And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11
Hey Girls!
I love the prayer in Philippians that Paul prayed for the church. It’s a prayer that recently spoke to my heart. One day, as I was skimming through the Bible looking for a Bible verse, this prayer popped up! I couldn’t get the words pray that your love may abound out of my mind. I know that as a Christian, we are to display the love of Christ. Lately, my love for others has been challenged. I’ve been challenged to step it up in the area of love. I’ve been challenged to stop being critical and judgmental or simply writing people off because they have a different opinion than I do, regarding what’s happening in our world right now.
Perhaps we start off well when it comes to loving others BUT how are you doing now during this Covid season of isolation + distancing? It’s certainly taken a toll on people gathering together, and loving one another. We’ve been told by ‘the experts’ the way to love people is to follow the 3 basic Covid rules: wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. And now with the new rules of gathering… which place even more restrictions on us!
So, how’s that been working for you? Is your love being stirred up and increasing more and more these days? OR, have you found your love at the opposite end of the spectrum growing thin and wearing out during this crazy time?
I found this prayer below, from “Children’s Letters to God…” This was medicine to my own heart J
“Dear God, I bet it is very hard for You to love all the people in the world.
There are only four people in our family and I can never do it. Nan.”
Let’s pray that our love would abound. God calls us to a higher standard. We are to have a love that is ever increasing and abounding in the qualities of knowledge and insight. The knowledge Paul is wanting us to have is a knowledge that comes from our relationship with God. Stay connected! Ask God for help. When my heart rises up in anger against differing views, I’m reminded how much I need to pray and ask the Spirit of God to take control of my heart + attitude; to be led by His Spirit and not to react in the flesh.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Pray for a discerning heart. Love connected with knowledge and insight will lead us to ‘discern the things that are best.’ To choose the best things. The choices we make are not always between good and bad – sometimes they are between good & really good! Discernment allows us to make the best decision in order that we can be blameless when we meet Christ.
Pray to be filled with the fruit of righteousness. This godly fruit is produced in our lives by the Holy Spirit. Draw near to Jesus. Don’t quench the Spirit. The end result: God’s supernatural qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness & self-control will flow in and through our lives resulting in praise and honor to Christ.
Blessings to you, Karen