In Love Is the Point, Carlos and Alexa PenaVega take readers on a journey to recognize how God shows love in their daily lives and discover opportunities to share that love with those around them–because love in action is what life is all about.
HarperCollins/Zondervan/Thomas Nelson
Day 1
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Colossians 4:2, Philippians 4:6
In addition to loving people, we also want to make time to love God. The best way I’ve (Lex) found to love God is to nurture that relationship in the same way we invest in our other relationships—by communicating! Before Los and I had kids, one of my favorite things to do was to hunker down in a prayer closet to listen and speak to God. These days, I’m lucky if I can dip into the closet to grab a pair of flip-flops without being interrupted. But I still need to connect with God, maybe more than ever. So, in this season of life, I talk to God throughout the day. After I’ve buckled the kids into their car seats. While I’m stirring soup on the stove. Even in the bathroom! Invest in your relationship with God by talking to Him throughout the day.
What does talking to God during the everyday grind look like for you? Have you done this before, or is this new territory?
LOVE IN ACTION
If this idea about pray-talking to God during the day is new to you, you might need some reminders. Set an alarm or two on your phone so that you’ll be reminded to pause—at work, at home, at the beach—to connect with God.
PRAYER
Father, I want to connect with You more often so that You are my focus throughout the day. Thank You for the promise that You will always hear me. Amen.
Day 2
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:13, John 13:34, Micah 6:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:7
A lot of days (okay, most days), I (Lex) cannot keep up with everything that is happening on my phone: calls, texts, video chats, all the things. Instead of being glued to my phone, I’m changing diapers; I’m helping frustrated toddlers share their toys; I’m making dinner; I’m changing more diapers. (#momlife) But one of the ways I see Carlos consistently loving others is by letting family and friends know he cares through reaching out to text them and see how they’re doing. The general vibe of these texts is, “I’m thinking of you, and I care.” So, across states and oceans, that person might be having a total junk day, and they suddenly get an alert that lets them know that Carlos PenaVega loves them.
Brainstorm ways you can show your love to those you live with (or to your neighbors or coworkers). What can you ask, do, or provide that would be meaningful?
LOVE IN ACTION
Today, ask God to show you one person in your life—near or far—who needs to know you care. Show them the love by either shooting them a text or giving them a call.
PRAYER
Lord, please help me to show Your love to others, and please guide me as I seek to encourage and edify them. Amen.
Day 3
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 7:35, Psalms 119:15, Colossians 3:2, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:8
When our son, Ocean, was an infant and we were down on the floor playing with him, he was surrounded by his toys. As I (Lex) looked at his face, I couldn’t quite get his attention. Honestly, I was dead to him because his toys had his complete focus. And in that moment, I understood the heart of God in a new way. His gaze is fixed on me. His heart yearns for me to look up at Him and smile. But I’m distracted. By texts. By grocery lists. By dirty dishes. That day, a new prayer was born in my heart: “God, please take away all my toys.” I know that’s a risky prayer. But because of what’s at stake—my relationship with my Father—it’s a brave prayer I’ve continued to pray. I always want to have a heart that delights in my Father’s face, and if anything gets in the way of that, I’m willing—no, I’m eager—to release it.
Are you open to asking God to take away your toys? Why or why not?
LOVE IN ACTION
What is one thing that distracts you from the Father? What is your toy of choice? Netflix? Gaming? Something else? Give that one thing to God today.
PRAYER
Father, please forgive me for allowing myself to be distracted from You. Please open my eyes to Your presence around me, and please give me the strength to remove distractions. Amen.
Day 4
Scriptures: Proverbs 18:21, Ephesians 4:29, James 3:1-12, Proverbs 21:23, Matthew 12:23
Awhile back, we were reading Faith and Confession by Charles Capps. In those pages, we learned that the words we speak are powerful. In fact, we believe that we can speak life or death with our words. The two of us were playing around one morning, and Carlos must have said something that was a little out of bounds. So I (Lex) announced, “Your words are very powerful, Mr. PenaVega.” To this day, we repeat that line to each other—and usually laugh about it—to remind one another that what we say matters.
We really believe that there’s power in everything we say. In fact, Proverbs 18:21 says that the power of life and death is in the tongue! Our words hold spiritual weight, and the enemy wants those words to hurt others rather than bless them. Because love is the point, we are careful with our words.
Describe a time when you realized you needed to be more careful with what you said or how you said it.
LOVE IN ACTION
Today, ask the Holy Spirit to convict your heart when you’re being careless with your words. And when you notice those slips, ask forgiveness and recommit to use your words well.
PRAYER
Lord, please forgive me for speaking carelessly, and please guard my mouth as I seek to speak with love. Amen.
Day 5
Scriptures: James 4:8, 1 Chronicles 16:11, Matthew 6:33, John 15:5
When we first come to know the Lord, a lot of us are really intentional about doing what it takes to know Him better. We spend time in prayer. We read the Word. We listen for God’s voice. We fellowship with others. But then, for some of us, life gets in the way. We get promoted and end up working sixty hours a week. We birth or adopt the babies who need us 24–7. And at the end of these days, all we want to do is to crash on the couch and binge Netflix. We get it. But connecting with God only on Sunday mornings wasn’t ever the plan. God is a friend who’s always with you, and He invites you to be in a relationship with Him.
List the stresses, challenges, and barriers in your daily life that make it more difficult to connect with God. If any possible solutions come to mind, jot those down too.
LOVE IN ACTION
Because our relationship with God is spiritual, emotional, and cerebral, it can help us to have a tangible way to connect with Him. For some, it’s a note on their phone where they jot down a conversation with God. For someone else, it’s a journal and a gel pen. Choose the best method for you to log your ongoing conversations.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for creating me to have a relationship with You. Please help me as I remove any barriers so that I can abide in You and focus on You. Amen.