Here is something that is never out of place to pray: that God would be glorified in the matter; that God’s Will would be done.
“Our Father in Heaven, may your name be regarded as holy, sacred. Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on Earth, like it is in Heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good - crucified.
Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”
Galatians 5:22-26 MSG
Loving others the way God loves them requires we learn to cultivate a culture of his love in our hearts. When we learn to see through the eyes of his love, we then act from that firm foundation:
“[God] does not hate anyone alive, and the first part of moving in the [Spirit] is to start embracing the culture of his loving heart and living that way. This love is the landing strip to seeing his thoughts and intentions toward humanity. If you are against people and countries and industries, where is the highest revelation of his heart supposed to land? …As we focus on a life of love through Christ, there has to be a basic culture in our hearts that believes the best about his plans for humanity. This doesn’t mean we put a positive spin on everything, but we do have to have the heart quality that believes God is everywhere and he wants to bring everything into his heart.” Shawn Bolz, Translating God
Years ago God began to convict me of slander. It was one way he was teaching me to cultivate like a garden the atmosphere of my heart. Working to control my words to and about people is an ongoing growth in maturity for me. This can be difficult to navigate because when something is true of a person, sometimes a true statement about them is necessary. However, when what is true is also not desirable, it is very easy to slide from true statement to tearing down. It is impossible to cultivate love in your heart for someone when you actively tear them down, even just in your own mind. Slander isn’t an act of love.
What he was teaching me was that if I’m not loving people in my heart and thoughts, then the overflow of my heart will not be love when I am with them. If I’m unable to love them when I’m with them how can I be Christ’s love incarnate for them? It doesn’t matter who the person is, The President, my neighbor, the cashier, or the homeless prostitute begging who continues to choose that life.
“This isn’t the year to miss the Light of the World. This isn’t the year to miss being the light. Help each other see the Light. Love the people who don’t like you. Be wildly kind to the people who aren’t your kind of people. Be love so the world learns to love each other again. Take heavy burdens off of each other, lighten each other’s load. Stay on the Way and treat everyone as you would the coming King.” Voskamp
There are verified stories of God sending Christ followers in our current lifetime to cruel dictators with words of his love for them. Not warnings or condemnation but of his love. We love God because he first loved us.
God wants to love through me and he wants to love through you. Be faithful in the small things: those people immediately around you, Christ followers and unbelievers alike. God is so patient with all of us. So let us not assign a title of “evil” or “unredeemable” to anyone. Let’s instead choose to view every person as the potential future Bride of Christ.
“Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to fault finding.” -Corrie ten Boom
Remain in the knowledge that You are Loved. The Holy Spirit in us is the power to love, obey, and bear fruit. We can fulfill none of these commands in our own strength.
Prayer of Praise - ALL
Dear God,
You made the earth on which we stand,
The air of which we breathe,
And the beauty in the sky we stand beneath.
How vast is your creativity,
How immeasurable is the delicate balance and detail in creation.
And yet you chase after us, like a shepherd watches sheep,
You know us by name and pour out grace through your redeeming love.
Father, you long for us to recognize your imprint on all we see,
To take hold of freedom from the prison of our humanity,
And to be redeemed to walk again with you.
Lord, let us now play our part in Kingdom life,
May we take your light into the darkness.
May we give testimony to your redeeming work in our lives,
And love beyond the fringes of our own small lives.
Living by the Spirit, may you work through us to reach a hurting world. Amen.
-Responsive prayers and readings for congregations
Unstoppable Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlQ2PgQeWmQ&feature=youtu.be
Scriptures for going deeper: Prayer
-Wisdom and power: Ephesians 1:17-20
-Strength and knowledge of God’s love: Ephesians 3:16-21
-Discernment and bearing fruit: Philippians 1:9-11
-Spiritual understanding and knowing God’s will: Colossians 1:9-12
-Steadfastness: 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
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