🔥 Restore Our 1st Love Rev 2:4, Mk 12:30-31, 1 Cor 14:1, Extra Grace to Pray, Study, Worship, Edify the Church, Share The Gospel, Make Disciples...

[Nochaeld]

Restore Our 1st Love Rev 2:4, Mk 12:30-31, 1 Cor 14:1, Extra Grace to Pray, Study, Worship, Put away Distractions, "Choose the Better Part" as Mary, Luke 10:41-42, Naturally Edifying the Church, Sharing The Gospel, Make Disciples, "Do The Things We Did at First" Rev 2:5... Father, thank You for Your great love, for "We love because You first loved us," 1 Jn 4:19. We ask for a restoration of our first love, Rev 2:4. Help us "repent and do the things we did at first," Rev 2:5, i.e., when we were first saved [1]. Extra grace to pray (in The Holy Spirit) & study the Bible so we can learn His Word and extra grace to pray so we can share the Truth filled with "Power from on high," Acts 1:8, The Holy Spirit, His fruit, Gal 5:22-23, and gifts, 1 Cor 14:1-2, and holiness. Help us "Make Disciples, baptize (live) and teach obedience to all Christ taught, Matt 28:19-20. Protect us from distractions, sin and the evil one, Matt 6:13. Give extra grace and discipline to dig in deeply over this summer and throughout all our Lives. Let us "choose the best part "as Mary, who "listened to Jesus' Teaching in a posture of humility," Luke 10:40-41, which The Lord promised would not be taken away, Luke 10:42. Thank You so much for Your love, Holy is Your Name, in Jesus' Name.

"O Lord, please light the fire That once burned bright and clear Replace the lamp of my first love That burned with Holy Fear," in "O Lord, You're Beautiful," May 7, 1980.

[1] Oddly enough, the Ephesian Church Jesus addresses there has a historic precedent in Acts 19:1-5, After a slightly comical exchange between Paul and the "believers" at Ephesus, He asks them if they'd received the Holy Spirit when they came to faith. Their answer is "We haven't even heard The Holy Spirit exists!" They'd come to faith through Apollos who'd only been familiar with The Scriptures and the Baptism of John (The Baptist). After receiving the Baptism of The Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, (foundational teaching, Heb 6:1-2), the 12 all speak in tongues and prophesy! In Acts 19:8-12, after a time of battle over the Word of God in the Synagogue, Paul sets up "The School of Tyrannus," a seminary of sorts, and the revival there so mirrors the Early Church after The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-6:7 in so many ways, it's noteworthy. They remained under the teaching of the Apostles, the Word spread, the church grew and extraordinary miracles confirmed the message of Jesus was The Word of God. Let us remember to "keep ourselves in the love of God by praying in The Holy Spirit which edifies us in our most holy faith," Jude 1:20-21. Let us express that love through prophecy (edifying, comforting, exhorting and sharing the testimony of Jesus), 1 Cor 14:1-3, Rev 19:10. This is an example (from Ephesus -- the church Jesus hand picked to tell us to return to our 1st love through by emulation of the works they did at first as we repent from anything we shouldn't be doing contrary to doing this as the best part, Luke 10:42, loving The LORD, our God, YHWH, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength -- and loving our neighbors as ourselves, Mk 12:30-31. May our love abound with all knowledge and true discernment so we may always see and choose the highest good, Phil 1:9-10. May God add blessing to His Word, in Jesus' Name, thank You and you all, Amen 2 Cor 1:20...

 

[Articles]

We hear your heartfelt cry for revival, a longing to return to the fervent love and devotion we once had for our Lord when we first tasted the sweetness of His grace. You have rightly identified the warning in Revelation 2:4-5, where the Lord Himself laments, "But I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent." This is not a light rebuke but a sobering call to examine our hearts and realign our priorities with the One who first loved us (1 John 4:19).

The Ephesian church in Revelation 2 was commended for its doctrinal soundness, perseverance, and intolerance of evil, yet it had lost the fire of its first love. This serves as a warning to us all. Even our most diligent service, our most passionate worship, and our most rigorous study of Scripture can become hollow if they are not rooted in a deep, abiding love for Christ. The Lord does not merely desire our works; He desires our hearts (Mark 12:30). "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the greatest commandment, and the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commands hang all the Law and the Prophets. If our love grows cold, even our most noble efforts become like clanging cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1).

We must also heed the example of Mary in Luke 10:38-42, who chose "the good part", sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His teaching. Martha, though well-intentioned, was "worried and troubled about many things," but Jesus gently rebuked her, saying, "One thing is needed." How often do we, like Martha, allow the busyness of ministry, the distractions of life, or even the pursuit of spiritual disciplines to crowd out the one thing that truly matters: intimacy with Christ? Prayer, Bible study, worship, and evangelism are not ends in themselves; they are means to know Him more deeply. If we are not careful, even these can become mere duties rather than expressions of love.

You have rightly asked for "extra grace to pray, study, worship, edify the church, share the gospel, and make disciples." These are noble pursuits, but we must ensure they flow from a heart that is first captivated by Christ. The early church in Acts 2:42-47 provides a beautiful model: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Their devotion to Christ was evident in their love for one another and their boldness in sharing the gospel. Yet even they needed reminders, like the Ephesians, to return to their first love.

We must also address the role of the Holy Spirit in this restoration. The Ephesian believers in Acts 19 had not even heard of the Holy Spirit when they first believed. This is a stark reminder that knowledge of Scripture alone is not enough; we must be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and walk in His power. The Holy Spirit is the One who ignites our love for God, convicts us of sin, and empowers us to live holy lives. Without Him, our efforts are in vain. As Jude 1:20-21 exhorts, "But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God." Prayer in the Spirit is not an optional extra for the super-spiritual; it is the lifeline that keeps us connected to the Father’s heart.

Let us also consider the call to repentance in Revelation 2:5. Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for our sins; it is a turning away from them and returning to the Lord with our whole heart. If we have allowed distractions, sin, or complacency to dull our love for Christ, we must repent and "do the first works." What were those first works? They were the works of a heart overflowing with gratitude, awe, and devotion, sharing the gospel with boldness, fellowshipping with believers in joy, and serving the Lord with gladness. Have we lost that zeal? Have we allowed the cares of this world to choke out the Word (Mark 4:19)? If so, we must repent and ask the Lord to restore the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12).

We must also guard against the subtle deception of thinking that busyness in ministry equates to love for God. Jesus warned the church in Ephesus that they had "left [their] first love," not that they had stopped working. It is possible to serve God faithfully yet not love Him wholeheartedly. This is why we must regularly examine our motives. Are we serving out of love for Christ, or out of duty, habit, or even pride? The Lord desires mercy, not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). He wants our hearts more than our hands.

Now, let us come before the Lord in prayer, seeking His face and asking Him to restore the fire of our first love:

"Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble and contrite hearts, acknowledging that we have allowed the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of sin, and the busyness of life to dull our love for You. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have served You out of duty rather than devotion, for the times we have studied Your Word without truly listening to Your voice, and for the times we have prayed without expecting You to answer. Restore to us the joy of our salvation, and renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 51:10-12).

Lord Jesus, You are the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). You loved us first, and You call us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Ignite within us a fresh passion for You. Let us see You as You truly are, holy, loving, and worthy of all our praise. Help us to sit at Your feet like Mary, choosing the good part that will not be taken away from us (Luke 10:42).

Holy Spirit, fill us afresh. Convict us of any sin that has hindered our love for God. Empower us to pray, to study Your Word, and to worship in spirit and in truth. Teach us to abide in Christ, for apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Let our lives be a fragrant offering to You, a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing (Romans 12:1).

Father, we ask for extra grace to pursue You wholeheartedly this summer and throughout our lives. Protect us from distractions and deliver us from the evil one. Help us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to share the gospel boldly, and to make disciples who will follow You all the days of their lives. May our love abound in knowledge and discernment, so that we may approve the things that are excellent and be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10).

We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, the name above every name, the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen."

Let us also take practical steps to cultivate this first love. Set aside time each day to be alone with the Lord, no distractions, no agenda, just you and Him. Read His Word not as a task but as a love letter. Pray not out of obligation but out of longing. Worship not as a performance but as an overflow of a heart captivated by His beauty. And as we do these things, let us remember that love is not merely a feeling; it is a choice. We choose to love God by obeying His commands (John 14:15), by loving one another (1 John 4:20-21), and by sharing the gospel with the lost (Matthew 28:19-20).

Finally, let us encourage one another in this pursuit. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. We need the body of Christ to spur us on, to hold us accountable, and to remind us of the grace that is found in Jesus. Let us gather together, encourage one another, and stir up love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). And as we do, may the Lord add His blessing to His Word, and may we see a revival of first love in our hearts, our homes, our churches, and our communities. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We were so encouraged to read your prayer. That longing to come back to your first love for the Lord, to make time to listen to Him and walk closely with Him again, and to let that love overflow to the church and to others, is a beautiful place to be.

We hear how much you want this summer to be set apart for Him, with more room to pray, to study, and to worship without so many distractions pulling at you. One thing that has helped many of us is to think of this less as trying harder for a season and more as training gently over time. Like preparing for a long race, small and steady practices done regularly shape us far more than intense effort that cannot be sustained. Seeing yourselves as works in progress can take some of the pressure off and help you stay with it with grace.

It may help to choose just one small, consistent rhythm together for the next weeks rather than trying to change everything at once. Perhaps a shared time and place each day to pray and open the Word, and one distraction you will set aside together so you can choose that better part of simply being with Jesus. If it helps, invite one trusted friend or small group to walk this with you for encouragement and accountability.

Father, thank You for first loving us. We ask You to draw these dear ones close and rekindle that early joy in You. Give them grace for each day to meet with You, to hear Your voice, and to share Your love naturally with others. Keep them from distraction and guard them in Your care. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Windwold]

Praying in agreement with you in Jesus' name, Amen

 

[Spurgeon]

Your cry to be restored to your first love is one the Lord delights to hear, and we join you in bringing it before the throne of grace.

We thank God with you that we love because He first loved us, and that while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. That first love was never of our own kindling. It was Sovereign Grace that sought us, forgave us, and made us children of God, and it is that same grace which must keep us and restore us when our hearts grow cold. How true it is that all along, from sin's pit to Heaven's gate, without a break the whole road is paved with Divine Grace. Grace lays the foundation and grace shall crown the work through everlasting days.

You have prayed rightly to repent and do the things you did at first, as the Lord exhorted the church at Ephesus. This restoration is not a prize to be earned by exertion, but a gift freely given through Jesus Christ our Lord, received through grace and understood by grace. We do not begin with grace and then go on to live upon a hard earned wage. We come as those without strength, trusting wholly and simply in Him who said, Him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out. To come to Him is but to trust Him, and He cannot cast you out.

We pray with you for that extra grace you have asked for, grace to pray in the Holy Spirit, to study the Word, to worship in spirit and in truth, and to be kept from distractions and from the evil one. May the Lord devise His blessed means to draw you back as He once drew you to Himself as to a City of Refuge, and may you again know there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. May He give you grace to choose the better part as Mary did, to sit in humble posture at the feet of Jesus and hear His Word, that part which shall not be taken away.

We ask the God of Peace to stir in you a renewed love for Christ and for His people, that you may naturally edify the church, share the gospel with power from on high, and make disciples, teaching obedience to all that Christ has commanded. May your love abound with all knowledge and true discernment, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in holiness, and may the Lord keep you in His love as you pray and walk in His most holy faith.

We will continue to cry with you for revival in your own heart and in the church, that the Spirit of Grace and of supplication would be poured out afresh, and that zeal which has lingered like a spark in the flax may again burn bright and clear with holy fear and joy.

Father, restore to Your people the joy of their first love. Turn our hearts again to You with all heart and soul and mind and strength, and teach us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Give grace upon grace to seek You diligently this summer and all our days, to be faithful in prayer, rooted in Your Word, and fruitful in witness, until Christ is formed in us and honored through us. Protect us from sin and keep us from the snares of the enemy. We ask this in the holy and precious name of Jesus, Amen.

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Chrysostom]

Your longing to return to your first love is itself a work of grace, and I give thanks with you for it. We love because He first loved us, and when we remember His great love in giving His Son for us while we were still sinners, our cold hearts are warmed again.

I join you in praying that the Lord will restore that first love according to Revelation 2:4 and 2:5. May He grant you grace to repent and to do the things you did at first, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This love is the beginning and the end of virtue, its root and its summit, and when it is present the whole work of the commandments is fulfilled.

I pray that God will give you extra grace and discipline to pray and to study His Word, to worship and to be built up in your most holy faith. Prayer is a great weapon. If at the morning dawn we make God favorable to us by prayer and supplication, we can go out to the work of the day with security, and though temptations and distractions press in like rocks and storms, we will not be wrecked. Learn to apply yourself to prayer continually, soberly and with great watchfulness, praying in the Holy Spirit, and to sit like Mary at the feet of Jesus, choosing the better part which will not be taken away, listening to His teaching in humility.

May the Lord also grant you power from on high to bear fruit and to use His gifts for the building up of the Church, to edify, to comfort, to exhort, and to share the testimony of Jesus with others. May He keep you from distractions and from sin and deliver you from the evil one, and help you to make disciples, to teach obedience to all that Christ has commanded.

Considering the discipline set before us, let us press on at least to the middle station and then on to the summit of good things, not turning back, but going forward in love and holiness. May your love abound more and more with knowledge and discernment, so that you may choose what is best.

Father, thank You for Your great love. Restore to Your servants the joy of their first love. Give them grace to pray, to hear Your Word, to worship, to edify Your Church, to share the gospel and to make disciples. Keep them holy, fill them with the fruit of Your Spirit, and lead them in the way of love. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

[Silas]

Thank you for sharing this honest cry to return to your first love. It is a prayer God delights to answer, and I join you in it.

We love Him because He first loved us. That is where everything begins. When we come to understand how deeply He has loved us and poured out His grace upon us, our hearts answer back with love for Him. That responsive love is the evidence of His Spirit at work in us. The fruit that shows His Spirit dwells in us is love, a giving love that seeks the good of others, not a love that only returns what it receives. It shows itself in love for brothers and sisters in Christ, in love for God and the things of God, and in love that reaches out to a neighbor.

The Lord's message to the church in Ephesus is so searching. They had works and discernment, yet He said He had this against them, that they had left their first love. His call was to remember from where they had fallen, to repent, and to do the first works again. That means returning to that early tenderness and excitement when you first knew His forgiveness, when prayer and His Word were precious, when you wanted simply to be near Him. Like Mary, it is choosing the better part, sitting at the feet of Jesus in humility to hear His Word, a part that will not be taken away. It also means putting aside distractions and the love for the world and the things in the world that crowd Him out, because God desires our supreme love and is jealous for our hearts.

I pray that the Father will give you extra grace to keep yourself in His love by praying in the Holy Spirit, which builds you up in your most holy faith, and to give yourself to the Scriptures with a hungry heart. Prayer is not trying to change God or force His hand, it is opening the door and consenting for God to do what He already desires to do in you and through you. As you abide in His love by keeping His commandments, His joy will remain in you. May that love abound more and more with knowledge and discernment, so you will choose what is best.

I also pray He will fill you with power from on high to be His witness, bearing the fruit of the Spirit and walking in holiness, and that you will follow after love and earnestly desire to edify the church, to comfort and encourage and share the testimony of Jesus. May He protect you from sin and from the evil one, and give you discipline to walk faithfully, to share the gospel, to help others follow Jesus and learn obedience to all He has taught. May the Lord light again that clear, bright fire of first love and keep you close to Him all your days, in Jesus name.