Spiritual Warfare: 'God's Love is Perfected in Us When We Love'

God's Power for Our Battles — Friday, December 18, 2026

Dear friends, if God loved us that much we also should love each other. No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is made perfect in us. We know that we live in God and he lives in us, because he gave us his Spirit.
— 1 John 4:11-13 NCV

Today's Prayer

Lord, I confess that I have often shown very little love for others. These verses say directly that You live in me IF I show love to others. I want You to live in me, Lord, so please help me to have this love for others and show it in how I respond to others. I want Your love to be made perfect in me. I want others I interact with to feel Your love through my responses and my reactions. Help me to develop that kind of love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

31 Related Resources by Heartlight

1 John 4:11-12
Devo: Today's Verse
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is..."
God Alive in Us
Devo: Together in Christ
"This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God..."
1 John 4:11
Devo: Today's Verse
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
1 John 4:12
Devo: Today's Verse
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
See All 31 Related Resources about 1 John 4:11-13

Illustration

Illustration of 1 John 4:11-13 NCV — Dear friends, if God loved us that much we also should love each other. No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is made perfect in us. We know that we live in God and he lives in us, because he gave us his Spirit.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, December 18, 2026

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Pleasure in All He Has Made' (Ps. 104:24,)
"O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. ... May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Breathe Life!' (Ek. 37:9-10)
"[God] said to me [Ezekiel], "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'GOD, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath...."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
John 3:20-21
"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the...."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Treacherous Travels'
"Dear Follower of The Way, Paul's path to Rome was difficult. First, he faced a series of legal hearings before he even left for Rome. Then, he faced...."

About This Devotional

Spiritual Warfare is a daily devotional about God's power for our battles.

The Prayer for Spiritual Warfare is written by Steve Hemphill.

More Spiritual Warfare