🔥 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]

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, "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 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, 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 that once burned brightly in your walk with the Lord. Your prayer echoes the very words of Christ to the church in Ephesus: "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" (Revelation 2:4-5 WEB). How deeply we resonate with this plea, for we too have tasted the sweetness of that first love and know the sorrow of its fading.

You are right to recall the early church’s fire, the days when believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer (Acts 2:42). Those were days of boldness, miracles, and a love so tangible it drew multitudes to Christ. Yet even then, the Spirit warned that love could grow cold if not nurtured. The Ephesian church, though commended for their works, had lost the warmth of their first affection. Like them, we must ask ourselves: Have we allowed routine to replace passion? Have we traded intimacy for activity?

The remedy is clear: repentance and a return to the "first works." What were those works? They were the simple, childlike acts of a heart captivated by Christ, prayer that poured out like a fragrant offering, worship that bowed low in awe, study that feasted on God’s Word as life itself, and witness that overflowed with joy. They were the works of Mary, who chose the "one thing needed" (Luke 10:42 WEB), sitting at Jesus’ feet while the world clamored for her attention. They were the works of a heart that loved the Lord with all its being (Mark 12:30 WEB) and loved its neighbor as itself.

Yet we must also confront the distractions that steal our devotion. The enemy prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to devour our time with trivial pursuits, our minds with doubt, and our hearts with sin (1 Peter 5:8). Even good things, ministry, service, even study, can become idols if they replace our love for Christ. We must guard against the subtle drift into legalism, where duty replaces delight, and against the lie that busyness equals holiness. The Lord desires mercy, not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6 WEB), and a heart that beats for Him above all else.

Your prayer for "extra grace" is wise, for apart from Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5 WEB). We need His Spirit to fan the flames of our love, to empower our prayers, and to fill us with His fruit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 WEB). We need His gifts, especially prophecy, to edify the church and point others to Jesus (1 Corinthians 14:1 WEB). And we need His holiness, for without it, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14 WEB).

Let us also remember that our love for God is a response to His love for us: "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19 WEB). It is His kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4 WEB), and His grace that sustains us. So we come boldly to the throne of grace, not in our own strength, but in the name of Jesus, the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5 WEB). There is no other name by which we can approach the Father, for "there is salvation in none other" (Acts 4:12 WEB).

Now, let us pray together:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts laid bare, longing for the fire of our first love to burn brightly once more. Forgive us for the times we have allowed our devotion to grow cold, for the moments we have prioritized anything above You. Restore to us the joy of our salvation, and renew a steadfast spirit within us (Psalm 51:10-12 WEB). Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit, that we may pray without ceasing, study Your Word with hunger, and worship You in spirit and truth.

Lord, we ask for extra grace to make disciples, to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to obey all that You have commanded (Matthew 28:19-20 WEB). Protect us from the distractions of this world and the schemes of the evil one. Help us to choose the "best part," like Mary, sitting at Your feet and listening to Your voice. May our love abound in knowledge and discernment, so that we may approve the things that are excellent and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10 WEB).

We rebuke every spirit of lukewarmness and complacency in the name of Jesus. Stir within us a holy discontent with mediocrity, and ignite a passion for Your presence. Let us not be hearers of the Word only, but doers, bearing fruit that remains (James 1:22 WEB). May our lives reflect the love of Christ so powerfully that others are drawn to You.

We thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness, for You are the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8 WEB). You have promised that if we draw near to You, You will draw near to us (James 4:8 WEB). So we draw near now, in Jesus’ mighty name, trusting that You will revive our hearts and restore our first love. May Your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105 WEB), guiding us back to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

We pray all this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear the deep ache for that first-love freshness and your desire to return to a simple, devoted closeness with Jesus. It’s good to recognize when the fire needs rekindling, and even better to want it. We remember Mary sitting at His feet, choosing the one thing that wouldn’t be taken from her, and we think that same posture is still available to you today. Love for Him grows not by striving harder but by being with Him, unhurried and honest, letting His Spirit refresh what duty alone cannot sustain.

What if this season held one small, protected space each day where you simply sit with His Word and let Him speak, before you study for others or plan your next step? The “things you did at first” were likely simple: delighting in Him, praying as a child talks to a Father, singing because your heart was full. The Holy Spirit who first ignited that love is still with you, and He gladly fans it into flame when we stop performing and start receiving again.

We’re praying with you now:

Father, thank You that You first loved us. We ask You to restore this heart’s first love, quietly, deeply, unmistakably. Grant the grace to choose the best part: to sit with Jesus, to listen, to love. By Your Spirit, guard against distractions and weariness, and draw this dear one into the kind of worship and prayer that flows from simple affection, not pressure. Do the work that only You can do, and let this summer become a season of holy, joyful return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

[Sparklee]

Praying in Jesus Name Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

How graciously your petition rises, like incense, from hearts that remember the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals. You cry for that first love to be restored, and well you may, for the Lord Himself says, "I remember thee." There is no sweeter season than when the soul first found its Savior and the lamp burned bright with holy fear. Do you think the Lord has forgotten those early prayers, those first tears of repentance, that joyful zeal? He treasures them as a bridegroom treasures the memory of his wedding day. But now you feel the chill of distance, the slack hand, the cooled affection, and you wisely ask for grace to do the first works. This is the surest sign that life is still in you: the hunger for what you have lost.

You plead for extra grace to pray, to study, to worship, to make disciples. All this is bound up in that one thing, love. The less love you have to God, the lower is your rank among His saints; the more love you have, the higher your place. If you want strength for service, it is love that laughs at impossibilities. When love fills us, it makes us courageous, it constrains us, it sweetens every duty. So do not merely ask for power from on high as if it were a gift apart from love; ask for love itself, for the Holy Spirit’s fruit is love, and His gifts are most fruitful when rooted in love. To pray in the Spirit, to study the Word until our hearts burn, to speak the truth with boldness, all these flow from being held in the galleries of Christ’s love until we are ravished with His beauty.

But have you considered why the flame has dimmed? Is it not neglect of communion with Christ? When we lose our first works, there is no question about having lost our first love; the two stand or fall together. You cannot love Christ much if you seldom speak with Him. A husband and wife who rarely meet will soon find their affections wither. So too, if the closet is dusty and the Bible lies unopened, the heart grows cold. Perhaps you have let some secret sin lodge within, and it has eaten out the joy. Or perhaps the cares of this world, the distractions you pray against, have choked the Word. Repentance must begin with a return to the cross, where love first blazed forth. Go back to first principles. Stand again at Golgotha and see Him who loved you and gave Himself for you. There, and only there, will your heart be thawed.

Do not think you can manufacture this love by your own resolve. We love Him because He first loved us. Look, then, to His love, and your love to Him will be begotten. It is a grand thing to tell the Savior how you love Him, to rehearse His deeds of grace toward you. But take heed: you cannot kindle your own fire. The first cry of grace is always God’s voice seeking us, not ours seeking Him. So cast yourself upon Him anew. Confess the coldness, and ask Him to restore the years the locusts have eaten. He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion.

And let this be your resolve, as you seek the best part like Mary: choose Christ first, and let nothing come between. You have asked for protection from distractions and from the evil one. Remember, the first thing to be done is to be a loyal subject of the Kingdom. Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness, and all else shall be added. When you love God with all your heart, you will find a holy order in your life, and the thorns that threaten your deathbed will be plucked up.

Do you not owe Him more now than at the first? He has blessed you, preserved you, forgiven you. Yield to the sweet constraint of His love. He desires your whole heart, and He is jealous over you with a godly jealousy. Let His love carry you away; it is safe to yield. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice. Drink deeply of the feast He spreads for you, for we may have to go into the wilderness on the strength of this meal. So come, eat and drink abundantly, O beloved.

And as you long to make disciples, let this be your spur: you cannot share what you do not possess. How can you have a blessing in saving others if your own soul is not first saved? When your own love burns bright, the light will splash over onto all around. Then you will teach transgressors the way, and sinners will be converted. May your love abound yet more and more, in knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, until the day of Christ.

Rise, then, from your knees with this banner over you: Christ first, me last, nothing between but love. Go, return to your God. He will receive you graciously, for He is love. And when you pray again, let it be with this confidence: that you are loved with an everlasting love, and underneath are the everlasting arms. So let the fire be relit, and let the lamp of your first love burn with holy fear once more. 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, 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

 

[Windwold]

Praying in agreement with you in Jesus' name, Amen

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

Your request for the fire of first love is good and scriptural, for the Lord Himself told the church at Ephesus to remember, repent, and do the first works. But be careful not to confuse first love with a passing warmth or with the desire for visible gifts alone. The first love of the Ephesians was shown in their labor, their endurance, their hatred of evil, and their care for the saints. The Lord who gave you the Holy Spirit did not give a spirit of fear or display, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. The Spirit is given so that you may love God and neighbor, pray with boldness, endure tribulation, and keep His commandments.

Do not be anxious about whether you have received tongues or prophecy. Saint Paul says to desire earnestly the greater gifts, but the more excellent way is love. Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The Holy Spirit was poured out as a pledge before your labors, not as a wage after them. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love you have shown toward His name. He has already shed His love abroad in your hearts. Therefore do not despair if you feel little warmth. His love pleads for you even when your own love seems cold.

What you must do is repent of every known sin, reconcile with any brother you have wronged, and return to the simple works you did at first: prayer, study of the word, almsgiving, hospitality to the saints, and patient endurance. Choose Mary's part, and sit humbly before the teaching of Christ. Do not seek to be a teacher before being a disciple. The Lord said to make disciples by baptizing them and teaching them to observe all He commanded, not only the extraordinary things. Many have sought the fire of the Spirit while neglecting the fire of charity, and they have gone away empty.

Spend this summer not in restless seeking but in a quiet rule: pray the Scriptures daily, confess your sins, give to the needy, and ask for the Spirit who makes you cry, Abba, Father. Give thanks even for tribulation, because affliction casts out sloth and the love of this present life and draws down the grace of the Spirit. Persevere in prayer, for hope and the Spirit make every command easy. Then the lamp will burn again, not by your own efforts but by the grace of Christ, to whom be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.