Heavenly Father I give You honor and glory for loving me even when I am not so lovely. I praise You for Your patience with me and Your forgiveness. I know that I often am disobedient, and yet You still love and forgive me. I praise You for knowing my heart and not just my words I speak.
Holy Spirit help me to understand love as a believer from the inspired words that John wrote late in his life. “We should love one another, not like Cain, who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s works were righteous. Do not marvel, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love his brother remains in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining to him. By this we know the love of God: that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. Whoever has the world’s goods and sees in need, but closes his heart of compassion from him, how can the love of God remain in him? My little children, let us love not in word or speech, but in action and truth.” [1 John 3:13-18]
Holy Spirit help me to be better about demonstrating love by how I act and by being truthful. Help me to demonstrate mercy the same way and help me to always be ready to forgive. Help me to truly show love to my family, friends, other believers and then to others throughout my community, my state and the world. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Help me to be faithful in all of this, in Jesus’ name, Amen. [Romans 12:9-13]