Keeping My First Love First

I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first!

—Revelation 2: 2-4 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

May my only motivation for the things that I do be my love for You and for others.

Help me always to remember the love that I had for You when You first saved me and help me never let go of that love—so that everything that I do might be done purely because of that love.

You see everything that I do.  You know how hard I have worked and how I have patiently endured.  You know how I have taken a stand against evil and defended the faith, measuring all things against the Truth of Your Word.  You know every hardship that I have suffered through without quitting. 

But when You look at me, do You see the love that I have for You and others, or do You see a man who has allowed his motives to be tainted and distorted—a man who has forgotten keep his first love first?

Give me a deep hunger to spend quality time in Your Presence to nurture my love relationship with You daily—so that in every moment of every day I can truly show forth the love of Jesus in all that I do.

May my only motivation for the things that I do be my love for You and for others.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

First Love First

I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first!

--Revelation 2: 2-4 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

I don't want to get so busy "doing" that my motives for "doing" aren't based out of my love for You and for others.

Help me always to remember the love that I had for You when You first saved me, and help me never let go of that love, so that when I act out of obedience to the things that You have called me to do for You, the intended end will be accomplished.


Help me to understand that as I stand up for what is right and defend the faith, I may be tempted to allow the struggle to weaken my affection for, and compassionate patience with, others.

Help me to spend the time to nuture my first love with You so that I can then truly show forth the love of Jesus in everything that I do.

I don't want to get so busy "doing" that my motives for "doing" aren't based out of my love for You and for others.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.