Hosea 12:6. "So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God."

I think we all can "return" a bit more; hold even faster to God's love and justice; and be more patient in waiting for our God. I know I can! No matter how close we are to God, there is almost always something of this world that we are hanging on to, often because it is a good thing, and we think God would want us to have it. Maybe that's true, but prayer and discernment on everything helps identify those things we might be holding on to that are keeping us from having a tighter grip on love and justice.

With me, it is often my misunderstanding of "justice" from which I have to return. Justice seems a little scary to me, like it will be unpleasant or harsh, but I am learning that God's justice is perfect, and absolutely needed if we are going to be with Him in eternity. We can accept the justice here and now, even if it is as small as giving up something we think we need, but that God is asking us to let go of. We can even look on it as a blessing, because it is preparing us for heaven. When we do that, we grow closer to Him, and can experience some small taste of the bliss of heaven here on earth.

Accepting the crosses of daily life, and the bigger crosses of our entire lives, with gratitude rather than resentment is one way we hold fast to God's love and justice. It also teaches us patience, so that we can wait continuously for our God, knowing that He will not delay.