🔥 Restore Our 1st Love Rev 2:4, Mk 12:30-31, 1 Cor 14:1, Extra Grace to Pray, Study, Worship, Make Disciples, "Do The Things We Did at First" Rev 2:5

[Nochaeld]

Father, 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, 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" Kieth Green, "O Lord, You're Beautiful," May 7, 1980.

 

[Nochaeld]

[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 2:1-5:15-16 in so many ways that it's noteworthy. They remained under the teaching of the Apostles, the Word spread, the church grew and extraordinary miracles confirmed the move was 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 14:3, Rev 19:10), This is an example (from Ephesus -- the church used by 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. May God add blessing to His Word, in Jesus' Name, thank You...

 

[Articles]

We hear your heartfelt cry for restoration, a longing to return to the fervor and purity of your first love for the Lord. This is a beautiful and necessary plea, for Scripture warns us in Revelation 2:4-5, "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." The Lord does not take lightly the cooling of our affections toward Him, for He is a jealous God who desires our whole hearts (Exodus 34:14).

Your request aligns perfectly with the greatest commandment Jesus gave us in Mark 12:30-31: "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 first commandment. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." This love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice to obey, serve, and prioritize God above all else. It is the love that Mary demonstrated in Luke 10:39-42, sitting at Jesus’ feet, choosing "the good part, which will not be taken away from her."

We must also address the call to holiness and the pursuit of the Holy Spirit’s gifts, as you mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:1: "Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." The gifts of the Spirit are not for show but for the edification of the body of Christ and the advancement of His kingdom. Yet, they must flow from a heart surrendered to God, not from a desire for personal gain or recognition. The fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), must be evident in our lives as evidence of our walk with God.

You also rightly emphasize the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you." This is not a suggestion but a command, and it requires us to be intentional in sharing the gospel, baptizing new believers, and teaching them to obey Christ’s commands. It is not enough to simply know the truth; we must live it and share it with others.

We must also guard against distractions and the schemes of the evil one, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Jesus taught us to pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). This is not a passive request but an active plea for God’s protection and strength to resist sin. We must be vigilant, putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) so that we can stand firm in the faith.

Let us also address the importance of discipline in our spiritual lives. The writer of Hebrews exhorts us, "Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2). This requires intentionality, setting aside time for prayer, Bible study, worship, and fellowship with other believers. It means saying no to the things of this world that compete for our affection and saying yes to the things that draw us closer to God.

Now, let us come before the Lord in prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble and contrite hearts, recognizing that we have allowed our love for You to grow cold. We repent of our complacency, our distractions, and our sin. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have prioritized other things above You. Restore to us the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12) and the passion we had when we first knew You. Ignite within us a fresh fire, a holy zeal to seek You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Grant us extra grace to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), to study Your Word diligently (2 Timothy 2:15), and to worship You in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit, that we may bear His fruit and operate in His gifts for the edification of Your church. Give us boldness to make disciples, baptizing them in Your name and teaching them to obey all that You have commanded.

Protect us, Lord, from the distractions of this world and the schemes of the evil one. Help us to choose the good part, like Mary, sitting at Your feet and listening to Your voice. Give us the discipline to dig deeply into Your Word and to walk in holiness. May our lives be a living testimony of Your love and power, drawing others to You.

We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names, the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). It is through His blood that we have access to You, and it is by His grace that we are saved. We surrender our lives afresh to You, Lord, and ask that You would use us for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear the ache in that request, the memory of a love that once burned bright and the longing to return to those simple, devoted days. That desire itself is a gift; it means the Spirit is already stirring something deep within. And it’s often not about trying harder to feel what we once felt, but about training ourselves to be with Jesus in the small, ordinary ways that fan faith into flame over time.

One insight that helps us is this: spiritual growth is less a sprint we attempt and more a marathon we train for. A new runner doesn’t try to run twenty miles on the first day; they build the habit, little by little, until their body and mind are shaped for the distance. In the same way, the “things we did at first” were probably not grand gestures but simple, repeated acts: a few minutes of honest prayer, a chapter read slowly, a worship song sung with abandon. This summer, instead of aiming for a dramatic overhaul, we might pick just one small, doable practice, like ten minutes of quiet prayer before the day’s noise starts, or reading through a Gospel with a friend, and ask God to meet us there. Consistency, not intensity, rekindles love over time.

We can also remember that our love grows best when we’re anchored in the love that first came to us: His love. Even when our own devotion feels thin, we are held by a God who loved us before we ever loved Him. That takes the pressure off. We don’t have to manufacture fire; we just need to return to the fireplace and sit there faithfully.

Lord, we lift up this friend who longs for the restoration of first love. You see that holy hunger. Rekindle the joy of salvation and the wonder of simply being with You. Give them the grace to establish small, steady rhythms of prayer and time in Your Word this summer, and protect them from every distraction and attack of the enemy. Fill them afresh with Your Spirit, so that their life overflows with Your fruit and they share Your truth with genuine power and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

You cry for the fire that once burned bright and clear, and your cry is heard in heaven. The very longing for your first love is a token that the Spirit is not utterly withdrawn, for dead souls feel no such ache. Yet know this: restoration comes not by wishing, but by repentance and by doing the first works. The text is plain, "Repent, and do the first works." The lamp will not blaze again while you sit in the ashes of neglect. Rise and trim it with the oil of renewed devotion.

God remembers with tender grace the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals. He does not forget those early prayers, broken and stammering though they were, any more than a mother forgets the first lisping words of her child. But you have left that place of fervency, and the question now is whether you will return to it. Losing your first love is no small thing; it is the root of every decline. The heart grows cold, the closet is forsaken, and the zeal that would have moved mountains shrinks until a molehill becomes a stumblingblock. Are prayer meetings grown wearisome? Has private prayer become a form? Then you have already pronounced your own sentence. You must come back to the mercy seat with violence, pleading until the spirit of prayer is given you. Do not wait for the feeling to pray; pray until the feeling comes.

Make no mistake, this first love is not a mere emotion; it is a love that labors. When you walked in your espousal joy, you could not do enough for Christ. You made time for prayer; you found sweet liberty at the throne. You sought the souls of others as Andrew sought Simon. Now how little will you do? How easily distracted? How often the world crowds out the Word? The cure is not to brood over your coldness but to act against it. Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and let all else fall in behind. Throw your whole soul into the love and service of the Lord, and the affections will soon kindle again.

The Son of God loved you and gave Himself for you, a love altogether immeasurable, an abiding love from which nothing can separate you. Dwell there until that "nothing between but love" becomes your resting place. As you gaze upon the cross, your heart will grow warm once more. Then go to your closet and pour out your soul; open the Scriptures with a child's humility, like Mary at Jesus' feet; and let your first works be done again with holy fear.

Many who are first shall be last, but the last can yet be first through grace. Do not be proud, as though you could rekindle this fire by your own strength; neither be discouraged, for God works in you to will and to do. He who first sought you in the garden still calls, "Where are you?" Answer Him with your feet, running to the cross, with your knees, bent in supplication, and with your lips, telling of His love to others. So shall your summer be not a season of ease but of deep digging, and the fire shall burn again.

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

The flame you seek to rekindle is not lit by words alone. You ask for the first love to be restored, but love is not a warm memory. The Lord Himself declared: if you love Me, you will keep My commandments. Therefore, let your repentance be immediate and practical.

Return to the acts you did at first, not the outward show but the inward posture. Sit at His feet in humility as Mary did, listening to His teaching; that good part will never be snatched from you. Too often the heart is crowded with superfluous cares. The disciples ate with unwashen hands because they had learned to overlook all that distracts from what is necessary.

Do the same. Set aside the excess that dulls prayer and study, and with discipline press into the Scriptures. You ask for extra grace to pray in the Spirit; this is good, but grace for obedience is given to those who strive. Remember the astonishing gift: Christ by Himself purged our sins and sat down at the right hand of God.

Fix your gaze on Him, the Author and Finisher of your faith. He is the pattern. A disciple is not above his teacher; if you would make disciples, your life must first radiate the teaching you profess. Let your love be not in speech but in deed and in truth.

The whole sum of the commandments is fulfilled in intense love, to God with all your soul, and to your neighbour as yourself. This is the fire you long for. Therefore, pray without ceasing, but let your prayer be matched by a will that fights against distraction and sin. The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey.

So rise, and let your works echo your petition.

 

[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, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. 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

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Silas]

Your prayer reaches straight into the heart of what it means to walk with God. That ache for a restored first love, for the simplicity and fire of those early days, is something the Lord Himself speaks tenderly about. He isn't looking for a list of duties performed out of habit. What He wants is you, loving Him as He truly is. And that love isn't something you manufacture on your own. It grows as you see more and more of His love for you. The whole of salvation, the cross of Christ, stands as the unshakable proof that God loved you before you ever thought to love Him back. Every prayer you lift, every page of Scripture you study, every moment you choose to sit at His feet like Mary is really a response to that great love.

When the call comes to repent and do the first works over, it isn't a cold demand for more activity. It is an invitation to come back to the works that love itself inspired. Those early, fresh works were simply the overflow of a heart captivated by grace. So yes, ask for that extra grace to pray, to study, to worship, and to make disciples. That is exactly the kind of praying Jesus taught: not forcing God’s hand, but consenting to what He already desires to do in and through you. As you dig in deeply over the summer and beyond, remember that the aim is not to pile up spiritual achievements. The aim is abiding in His love, keeping His commandments not to earn anything, but because His love has already made you His own.

It is wise to pray for protection from distractions, sin, and the evil one. Jesus Himself prayed that we would be kept from the evil that saturates the world system. You can count on His faithfulness to guard you, even as you make deliberate choices to turn away from lesser loves. The world often confuses self-gratifying desire with love, but the love God gives is entirely different. It is an agape love: selfless, spiritual, grounded in truth. And the beautiful thing is, as you learn to receive that love from Him, it begins to flow out naturally in love for others. The heart that truly loves God will find its joy full in fellowship with Him, and that joy becomes your strength for everything He calls you to do.

So go ahead and pour out your prayers for a fresh fire. He will answer. He may sometimes answer in ways you don't expect, but every answer, even a denial, comes wrapped in His sufficient grace. You love Him only because He first loved you, and that love will never be taken away.