Choose to Be on God's Side - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - June 9, 2025
"I have always loved you," says the LORD. But you retort, "Really? How have you loved us?" Malachi 1:2 (NLT)
God has our best interests at heart. His plans for each of us are perfect, and that’s what it means when scripture says God is on our side (Psalm 118:6-8; Romans 8:31; Hebrews 13:6; Isaiah 41:10). But here’s a truth we can’t ignore—we must first choose to be on His side.
It’s a common idea in our culture that God’s love means we can live however we please. But that’s not what the Bible teaches. God’s love is abundant, yes. His grace is immeasurable. But we become His children by receiving and submitting to that love, not rejecting it. We choose to stand on God’s side by surrendering to His will and His way. That’s how we live out His promises.
Malachi 1 makes it clear: God considers some people His enemies and frustrates their plans, no matter how noble they may seem. This isn’t a message we hear often, but it’s one we need. It wakes us up from spiritual complacency and reminds us that not every path is blessed just because it looks good on the surface.
As I read Malachi 1, I couldn’t help but think of the characters I admire in books and films—the ones who fall, get back up, and return to the fight. But Scripture reminded me: perseverance alone isn’t enough. We must be fighting on the right side. We must be on God’s side.
Malachi 1:1-5 (NLT): This is the message that the LORD gave to Israel through the prophet Malachi. The LORD’s Love for Israel “I have always loved you,” says the LORD. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?”
And the LORD replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob, but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”
Esau’s descendants in Edom may say, “We have been shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins.”
But the LORD of Heaven’s Armies replies, “They may try to rebuild, but I will demolish them again. Their country will be known as ‘The Land of Wickedness,’ and their people will be called ‘The People with Whom the LORD Is Forever Angry.’ When you see the destruction for yourselves, you will say, ‘Truly, the LORD’s greatness reaches far beyond Israel’s borders!’”
This passage gives us a striking picture of God’s judgment. Esau wasn’t on God’s side—not because God arbitrarily rejected him, but because Esau did not submit to God. Scripture doesn’t need to explicitly say, “Esau didn’t love God.” We know from the whole counsel of God’s Word that to reject His way is to reject Him. And those who do will not share in His promises.
With God, there are always only two paths:
-Saved or unsaved
-Friend or enemy
-Righteous or wicked
-Believer or unbeliever
-Restored or destroyed
Those who choose to submit to God walk in restoration and righteousness. They are His friends, His people, and their eternity is secure. But those who choose self-rule over God’s authority are walking the road to separation.
No matter how wise, strong, or admirable Esau’s descendants appeared to be, God made the final call. And the same applies to us today. What matters most is what God thinks of us—not what others see, or even what we think about ourselves.
Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NASB). That’s the mark of a true follower—submission in love.
We live in a time where the lines between truth and lies are blurred. That’s why now is the time to return to God’s Word. Study it. Seek Him in it. Trusting our own hearts will lead us astray.
"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve" (Jeremiah 17:9-10, NLT).
God’s love doesn’t give us a license to live in rebellion. It gives us the opportunity to choose life through Him. We must make that choice daily.
Daily Challenge: Read Exodus 20:1-21 and meditate on the Ten Commandments. Ask yourself:
-Do these feel simple or difficult?
-Are they relevant today?
-Are they good or bad? Write down your reflections and invite the Holy Spirit to help you align your life with God's ways.
Let's pray:
Lord, thank You for always loving me. Help me to choose your side every day. Give me wisdom to see where I’ve walked in my own way instead of Yours. Teach me to live with a reverent heart and to trust in Your truth over my own understanding. I want to walk in Your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today’s devotional was an excerpt from my book Return to Me. A devotional through the book of Malachi—written for those who are ready to stop drifting and start returning to the God who never left. Available now on Amazon.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/natasaadzic
Vanessa Luu is a wife, mother, and faith-based writer. She speaks and writes to believers to encourage them to live authentically with God.
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
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