Abba Father, Creator of the Universe, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

               You thought of us while your Spirit hovered over the formless mass that became our earth -- before you spoke the first word of creation. Ideas darted and simmered in your mind and you saw our faces and desired relationship with us. Even then. Even before we ever were.

Because you wanted relationship, you created us with the ability to choose our destiny. To decide to return your love -- even though you knew we could never fully understand your agape love. Never really return it.

You were Immanuel, God with us. You walked with the first humans in the garden, speaking with them face to face. Loving them fervently. Continuing to love them after they chose separation from you.

We can’t comprehend that kind of love. We don’t ‘get’ why you still wanted relationship with Mankind. But you did. You still do.

And because you still pursue relationship with us, you sent your Son to the cross, and now his Spirit lives inside each of us who believe in you. You long for us to love you and acknowledge you with our words and thoughts. Your heart beats with eagerness when we look to you. When we turn away we break your heart.

Teach us to love you, Lord. Really love you. Prevent us from focusing on other things and allowing our love for you to fade. Soften our hearts. Increase our faith. Open our eyes to who you are and ways we can please you. Teach to pursue you with fervor. Help us rest and allow you to fill us with contentment so we can enjoy your love. Remind us to magnify and revere your name. Nudge us to speak your praises. We love you, Lord, and we pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses:

“. . . He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” Ephesians 1:4a

“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Genesis 3:8a

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

O Awesome God in Heaven,

            We thank you for the people we are allowed / assigned to love. Help us overlook and forgive others when they hurt us. Banish our self-pity and show us how to offer our suffering as a gift to you, willingly enduring pain in your name so that you will be glorified.

Help us remember the way you suffered on the cross for us and how you continue to forgive us daily when we grieve you. Remind us that Peter exhorted the new Christians of his time to think of the living hope they had in Christ whom God raised from the dead. Remind us how Peter encouraged them to understand that the trials  they endured “for a little while” would test the genuineness of their faith and result in praise, glory and honor at Christ’s return.  He said all those things to the early Christians despite the horrifying realities of the persecution and tortures they were suffering under the emperor Nero. Peter’s instruction to them was to quietly do good, knowing that God was guarding them through faith and would give them an imperishable inheritance in heaven.

Help us to follow Peter's instruction. Open our eyes to the smallness of our problems next to theirs, Jesus, yet comfort us with the knowledge that you see our difficulties and feel our pain right along with us. You don’t diminish our pain because since you live in us you are right there with us when acquaintances and loved ones abuse us, when we can’t find a job, when the diagnosis of cancer comes.

Teach us to visualize Jesus standing with us. Enduring with us. Holding us up. Smoothing our brow. Because the Truth is you never leave us to face anything alone. And you love us desperately. Thank you. We pray this in the name of your Son Christ Jesus.

Supporting verses:

“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perished though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3 – 7

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