If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Dear Lord,
I thank You for Your word and the treasure of truth I hold in my hands from the Holy Scriptures. I am blessed by the power that Your Word brings into my life by the Holy Spirit. The ability to hear and understand Your hidden wisdom is an incredible blessing, and knowledge is power. I love learning about You.
We know the 1st book of John was written to give us solid assurance that we are true believers in Christ as we approach the Day of Judgement; so that we may approach that predestined time with joy, through fearlessness and a true confidence in our faith. One way we know that we are truly in the faith is that we love our brothers and sisters. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this, we know we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit
(1 John 12-13).
Whatever the outside deed is; however great, sacrificial, or significant it may be to the world, it is the inside of the deed that counts to You. You are able to see deep down into the depths of our hearts where our true intentions and motives are, and we cannot hide from You, Lord. We pray that the truth of our deeds comes from a place of love and humility and not from pride or selfish gain. Furthermore, we pray that You help us to recognize our own intentions and motives so that we may be humbled. May we continue to look to the person and the work of Jesus Christ for our only hope, and not ourselves or our own works. May we make all sacrifices for Your glory, and may the center of everything we do, be with love – love for You and love for others. We know that it’s the love in one’s heart that shows evidence of belonging to Christ. Faith promotes love, and love is the most effectual ingredient in a living faith. Love also promotes faith because we are more apt to trust in those whom we love. We put our trust in You Lord, and we love because You first loved us (1 John 4:19).
May we be empowered by that love to accomplish all that you would have us do, and may it be love that helps drive us to share the gospel with others. The gospel produces faith, and faith produces love, and love produces good fruits which bears the evidence of a true Christian. Lord, help us learn more about You and Your holiness through Your Word. Also, help us to be more sensitive to our own fallenness and sin so that we may be quick to repent of it, turn from ourselves, and turn to You in faith, hope, and love. Lord, help us grow by reading Your Word and praying at all times to You. All glory belongs to You, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ name I pray amen.
Love, Jenna
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