who lives in the highest heavens is willing to step into my struggles and make a way for me to walk more closely with Him.

Prayer is like a tether. It keeps us tied to God. It fixes our hope in the power of God. It prevents us from drifting away from God. It keeps my heart soft, my spirit humble, and my life bound to Him in dependence and trust.

My Jesus Resolution today is to put on prayer. I have never met a person of great faith who is not also a person of deep prayer. That understanding is both humbling and convicting. Putting on prayer changes it from a “do” to a “be.” I don’t just want to pray. I want to be a person of prayer. When I put on prayer, I invite God into the middle of who I am and where I walk. I want the connection I share with God to so permeate who I am that prayer surrounds every conversation, saturates every encounter, and fills every breath.

“I have stored up your word in my heart…” – Psalm 119:11a

Putting on the armor of God empowers us to stand in the difficult places of life, rather than being run over by fear, desperation, and despair. The armor doesn’t make life easy. It gives us the courage and the perspective we need to face our struggles with grace and walk with Him in full surrender.

Perhaps no piece of armor penetrates the needs of our souls more pointedly than the Word of God. In the Bible, we hear His voice, enter His presence, see His hand, and experience His love. Here are ten ways to practice putting on the Word of God.

1. Study His Word – dig deeply into the treasures God wants to give you through His Word.

2. Meditate on His Word – let His Word soak down into the thirsty crevices of your heart.

3. Sing His Word – allow a melody to shape your steps and define your rhythm.

4. Read His Word – reading His Word is like turning on the light. It illuminates everything.

5. Speak His Word – talk to someone else about how God’s Word is speaking to you.

6. Listen to His Word – let His words echo in your mind as you learn to listen to His voice.

7. Write His Word – slowing down to write a verse down helps us write it on our hearts.

8. Memorize His Word – when you memorize scripture, it becomes a part of you in a way that is special and unique.

9. Carry His Word – put the Bible on your phone and check your “messages” from God.

10. Live His Word – the best way to cement the Word in your life is to live the Word and let it be your life.

My Jesus Resolution today is to put on the Word of God. I want it to saturate the core of who I am. I want it to shape my spirit, transform my soul, define my vision, and mark my steps. Sometimes because the Word of God is so readily available I get complacent about being deliberate about putting it on. Today that changes. God chooses to speak to me. He wants me to know Him. He invites me into His presence. The Bible is more than an amazing book. It reveals an amazing God. Time to put it on and experience the amazing things He has in store for me.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13

The day I got married changed my life. It changed my name, my address, my identity, my perspective, and the way I lived each piece of the day. Now my decisions had to be made in the light of this new relationship. My actions became tethered to the well-being of another person. Love took on dimensions I had never imagined.

Fast forward to today. Years have passed. Anniversaries have been celebrated. Our family has grown, and we have developed a rhythm that comes from living and loving together for a long time. I am still married. Just as married as I was on the day I said, “I do.” Yet, I have matured in my understanding of what it means to be married. I have a better picture of what it takes to be a wife, to love through thick and thin, and to rest confidently in the love that God has given us.

The moment of salvation is like a wedding day. In baptism, we commit to belonging to God and accept the relationship He so wants to share with us. It is a moment of transformation that moves us from death to life and changes our names, identity, purpose, and perspective. The Holy Spirit moves in and we begin to learn what it means to live in rhythm with God. As time passes, we mature in our understanding of what it means to put on salvation. We are saved, but we grow in our salvation as we learn and experience the richness and beauty of being loved by God.

My Jesus Resolution today is to put on salvation. God has made me amazing, faithful, heart-changing promises. He wants me to have confidence in His grace, assurance in His purpose, and faith in His constant presence. Salvation isn’t a one-time action that I mark on a calendar and becomes dusty history. Salvation is a commitment to a relationship that becomes sweeter with each step we take together.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

One of our little friends just got glasses. He looks very cute and is very proud of how smart they make him look. When we asked him if he likes his new glasses, he said, “Sure, now I can see.” Before glasses, he didn’t realize that there was a whole unblurry world out there for him to enjoy. He thought that fuzziness was a reality for everyone. It is amazing how rich the colors are, how deep the horizon goes, and how limitless the possibilities are when our vision is clear.

Faith is in many ways a vision word. It is a way of seeing the world, of looking at life, at choosing a path, and understanding our circumstances. It is a decision to see ourselves through the eyes of God. His truth becomes the lens that gives us focus. It helps us step around the potholes, avoid the traps, and recognize the world’s mirrors of misdirection.

Faith is the choice to trust God enough to move with Him. There is no such thing as theoretical faith. Faith expresses itself in the decision to walk where He walks, rest where He rests, and follow where He leads. It is not always easy. We stand in difficult moments that require hard heart choices. Will I trust that God is in this moment? That He loves me? That He is keeping His promises? That I can trust Him when everything around me is crumbling and doesn’t make sense? Faith says “yes” to God even when we can’t see anything but “no.”

My Jesus Resolution today is to put on faith. Faith works a lot like a seed in our lives. It has to develop roots, be nurtured, and given time and space to grow. The better I know God, the deeper my faith roots can go into His heart. Every time I surrender, it stretches my faith and expands my ability to see more clearly. Faith allows me to see the richness, depth, glory, and beauty of the life God wants me to live. I don’t want to live a fuzzy, blurry life. I want to live a life that is focused by faith.