it starts with Him: a 30 day prayer guide to end human trafficking vol 1 | Page 8

DAY 5 DAY 6 “A new command I give you: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” “...the joy of the Lord is your strength” —Nehemiah 8:10c —John 13:34-35 As we look around it’s easy to see the result of sin in our world. We see violence, hatred, bigotry, human trafficking, poverty, addiction and the list goes on. However, let us not forget that as Christians we are the light and hope of Jesus in a world full of darkness. John tells us that by the way we love we show the world that we are followers of Christ. Do those around you know you are a follower of Christ simply by the way you speak and act—the way you love? What does this love look like? It means that we don’t just say we love the Lord, but we show it in our actions and words. We love by sharing the gospel, by feeding the hungry, by clothing the naked, by building relationships with others and by stepping out of our comfort zone and boldly trusting God to walk beside us. Jesus didn’t say “I encourage you to love one another”. He said “a new command I give you: to love one another just as I have loved you.” This means we are to love one another with mercy and grace, forgiveness, gentleness and compassion. Find hope in the gift of the Holy Spirit and be strengthened and encouraged to love the world around you as you strive to be the light of Christ. Others will know you are His (a follower of Christ) by the way you love. Heavenly Father— Even in the midst of deep sadness and distress, my moment-to-moment choice to rejoice gratefully in God, His work in my life, and His preeminent sovereignty in the world fortifies my ability to stand against the enemies of my soul, even the evil within me. Father— Lean on God, and let His joy empower you to live out the fullness and humility of soul He’s brought to life within you. Submitted by Dave Brown, a nobody, who’s in the process