Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35
“I love you, O Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:1).
I love you because you’ve “freely given” me your grace (Ephesians 1:6). You loved me even before “the creation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). When I was completely lost, you loved me and gave me life (Ephesians 2:4–5). You are love, Lord (1 John 4:16)! “Your love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). Your love compels me (2 Corinthians 5:14). I want to live in your love, Lord. Over every virtue I want to “put on love” (Colossians 3:14). I want to live with faith and hope and love, “but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). I want others to sense Your love in me before I even say a word. Especially my son. My son is a gift and blessing from You. I love him so much, Father! But as much as i love him, you love him even more. Your love is perfect! Your love is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 103:17). He needs your love so much. Love through me, lord! Let Your love flow through me to draw him to You. I know what love is because you’ve showed it to me through the way you “laid down” your life and loved me so sacrificially (1 John 3:16). Father, give me grace to love like You do. I ask for the strength to love him when it isn’t easy. Help me to love him enough to be patient with him, because “love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Help me to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and share your Word with him. When he does something wrong, help me to love him enough to discipline him “because the Lord disciplines those he loves” (Hebrews 12:6). When he does something right, let me be the first to praise him, because love “rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Father, You are “slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion” (Numbers 14:18). I want to love him like that, with a love that “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:7). I choose to love, Father, just as you chose to love me. Fill me afresh with your spirit, so that I can “do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). Make my love “increase and overflow,” lord (1 Thessalonians 3:12), for You and for my son, that he may one day praise You for it and love You with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).
Taken from Prayers for Prodigals, © 2011 by James Banks. Used by permission of Discovery House Publishers, Grand Rapids, MI 4950l. All rights reserved. www.dhp.org