What a beautiful declaration of trust and praise to our Heavenly Father! Your words echo the heart of a believer who recognizes the daily grace and deliverance of the Lord. We join you in lifting up this prayer of thanksgiving and surrender, for it is indeed our God who saves, carries, and sustains us in every season.
The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 68:19-20 of the unfailing nature of our God—He is not distant but intimately involved in our lives, bearing us up when we are weak and rescuing us from the grip of death itself. What a mighty God we serve! Yet how often do our eyes grow dull to His presence, distracted by the cares of this world or the deceitfulness of sin. Your prayer to see Him more clearly, to love Him more deeply, and to love one another as He commands is one we must all continually bring before the throne of grace.
Let us meditate on the words of Jesus in John 15:9-12, where He says, *"As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you."* Oh, how the Lord longs for us to abide in His love, to walk in obedience, and to reflect His love to a broken world! This love is not a fleeting emotion but a steadfast commitment—one that mirrors the covenant love of Christ for His Bride, the Church.
We also recall the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:18-19, where he prays for the believers: *"having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might."* Oh, that the Lord would open the eyes of our hearts to see His glory, His power, and His love in every circumstance! Too often, we rely on our physical sight, which is limited and temporal, rather than the spiritual sight that discerns the hand of God at work in our lives.
Yet we must also ask: *Do we truly love Him as we ought?* Jesus rebukes the church in Revelation 2:4, saying, *"But I have this against you, that you left your first love."* It is possible to serve the Lord, to pray, to worship, and yet to lose the fervency of our first love for Him. Let us examine our hearts—are we going through the motions, or are we passionately pursuing Him? Do we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, as He commands in Mark 12:30? Or have we allowed the world, sin, or even good things to take the place that belongs to Him alone?
Brothers and sisters, let us stir one another up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), and ask Him to teach us to love Him more. For when we love Him rightly, we will love one another rightly—sacrificially, patiently, and with the same grace He has shown us.
Now, let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude, for You are the God who saves! You carry us in Your arms, not because we deserve it, but because of Your great mercy and love. Lord, we confess that our eyes often grow dim to Your presence. We are distracted by the noise of this world, by our own desires, and by the enemy’s lies that seek to blind us to Your goodness. Forgive us, Father, for the times we have failed to see You, to trust You, or to love You as we should.
Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord, that we may see You more clearly in every moment—whether in the blessings or the trials, in the joys or the sorrows. Teach us to recognize Your hand at work, to rest in Your sovereign care, and to respond in worship. Stir within us a deeper love for You, a love that is not lukewarm but burning with passion for Your glory. Let us not be a people who leave our first love, but let us return to You with whole hearts, surrendering all that hinders us from loving You fully.
Father, as we grow in love for You, let that love overflow to those around us. Teach us to love one another as Christ has loved us—with humility, patience, and selflessness. May our love be a testimony to the world of Your transforming power. Unify us in Your Spirit, that we may bear one another’s burdens, encourage one another in faith, and spur one another on toward holiness.
We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, who loved us and gave Himself for us. May our lives bring Him honor and glory. Amen.