A Prayer For Love

A PRAYER FOR LOVE
By Carolyn Dale Newell

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all,
just as we do to you,
1 Thes. 3:12 (NKJV)

Have you ever considered the importance of praying that our love as Christians would increase and abound? It was one of the Apostle Paul’s prayers for the Thessalonians, and it should be included in our prayer lives also. Christians should be characterized by love. It was not as if the Thessalonians were an unloving group of people. As a matter of fact, the opposite was true. Timothy had just brought Paul good news of their love and faith (1 Thes. 3:6). However, Paul did not want them to ever be satisfied with their ability to love. He wanted it to always be growing. Paul wanted to come to them and teach them more about Christ. He knew that the more they knew about Christ, the more they would love God and others.

The command to love one another flows throughout the New Testament. The “one anothers” are the church – Christians. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).

Paul also prayed that their love for “all” would increase and abound. The command to “love your neighbor as yourself “(Lev. 19:18) Began in the Old Testament. Jesus commanded us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44). God loved us when we were unlovable (Rom. 5:8). Therefore, we should love all people, including our enemies.

It is no wonder that we need to pray about love every day. We certainly do not possess the capability to love all people in our flesh. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we can sincerely have that kind of love. It is through love that we can reach out to a dying world and give them a picture of God’s love for them. Let’s commit to pray for increasing, abundant love!

Dear Lord,
Forgive me for not being as loving as You want me to be. Thank You for loving me, and enable me to show that kind of love to ALL people. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

DIG DEEPER
Read 1 Cor. 13:4-8. What characteristics of love do you need to pray aboutmost?

HIKING THE TRAIL
Begin to pray today for your love to increase. Also include a few close friends, your church, and all Christians in general.

Copyright 2014 Carolyn Dale Newell.

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