Yet Another Year of Choices
By Barbara Dahlgren
The love chapter is found in 1 Corinthians 13 and describes in detail exactly what true love looks like: Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, trusts, and hopes.
That’s a lot to ask of a person and almost impossible to attain without God’s help. Therefore, it would be wise to pray about those attributes found lacking in our lives. Simple prayers like the following might be helpful.
- Since love is patient, Lord, help me to be quick to listen, hesitant to criticize, and eager to encourage. Help me always remember Your patience with me and pass it on to others.
- Since love is kind, Lord, help my words and actions to be gentle and kind.
- Since love does not envy or boast and is not proud, Lord, help me have a humble heart and see the good in others.
- Since love is not rude or self-seeking, Lord, help me be respectful to everyone and consider their needs.
- Since love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs, Lord, help me not to hold grudges and forgive others as You have forgiven me.
- Since love does not delight in evil and rejoices in truth, Lord, show me how to make a difference in the world by helping the helpless and defending the defenseless.
- Since love always protects and trusts, Lord, help me be accepting and warm to others – a refuge for those who need one.
- Since love always perseveres, Lord, help my heart continually be full of love for You and others.
Consider this… The world would have us believe that true love is a subconscious state of euphoria – rendering us helpless, making hearts beat faster, and casting a spell. Euphoric conditions rarely last. What will we do when euphoria fades and reality sets in?
One final thought
Love is not somewhere we fall; love is something we do.
