Day 11 Staying in the River
Day 11: Staying in the River of God’s Love
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” —Jude 1:21 (NKJV)
No matter how far you've wandered, you're never beyond reach when you’re returning to the Father's embrace. —Dr. Daniel LeBlanc
Imagine standing beside a wide, powerful river—its current strong, steady, and full of life. When you step into the flow, you are carried effortlessly forward by its strength. But the moment you step out and try to make your way on dry land, every movement becomes harder. The same is true with the love of God. His love is not a trickle or a shallow stream; it is a mighty river that never runs dry. It carries those who remain in it with mercy, grace, and peace. Yet as Jude reminds us, though God's love is constant, we are exhorted to keep ourselves in it—not because it runs out, but because we are the ones who sometimes drift away.
To “keep yourselves in the love of God” does not mean that His love is withdrawn when we make mistakes or feel distant. God’s love never wavers or weakens. However, we can step out of its flow. We can become distracted, discouraged, or deceived. We may allow fear to replace faith, sin to cloud our intimacy, or spiritual laziness to disconnect us from communion with God. When this happens, we begin to live more from effort than grace, more from striving than from surrender. It is like trying to walk alongside the river rather than letting the current carry us. The power is still there—but we have stepped out of its momentum.
Jude gives us a clear instruction and a beautiful promise: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” This means that we are to live with our eyes on Christ, our hearts expecting His mercy, and our minds set on eternity. When we fix our attention on Jesus, we are less likely to be swept away by the distractions or discouragements of this world. His mercies are new every morning, and His grace is a constant invitation to step back into the flow if we’ve drifted to the edge. In the Father’s Love Zone, striving ceases because we are no longer trying to swim upstream on our own—we are moving in harmony with the river of His presence.
God’s love is strong enough to carry us through every obstacle. Just as a river flows around rocks, branches, and debris, His love flows through and around the broken pieces of our lives. There is no wound too deep, no sin too great, and no failure too final that it can stop the current of His compassion. The only thing that can hinder our experience of that love is our own decision to step out of it. But the moment we turn our hearts back toward Him, we are caught again by the river’s current—swept up in mercy, steadied by grace, and carried by the Spirit.
If you feel weary, distant, or dry, today is the day to return to the water. Come back to the river of His love. Let it wash over you again. Let it refresh what’s grown tired and renew what’s been forgotten. His love is not stagnant—it’s alive, moving, and full of power. All you need to do is step in and stay in.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the endless flow of Your love. Even when I’ve drifted, You remain near, calling me back into the river of grace. Help me to keep myself in Your love—to walk closely with You, to trust daily in Your mercy, and to abide in Your presence. I don’t want to live from my own strength. I want to be carried by the current of Your Spirit, filled with peace, and led by Your love. Keep me anchored in the flow, and teach me to live every day in the Father’s Love Zone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
