Prayer of the week

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving us first. Instead of just loving those who love us, You have given us a new commandment: to love one another just as Christ has loved us. (John 13:34) Lord, that kind of love is not natural—it is supernatural. So, we ask You to fill our hearts with Your love so that we may reflect it to others.

Since You so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:11) Help us to remember the depth of Your mercy toward us, especially when it is difficult to extend grace to someone else. Teach us to love not based on feelings, but as an act of obedience and worship to You.

Father, help us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility to consider others better than ourselves. (Philippians 2:3) Remove pride, comparison, and competition from our hearts. Replace them with gentleness and compassion. As Your word reminds us, help us to be completely humble and gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love, and making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)

You are calling us to be devoted to one another in love and to honor one another above ourselves. (Romans 12:10) Show us practical ways to do that—through our words, our actions, and even our thoughts.

May we love deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Give us hearts that forgive quickly and extend grace freely. (1 Peter 4:8)

By loving in this manner everyone will know we are Your disciples, if we love one another. Let our love be the evidence that we belong to You. (John 13:35) May the world see You through how we treat each other. We cannot do this on our own, Lord. By Your Spirit, Lord, give us the grace to love with steadfast devotion, sacrificial hearts, and genuine sincerity.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.