Adapted from the book How to be a Praying Mom by Jeannie St. John Taylor, Hendrickson Publishers.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

I praise you because you are a God of love. Thank you for being holy and righteous and calling us to imitate you – calling us to love the way you love. Give us eyes to see the world through your eyes of love. Forgive us for the many times we fall short. Thank you for accepting us, despite our tendencies to be unloving, as you lead us closer to your perfect love.

Remind us that love is an action, not a feeling. Help us act in love toward the people who wrong us. Give us wisdom to overlook flaws. Help us pray for others rather than resenting them. Help us bless rather than curse. Pull up any bitter roots that try to grip our hearts, and wind the tendrils of your love around them instead. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

Supporting verses:

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. . . . For this is the message we heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John 3: 18, 11

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.” 1 John 5:2