9 Ways to Respond to God’s Love

Heart graphic

It’s easy to feel bombarded with information about what it means to love and to be loved, with advice on everything from self-care to saving our marriages.

These messages tend to focus on self-serving, conditional love—love that can result in disappointment or confusion.

We have to remind ourselves that the template for true love isn’t found in cultural definitions, it was given to us by a God who represents the concept itself.

There is more.

God’s love is different from any other kind of love. In fact, the Bible says that God is love.

God sent His only Son to die for the sins of every person. There was only one reason for God to experience that kind of heartache: His love for us.

God didn’t need us, but He wanted us. He fought to give the furthest heart a gift we could never earn or deserve: eternal life. God’s love is unconditional, extravagant, and everlasting. And, it’s for everyone.

Love God.

It can be challenging to love others (and ourselves) if we don’t love God first.

Seeking God consistently is one of the best ways to learn about His perfect love, and to show Him devotion and honor in turn.

Loving God can look like:

  1. Getting to know Him by reading the Bible
  2. Honoring God in worship
  3. Having a conversation with God through prayer

Love yourself.

While there will always be areas of life where you’ll need to grow, allowing God’s love to transform the way you view yourself is essential.

God bought us with a price and calls us His own. He gives us a future full of hope, to carry out the good works He created us to do.

When we choose to respect and value ourselves, we choose to honor God.

3 ways to practice self-love:

  1. Create habits that nourish your mind, body, and spirit.
  2. Ask God to show you how He sees you.
  3. Set aside time to rest in God’s presence.

Love your neighbor.

When you see yourself the way God sees you, you can love others the way God loves you.

God intended healthy relationships to be compassionate, sacrificial, and forgiving. God wants us to love one another the way He loves us.

3 ways to love others:

  1. Pray for the people in your life.
  2. Serve someone with your time, talent, or finances.
  3. Be quick to listen, and to forgive.

Discover

Search icon Love

Want more ways to learn about God’s love, and how it translates to loving your neighbor as yourself?

Discover gives you a complete view of the content YouVersion offers. Simply search “love”, and we’ll help you explore Bible verses, Plans, Teaching Clips, and more.

Find Love

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Now Your Children Can Experience the Bible App for Kids in Armenian, Icelandic, Myanmar Burmese (Zawgyi), & Serbian!

Bible App for Kids

Today, together with our partner OneHope, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Bible App for Kids in Armenian, Icelandic, Myanmar Burmese (Zawgyi), & Serbian. Now, more children than ever have the opportunity to enjoy a Bible experience all their own.

Switching between languages is easy, right in the app’s Settings:

  1. Make sure you’ve updated your app to the most current release.
  2. Open the app and tap the gear icon (Gear icon) to open Settings.
  3. Tap Language and select the one you want.

The audio will now play in that language, and any text will appear in that language, too!

Please help us celebrate this great news!

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Bible App for Kids Jesus

About the Bible App for Kids

Developed in partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids is from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App. Designed to give children a delight-filled Bible experience all their own, the Bible App for Kids has already been installed on over 79 million Apple, Android, and Kindle devices, and it’s always completely free. Kids from all over the world are now enjoying the Bible App for Kids, in 66 languages — now including Armenian, Icelandic, Myanmar Burmese (Zawgyi), & Serbian!

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play Available at Amazon

YouVersion Podcasts are here.

Update: Podcasts were removed from YouVersion in December 2022. The podcasts listed below are still available in other apps. To continue listening, find them in your favorite podcast app.

Podcasts

Ever read the Bible and feel like you aren’t “getting it”? Maybe you wish you had more historical context or you’re not sure how to process the difficult parts of Scripture.

With Podcasts, you can learn more about God’s Word with popular shows from our content partners—now right inside YouVersion.

Get started by checking out these episodes:

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Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month Plans

Celebrating Black Voices

February is Black History Month, and we’re celebrating by listening to Black pastors and leaders in our Community who are helping us grow closer to God.

Discover featured Plans from Black leaders strengthening the global Church:

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The 21-Day Challenge starts February 1!

21-Day Challenge

How would your life look different if you made time with God a daily habit this year?

Imagine how your faith, relationships, and mental health will have evolved a year from now because you purposefully chose to pursue God today.

As February begins, fix your eyes on Jesus with the 21-Day Challenge. Complete one Bible Plan Day for 21 days during the month to earn an exclusive Badge.

Find out how 21 days can change your life, just like the millions of others around the world who have taken on the Challenge.

The reviews are in…

“It’s taken my spiritual walk to another level.”

Crystal, United States

“It helped me rediscover my
relationship with God.”

Faith, Nigeria

“It has helped me study on the go.”

Dianah, United Kingdom

“It made me realize that I am
meant for so much more.”

Meredith, United States

Ready to accept the challenge?

1

Pick a Plan to start. It’s okay if it’s shorter than 21 days. You can read multiple Plans that add up to 21 days or you can choose a longer Plan.

2

Begin February 1, and complete at least one Plan Day for 21 days during the month. Plan Days don’t have to be completed in a row.

3

Earn an exclusive Badge as a reward for your consistency.

21-Day Challenge Badge

Get started with one of these
recommended Plans:

View More Plans

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