Help Me To Love

Lord,

Thank you for your love for me

as my Bridegroom, Brother, and Friend,

showing me the eternal, perfect love of my Father.

Thank you for your ever-present help,

your loving-kindness, your faithfulness,

and goodness to me.

Would you remove every obstacle

that blinds me from knowing your love?

Would you bring down my pride,

self-righteousness, independence

that would keep me from humbly receiving,

what I so desperately need,

what the depths of my soul cry out for.

Show me,

give me eyes to see my soul

the way you see.

The brokenness I have pushed down,

past failures, regrets, shame,

sadness, wounds, and guilt

I’ve never brought to your feet,

not knowing, unaware,

sometimes just running away and ignoring them.

Yet I acknowledge only you can save,

only your love heals and delivers.

Please touch me with your love again Lord,

refresh me in your presence,

show me how to love myself,

that I may know how to love others

the way you’ve made and called me to.

Transform my heart,

that I may patient, kind,

not jealous, boastful, proud, or demanding my own way.

Let me not be irritable, keeping no record of being wronged. 

Let me rejoice with truth,

never giving up, never losing faith,

always hopeful and enduring in your Spirit and Word.

Lord, I confess I have no ability to be this,

to do this,

so come into my heart and have your way.

Make this beggar rich in you,

a broken clay pot filled with your treasure to share,

a conduit, filled and knowing of your love,

ready to be poured out wherever you call

resting securely in my Master’s hand.

Thank you Lord.

Amen.

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Love Looks Like

Love looks like…

an invitation,

a glance, a gaze from afar,

studying and sweet,

tender and kind.

Love looks like…

acceptance, an interest,

a detailed and thorough care,

an uplifting, supporting strenth.

Love looks like…

passion, intensity,

a fire in the belly,

waters that cannot be quenched.

Love looks like…

broken pain,

vulenerability,

grief, loss, weakness,

an empty hole,

a cross.

Love looks like…

a small stream,

finding its way past the boulders,

rocks and walls,

swelling and building,

washing away its obstacles.

Love looks like…

a victor,

powerful, glorious, radiant,

touching, transforming, changing

all in its wake,

to beauty from ashes,

life from death.

Love looks like…

the cross, the resurrection,

the presence of God.

My Lord is Love.

Amen.

Heart’s Desires

Lord,

you know my heart,

better than I know myself.

I trust you,

and put myself into your hands.

Draw out,

bless,

anoint the desires

you’ve placed in me

as I look to you.

Breathe upon them,

give them life

and wings through my hands and feet.

Grow me, mature me

into the fullness of who you’ve called me to be.

Give me vision,

fill me with hope

of your call for my life.

Enable me by the power of your Spirit,

to hear and obey,

and worship you with all that I am

through this life you’ve given me.

I praise you and bless your precious Name.

Amen.

Leaving The Past Behind

Lord,

Thank you that my life is in your hands.

I can shake off the burdens of my past,

the regrets and failures,

trusting you will work all things for my good,

and reveal to me the treasures hidden in darkness.

I praise you for your wisdom, discernment,

and counsel dispensed into my spirit,

your molding, pruning, and stretching;

forging me in your continuous flame of love

as I am being created in your image.

I forget what is behind,

you clear my vision for what lies ahead.

No more shadows looming in the future,

or expectations and assumptions I should fulfill,

but surrendered and free, I look to you today,

in this moment,

the gift of your presence with me,

let me run with you.

I bless you Lord.

Amen.

All The Lord’s

Abba,

hide me under the shadow of your wings,

let me dwell under the shelter of the Most High.

Draw me, deliver me out of Babylon,

expose the lure of independence,

being self made, chasing status,

mammon and material things,

all the sin that so easily entangles,

and set me free in You,

submitted to your Word,

truly alive in your Spirit.

Lord, let me love what you love,

and hate what you hate.

Let me delight myself in you,

put in me the desires of your heart,

shrivel away any desires that are not of you,

that my words, my heart, my life

would wholly align with your purposes,

and that my life would be yours

for your glory.

I bless you and praise you Lord.

Amen.

Receive The Lord

Lord,

with all my heart,

I receive you, welcome you

into my heart, mind, soul, and spirit.

I welcome your beautiful presence,

your sweet light, comfort, joy, and peace,

to flood this dwelling place,

please stay and take residence,

be Lord and Master of this heart.

Fill my heart with trust,

strengthen my faith

to cling to your Name,

rising strong in spirit,

knowing my right, my place in you,

I am a child of God.

Amen.

Cleanse My Heart

Lord,

give me a willing spirit,

a soft and open heart,

to listen to your voice

and receive your Word.

Help me to accept your correction,

embrace your discipline,

and to trust in you,

not my own strength, intelligence, and power

(or lack of).

Help me to draw near to you,

and not the idols presented by the world.

I repent of clinging to my comforts,

numbing through addictions,

distracting myself through busyness and shiny pursuits,

instead of honestly, humbly turning to you.

Cleanse and purify my heart,

give me clean and pure lips,

choice and blessing words,

and let me call on your Name,

in peace and unity with your Spirit.

I praise you and bless you.

Amen.

A Beautiful Heart

Lord,

please give me a soft heart,

sensitive to your Spirit,

tender towards your nudgings,

feeling what you are feeling,

loving what you love,

hating what you hate.

Give me a hungry heart

that leans towards you,

seeks after you,

draws near to you,

to be replenished by your Spirit and life.

Give me a humble, faithful heart,

that rests and stands on your Word alone,

and lives for the audience of One.

Make me yours,

always and forever Lord.

Amen.

Loved In The Wilderness

Lord,

thank you for your love,

though I’m stained with sin,

you save and deliver me

and call me lovely.

I bless you for taking me into the wilderness,

drying up any source of comfort,

pleasure, and addiction,

exposing hidden sins,

unearthing fears and pain,

breaking up my fragile veneer,

and tending to the sinner,

the mess within

with tenderness, compassion,

gentleness, and lovingkindness.

I praise you Lord of the universe,

you owe me nothing,

I deserve only your wrath,

but that you’d humble yourself,

and woo my heart,

proving your faithfulness again and again,

loving me to surrender,

showing me I’m no longer a slave,

or an orphan, or a broken soul,

but beloved,

a child of God,

whole, healed, complete in you

with nothing to prove,

nothing to give,

except my sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise.

Lover of my soul,

I bless your Name.

Amen.

Close

Lord,

thank you that you’re with me,

right by my side,

holding my hand,

walking, leading, guiding me,

you are my Good Shepherd.

Even as the storms rage around me,

I’ll keep myself here

in your presence and love,

keeping my eyes fixed on you,

I shall not fear,

and I will trust you,

letting your rod pull me closer,

your staff defeat my enemies,

you are with me

through the fire, deep waters,

the mountains and valleys,

you will not allow my feet to stumble.

Glorify your name through me Lord

no matter what I am going through,

help me to thank you,

praise you,

love you,

bless you.

You are my God,

and I know you are faitful.

I worship you.

Amen.