Loving in the Same Way Christ has Loved Me

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

—John 13:34 (NASB)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to be willing and obedient to love—in the same way that Christ has loved me.

Christ’s command is that I love others as He has loved me—so that the world can see His love demonstrated through me, and so You would be revealed in that love.

Christ loved through service—in humility, setting aside His divine nature.  So, I must also be willing to humble myself to serve others.

Christ loved through sacrifice—making the needs of others more important than His own life and death.  So, I must sacrifice my selfish desires to meet the needs of others.

Christ loved through instructing others with Truth and Grace—wrapping every lesson He gave to them in Your love.  So, I must walk that fine line of teaching Truth and showing Grace—at the same time—with Love as my only motivation.

Christ loved by bearing the pain of being misunderstood, reviled, falsely accused, and abused both verbally and physically—so that the greatest act of Love could be realized.  So, I must be willing to endure suffering, when Christ’s law of love requires it—as it leads to the greater good that comes when I have loved the way Christ loves.

Help me to be willing and obedient to love—in the same way that Christ has loved me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Trusting My Life to the God Who Created Me

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

—1 Peter 4:19 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to keep doing what is right and to trust You with my life—regardless of any momentary suffering I may be called on to endure—because You are always faithful to ultimately work all things together for my good.

Through the repeated accounts of Your unfailing love and faithfulness found in the Holy Scriptures, You have shown me that You—the giver and sustainer of my life—can be completely trusted to order each and every step of my way.

Through the experiences of my own life, You have repeatedly proven that my trust in You is not misplaced—for You have turned every time of suffering that I have experienced to my ultimate good.

So, help me not to allow my faith and trust in You to waver when I suffer—when life gets tough—and help me to continue doing that which is right and good, regardless of my circumstances.

For I know that if I am truly trusting You, I will not be anxious or afraid, I will not be overwhelmed with sadness or defeated by depression, and I will not be ruled by hatred, anger, or vengefulness.

If I trust You, You will sustain me in every way—no matter what I am facing—according to Your faithful promises, with unimaginable peace and unquenchable joy, and within Your unfailing and never-ending love for me.

Help me to keep doing what is right and to trust You with my life—regardless of any momentary suffering I may be called on to endure—because You are always faithful to ultimately work all things together for my good.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Alert to the Threat of Attack, But at Perfect Peace in God

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

—1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

Gracious and Merciful God,

Help me to be alert to the threat of attack from the devil, but still remain at perfect peace in You—knowing that if I stand strong in my faith, You will deliver me from all the traps he has set for me, by the power of Christ in me.

Keep me on guard against his deceptions and aware of his divisive tactics. Remind me that he is battling for my soul—my mind, my will and my emotions—and that the battle is primarily waged in my mind.

As I carefully hold and consider every thought that passes through my mind, let Your Spirit warn me when a thought does not align itself with the Truth of Your Word.   And let me discard any thought that contradicts that Truth for what it is—a lie from the enemy, meant to steal, kill, and destroy.

Remind me that I don’t have to be afraid, because he can only harm me by deceiving me into believing his lies—and while he may make a lot of noise, he is defeated and cannot have any control over me that I don’t give him.

Help me trust, LORD, that You have already saved me from the enemy—that the victory is mine to take—as I stand firm in my faith and resist his attacks.

Keep me mindful that the whole family of believers is in this same battle with me—and that we are most effective when, in unity, we fight together against this common foe.

Help me to be alert to the threat of attack from the devil, but still remain at perfect peace in You—knowing that if I stand strong in my faith, You will deliver me from all the traps he has set for me, by the power of Christ in me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.