To Love Others Like Jesus Loves Me

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

—John 15:12-13 (NLT)

My Lord Jesus,

Help me to love others as You have loved me…to lay down my life for my friends.

Help me more fully understand and more completely receive Your love for me—so that I can be a channel of that love in my in thoughts, words and actions, toward others.

Your love for me is not dependent on my love for You—for Your love continues constant, unchanging and unfailing, regardless of my faults and failures.

Your love for me is demonstrated in Your compassion for me—and poured out over me with mercy and grace, by Your goodness and kindness toward me.

Your love for me is evidenced in Your patience and gentleness with me—for Your love for me is perfectly genuine and never superficial.

Your love for me changes me and always points me to my Heavenly Father—back to the love relationship I was made to have with Him.

Your love for me is sacrificial—You laid down Your life for me, so that I could have life, so I could then follow Your example, by setting aside my will, so that the Father’s will would be done through me.

Help me to love others as You have loved me—to lay down my life for my friends.

In Your glorious Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

The Mercy, Compassion, and Unfailing Love of Our God

The LORD is merciful and compassionate,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The LORD is good to everyone.
    He showers compassion on all his creation.
All of your works will thank you, LORD,
    and your faithful followers will praise you.

—Psalm 145:8-10 (NLT)

Merciful and Compassionate LORD,

Thank You for the mercy and compassion with which You show us Your unfailing love.  Let my heart and voice forever join the chorus of all of Your creation in unending thanks and praise to You!

Thank You for the kindness and tenderheartedness that You pour out so generously upon us—the ones that do not deserve it and could never earn it on our own—and for the great patience You demonstrate for all of us who fail You.

Thank You that Your love is unfailing—like an ever-flowing fountain of kindness which floods the earth filling every part with the evidence of Your great and enduring love for that which You have created.

Thank You that Your goodness is not only poured out on those that love You back, but that it is poured out on all of Your creation—so that Your glory would be seen and all Your works would come to offer up thanksgiving and praise to You, just as they were created to do.

Thank You for the mercy and compassion with which You show us Your unfailing love.  Let my heart and voice forever join the chorus of all of Your creation in unending thanks and praise to You!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

God's Will for You Who Belong to Christ Jesus

Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Let me remain in the perfect peace that You offer to all those who belong to Christ Jesus—those who, in accord with Your will, are joyful, prayerful and thankful in all circumstances.

Regardless of how I may feel at any particular moment, may my joy—that deep happiness that is fueled by continuing to walk with You in faith—remain constant and unchanged.

Regardless of how busy and disordered my day might become, may I continue unceasingly in prayerful conversation with You—the only One who brings order to my chaos and peace to all things.

Regardless of what circumstances I may find myself in, remind me to remain thankful—continually expressing my gratefulness to You from the innermost parts of my heart—knowing that You are working in all things for my good.

Let me remain in the perfect peace that You offer to all those who belong to Christ Jesus—who, in accord with Your will, are joyful, prayerful and thankful in all circumstances.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.