“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
Colossians 3:14 (NKJV)
Today, we are turning everything we have learned about love into prayer.
John 13:35 (NKJV),
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Romans 5:5 (NKJV),
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
We are not trying to manufacture love. We are not trying to create something that is not there. The love of God has already been shed abroad in our hearts. We are simply aligning ourselves with what is already true.
Let us pray.
Say after me
Father, in the name of Jesus, I declare over myself today. Your love has been shed abroad in my heart.
Cyndy (you can put your name there), the love of God has been shed abroad in your heart. The love of God lives in you. You are not at a loss for love. You are not empty of love. You are not deficient in love. You have the capacity and the ability to walk in love, to move in love, to respond in love, no matter the situation you encounter. The Spirit of God has poured His love into your heart, and that love is active, alive, and working in you.
Lord, I pray for grace and ability to walk in love with everybody around me.
I choose to let go of everyone who has hurt me. I release everyone who has offended me. I forgive those who have misunderstood me, those who have misrepresented me, those whose actions have made it difficult for me to love them. In the name of Jesus, I declare that my heart is not restricted. My heart is not hardened. My heart is expanding. The capacity of my heart to love is increasing daily. I receive grace to walk in love with family, with friends, with colleagues, with strangers, even with those who are difficult.
Father, give me Your heart of love.
Your Word says in John 3:16 (NKJV),
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
You loved the world. You loved people who rejected You. You loved people who mocked You. You loved people who did not even know You. So I know that by Your Spirit on the inside of me, I have the capacity to love the unlovable. I have the capacity to love difficult people. I have the capacity to love those who are growing, those who are struggling, those who are not yet where they should be. Put Your heart in me. Let me see people the way You see them. Let me respond to people the way You would respond.
Lord, I choose to pursue love.
Your Word says in 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV),
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
I choose to pursue love intentionally. Mould me into a loving person. Let all my actions be motivated from a place of love. When I correct people, let it come from love. When I speak, let it come from love. When I pray for others, let it come from love. Make me patient. Make me kind. Teach me to be long-suffering. Help me to see the best in people. Help me to believe all things, to hope all things. Remove pride from me. Remove boastfulness from me. Let me walk in the love of Christ daily, practically, consistently.
Holy Spirit, help me on the days when it is difficult.
On the days when I am tired. On the days when I feel misunderstood. On the days when loving feels costly. Strengthen me to practice love anyway. Remind me that love is the mark of my faith. Remind me that love is the nature of my Father. Remind me that love is the garment I have chosen to wear.
I put on love today. I wear it intentionally. I walk in it deliberately.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
