God's Word on That

Author: Myrna L

  • Praying to Love my Enemies

    I love the brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17), the saints who are in the land are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight (Psalm 16:3). It is easy to love those who love me. May the Lord cause us all to increase and abound in love for one another, and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12). But Your Word specifically says: Love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me (Matthew 5:44).

    O Lord God, please send Your Holy Spirit to teach me how to love my enemies – to be kind and to do good in every situation; to lend expecting nothing in return; to consider nothing as lost, and to despair of no one.  Then my reward will be great – rich, strong, intense, and abundant – and I will be a true child of Yours; for You are kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and selfish and wicked (Luke 6:35).  Merciful Father, teach me to be merciful – sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate.  I aim to be an imitator of You, my loving Father (Luke 6:36).

    Father, for Your sake I bless and pray for those who persecute me – who are cruel in their attitude toward me.  I speak Your blessings on them, and I do not curse them (Romans 12:14).  I know that if I do this, my love will abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment (Philippians 1:9).  With Your Spirit guiding me, Father, I will let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love others; for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled Your law.  All Your commandments are summed up in this one rule: Love your neighbor as yourself.  Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore, love is the fulfillment of Your law (Romans 13:8-10).

    We are called to be free, but not to use that freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather we use it to serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:13-14). And the goal of Your command is love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

    May Your Spirit help me to set an example for other believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). By speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is our Head… the growth of the Body for the building up of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15-16). I know that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). Teach me to love Lord. Teach me to be completely humble and gentle; to be patient, to show forbearance to others in love (Ephesians 4:2). I will make every effort to keep the unity of Your Spirit with all men through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

  • Praying to Walk in Love

    Gracious and loving Father, Your word tells us plainly what is required of us: (1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength; (2) love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31).

    Therefore, I eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this (agape) love (1 Corinthians 14:1).  I make it my aim, my great quest in life: I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me (Luke 6:31).  Father, I wish to follow Your ways, and esteem and look upon and be concerned for not merely my own interest, but also for the interest of others (Philippians 2:4) as they pursue their goals.  I aim to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of Your might (Ephesians 6:10).  I will, on purpose, to make it a practice to please my fellowman, for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him – that is, to strengthen him and build him up in all ways – spiritually, socially, and materially (Romans 15:2).  With Your power and wisdom, Holy Father, I want to be used to encourage and edify others (1 Thessalonians 5:11). 

    As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; to bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. And above everything, to put on love, which binds all virtues together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:12-14). Your Word asks us to love even the stranger who resides among us (Leviticus 19:34). As long as we are fulfilling the Royal Law (as Your Word calls it) – you shall love your neighbor as yourself – we do well (James 2:8).

    Father, this is Your next command: that we believe in the name of Your Son – Jesus Christ – and love one another just as Jesus commanded us (1 John 3:23). Jesus’ command – which He gave just before He died for us – was that we love one another; in the same way that He loves us (John 15:12-13). This has been the same message from the beginning: that we should love one another (1 John 3:11). And this is love: that we walk according to His commandment.  This is the commandment: that we should walk in love (2 John 5-6).

    Father, Your Word tells me love must be sincere, to be devoted to one another in love (Romans 12:9-10). Please teach me to maintain love and justice, and to wait for Your counsel always (Hosea 12:6). Direct me to love truth and peace as Your Word instructs (Zechariah 8:19), but to do all things in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). For in Christ Jesus neither good nor bad [black nor white] means anything, but faith working through love is the only thing that counts (Galatians 5:6).

    And help me consider how to stimulate others to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).

  • Praying to Be Filled with God’s Love

    Loving Father, thank You for Your limitless love which is from everlasting to everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3).  Thank You for pouring Your love abroad in my heart through Your Holy Spirit which has been given to me (Romans 5:5).   Because You have shown me that You are love (1 John 4:8), and that love is the most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31), I choose to obey You by walking in love as Christ Jesus has loved me (Ephesians 5:2).

    Jesus told us to love one another even as He loved us, and that all men will know we are His disciples if we have love for one another (John 13:34-35). For the love of Christ compels me to love as He loved (2 Corinthians 5:14). I know that through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for (Proverbs 16:6). Your Word tells us to love as brothers (1 Peter 3:8), to love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). I also know love covers all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12), and that You asked us to do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14).

    Thank You, Father, for giving me love as a fruit of Your Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), who dwells in me (John 14:17).  Father, I am Your child and through Your power, I commit to walk in the God kind of love.  Please grant me the grace to be patient and kind, to love others without envy or jealousy, to not be puffed up and haughty, to not behave rudely, and to not ever be self-seeking.  Through the power of Your grace and love, I will walk in love, rejoicing in the truth, bearing up under all circumstances, always believing and trusting, always hoping, and always enduring all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).  Father God, I thank You that love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).  Beginning today, Father, I will make walking in love my greatest quest.

    Father, I try to keep and treasure Your Word in my heart.  Thus Your Word promises that the love of and for You, Father, will be perfected and completed in me (1 John 2:5), and that perfect love will cast out all fear (1 John 4:18).

    Therefore, everywhere I go I intend to plant seeds of love this day (1 Corinthians 3:6).  I thank You, Father, for preparing hearts ahead of time (Daniel 1:9) to receive this love.  I know that these seeds will produce Your love in the hearts to whom they are given (Isaiah 55:11).  Father, I thank You that as I flow in Your love and wisdom, people are being blessed by my life and ministry.  It is You who makes me to find favor, compassion, and lovingkindness with others.  I pray that, being rooted deep in love and founded securely in love (Ephesians 3:17), I will have power in Christ to do this, knowing that You are on my side (Romans 8:31) and that nothing is able to separate me from Your love (Romans 8:39).  Thank You so very much, Father.

  • Praying to Walk in the Spirit

    Father God, Your Word says the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). You also tell me that we are controlled by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in us (Romans 8:9).  

    Let us walk in His Spriit and shine with His glory, spreading His love and peace around us.

    Father, I now invite You to pour Your Holy Spirit into every part of my life, to continuously fill me (Ephesians 5:18), to counsel me (John 16:7), to teach me (John 14:26), to lead me (Galatians 5:18), to guide me in all truth and to show me things to come (John 16:13), to empower me to witness (Acts 1:8), to quicken me (Romans 8:11), to help me in prayer (Romans 8:26), and to produce His fruit in my life (Galatians 5:22-23).  Father, You have poured out Your Spirit upon all flesh (Acts 2:17-18).  Please, I beg You, fill me now to overflowing so Your love will continually pour into my heart by the Holy Spirit which You have given me (Romans 5:5), and His joy may overflow through me to others (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

    This is my prayer, Heavenly Father: That my love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so I may be able to discern what is best for any situation, and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ’s return, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus – to Your glory and praise, my loving God (Philippians 1:9-11).

    You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence (Acts 2:28). May the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in Him, so I may overflow to bless others with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). God, You have filled my hunger with good things (Luke 1:53), for You satisfy all the thirsty and fill all the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9). Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts. We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple (Psalm 65:4).

    Thank You for Your grace which enables me to walk in the Spirit.  Your grace and Your Spirit keep me from wanting to gratify my sinful nature (Galatians 5:16).  Help me to yield myself more and more to the power of Your Sprit, Father, because I know the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2).  Help me to crucify my flesh, O Lord, with all its affections and lusts, its passions and desires so I can live by and keep in step with Your Spirit at all times (Galatians 5:24-25).  I love You, Father, and I know as Your Holy Spirit fills me, He will lead me to walk in the ways of Your love (Ephesians 5:2). 

  • Praying to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

    Father, You are Spirit (John 4:24) and You give Your Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:8) without limit (John 3:34); the Spirit whom those who believed in Jesus were to receive once Jesus had been glorified (John 7:39). Your Word tells me the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message (Acts 10:44); the Counselor whom Jesus promised to send from You, Father; the Spirit of Truth who goes out from You (John 15:26) to all who believe.

    Let us pray to have God’s Spirit descend upon us and fill us with His love and joy.

    Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The promise is for me and my children and for all who are far off – for all whom You, O Lord our God, will call (Acts 2:39).

    In the last days, You said You would pour out Your Spirit on all people (Acts 2:17); the Holy Spirit whom You have given to those who obey You (Acts 5:32). We must receive Your Spirit so that we will understand what You have freely given us (1 Corinthians 2:12).

    Jesus redeemed us so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Galatians 3:14). We were included in Christ when we heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation. Having believed we were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).

    Because we are Your children, You sent the Spirit of Your Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6) and Your Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are indeed Your children (Romans 8:16). We are Your temple, and Your Spirit lives in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). I know that I live in You and You live in me (1 John 4:13). This is how I know that You live in me; by the Spirit that You gave me (1 John 3:24). I will guard the good deposit that was entrusted to me – with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in me (2 Timothy 1:14).

    Because of all this, I boldly say: My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in me, whom I have received from You, my gracious Father (1 Corinthians 6:19). You set Your seal of ownership on me and put Your Spirit in my heart (2 Corinthians 1:22). You made me for this very purpose and have given me the Spirit as a deposit, a guarantee of what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5). God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us (Romans 5:5).

    Now, Father, I ask that I may be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17), to come to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). Thank You for Your promise to give the Holy Spirit to all who ask You (Luke 11:13).  So, I ask! Heavenly Father, I desire to be filled with Your Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). You promised I would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on me (Acts 1:8). I desire this in the name of Jesus.  I confess I am a Spirit-Filled Christian. 

  • Praying to Walk in Forgiveness

    Father, I make a fresh commitment to You to live in peace and harmony with all men (Philippians 2:2); not only with other believers in the Body of Christ, but also with my friends, associates, neighbors, and family. While I walk in Your grace, I will aim to be devoted to my fellow men, to honor them above myself (Romans 12:10), to live in harmony with others and not repay evil for evil but always doing what is right. As far as it depends on me, I want to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:16-18).

    From this moment on, I purpose to walk in love (1 Peter 3:8). I will not repay insult with insult, but with blessing, because You called me to do this (1 Peter 3:9). I will turn from evil and will do good; I will seek peace and pursue it with all people (1 Peter 3:11).  I let go of all bitterness, resentment, envy, strife, and unkindness in any form, striving to be kind and compassionate to everyone, forgiving others just as in Christ You forgave me (Ephesians 4:31-32).  I will forgive and live in agreement with all those You put in my path today.

    Father, I forgive everyone who has trespassed against me (Matthew 6:12) so that You can forgive me my trespasses (Matthew 6:15). I ask You also to forgive and release all who have wronged and hurt me.  Deal with them in Your mercy and lovingkindness, O Lord our Maker (Mark 11:25).  The small trespasses mean so very little in this new way of living with You. I forgive and release them.  And having received the Holy Spirit and being led and directed by Him, if I forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if I retain the sins of anyone, they are retained (John 20:23). 

    Father, Your Word says I am to love my enemies and to do good to those who hate me, to bless those who curse me and pray for those who mistreat me (Luke 6:27-28).  I come before You to lift up _______ into Your hands.  I invoke blessings upon _______ and pray for his/her happiness.  I implore Your blessings and favor upon _______.  Not only this, Father, but I set myself to treat him/her well for Your sake.  I will be merciful, sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate toward _______, even as You are.  I aim to be an imitator of You (Ephesians 5:1), and I truly believe that I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

    Father, I thank You that I have great peace in this situation, for I love Your law and refuse to take offense toward _______ (Psalm 119:165). Jesus, I am blessed – happy with life, joyful and satisfied in God’s favor and salvation apart from outward conditions and am to be envied – because I take no offense in You (Luke 7:23) and I refuse to be hurt or resentful or annoyed or repelled or made to stumble or take offence because of others.  And now, Father, I roll this work upon You. I commit and trust it wholly to You; and I believe You will cause my thoughts to come into agreement with Your Will, and so my plans shall be established and succeed (Proverbs 16:3).

  • Praying for Forgiveness

    Heavenly Father, I thank You for forgiving me of my sins and purifying me from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  I know Your Will for us all is that we do not sin, but we are so human! As You promised, when I sin, I do have an advocate with You – Christ Jesus, the Righteous One, my Redeemer.  He paid the penalty for all my sins (1 John 2:1-2). 

    David said, “When I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity, You forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). And Your Word informs us: whoever conceals his sin does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

    According to Your Law, when anyone is guilty in any of these ways [Your ways], he must confess in what way he has sinned (Leviticus 5:5). Thank You for granting repentance to my heart, Father.  I specifically repent of my sin of _______.  As I confess my sin to You, I turn my back on my sin and – with Your grace – I am determined to follow You and Your ways at all times and sin no more.

    I realize, Lord God, that it is by taking heed to Your Word that I can keep myself from sin. And through Your grace, this I will do.  With my whole heart I will seek You; please do not let me stray from Your commandants.  I have hidden Your Word in my heart so I might not sin against you again (Psalm 119:9-11). 

    Thank You, Father, that guilt no longer has any dominion in my life whatsoever, for by faith in Jesus my heart is cleansed from a guilty conscience (Hebrews 10:22).  You have set me free from all guilt.  Thank You for imparting Your righteousness to me through Christ Jesus who knew no sin.  It was He who became sin for me so I might be made righteous in You (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

    Bring joy to Your servant, O Lord, for to You I lift up my soul. You are good, and always ready to forgive.  You are plenteous in mercy unto all who call upon You (Psalm 86:4-6).  I do so now, in the full assurance that Your forgiveness is for me.  Thank You wholeheartedly, my Father.  Thank You for forgiving me of my iniquities and for remembering them no more.  Lord, You have removed my sins from me as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).  Help me to be like You, Father, in that I forgive me my old wickedness and remember my sins no more (Hebrews 8:12).  Now I know I am forgiven and I am restored.  Thank You for the power of Your forgiveness in my life, Father God Almighty.

  • Praying My Position in Christ

    Because I have believed in Christ Jesus as my Savior, You, O loving God, have enabled me to be born anew into Your family (1 John 4:15).  Thank You so much, gracious Father.  Because of this, I am now able to overcome the world through my faith (1 John 5:4), to tell sin that it has no more rule over me unless I let it (Romans 6:11). Through Your many graces, I firmly place Your helmet of salvation upon my head as I take up the shield of faith which is able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6:16-17), and I will stand firm in You.  Thank You, Father, for saving me and keeping me.

    Oh, that people would see Jesus when they look at me!

    Lord Jesus, teach me how to crucify the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). O Lord Jesus, I know that my old self was crucified with You, my Savior, so that this body of sin might be done away with, that I should no longer be a slave to sin, for anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7).

    Lord Jesus, You have come into the world as a Light, so that no one who believes in You should stay in darkness (John 12:46). I believe in You and I am abandoning the darkness that surrounds me — with Your guiding hand and Your strength.

    I worship You, Lord Jesus.  I know You are the Son of the Living God (Romans 1:4) who was raised from the dead so I might be justified (Romans 4:25).  Jesus, You are my Lord of Peace (Romans 5:1) and my Savior (Luke 2:11).  You gave Your life for me (Galatians 2:20) and Your blood cleanses me from all my sins (1 John 1:7).  You were wounded for my transgressions, You were bruised for my iniquities; and with Your stripes, I am healed and made whole (Isaiah 53:5).  Your truth sets me free (John 8:32).

    Lord Jesus, You are my Lord and therefore my Good Shepherd (John 14:6).  Because this is true, I know I shall never want for anything. You make me to lie down in green pastures; You lead me beside restful waters; You restore my soul… (Psalm 23:1-3). Help me and teach me, Lord Jesus, to take Your yolk upon me and to learn from You; for You are gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for my soul in You (Matthew 11:29).

    O Lord Jesus, I want You to be able to say to me, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” (Revelation 2:19) O please, my loving Lord, cause these words to be true in my life.

    In You, good Lord Jesus, all things hold together (Colossians 1:17) and through Your strength I can do all things (Philippians 4:13).  I love You, O Lord my Strength (Psalm 18:1)! 

    You give me authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).  You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, forever (Revelation 1:8).  Lord Jesus, You are truly everything to me.

  • Praying For Yourself When Doubting Your Salvation

    Heavenly Father, I rejoice in and I thank You for all the promises of Your Word which proclaim that I can know for certain that I am born again, and I am going to heaven.  Because I have confessed with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and I truly believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead, I know I am saved (Romans 10:9-10).  It is no longer a matter of wishing so or thinking so, or hoping so, because it is a matter of knowing so.  I deeply thank You, gracious Father.

    Let us rejoice triumphantly with the graces God bestows on us!

    I am sorry I doubted my salvation, worrying that any personal misstep might mean a loss of Your grace to redeem me from my old self.  I now take courage that since I am in Your hand, You will not let anyone take me away from You (John 10:29).

    I have been taught that salvation from sin and death is entirely Your work to achieve what You want with us.  We contribute nothing to it, but we are not just passive recipients of Your grace; we must actually respond to it. For it is by Your grace alone that anyone is saved – through faith in Jesus – and this is not of ourselves but is a gift from You (Ephesians 2:8). So, I state that I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of anyone who believes! (Romans 1:16)

    I have read Your Word and I believe in Christ Jesus.  Now I have His everlasting life inside me (1 John 5:12), and I shall not come into condemnation (John 5:24) thanks to Your mercies which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). 

    You have brought me from death to life and no longer condemn me (Romans 8:1-2) for by Your grace I have been saved (Romans 6:23).  Thank You, Lord God, for Your free gift of salvation.  I am now crucified with Christ Jesus and am dead to my old ways.  Even so I live; yet it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20).  Blessed be You, Father, for this resurrection life!

    By faith in Jesus, Father, I have become Your child (John 1:12).  Thank You for adopting me into Your family (Galatians 4:5-7) because I would never have been saved from condemnation by my own efforts. Now that I know I am saved beyond all shadow of doubt, I will fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life to which You have called me, and confess Your goodness and kindness before all men (1 Timothy 6:12).  With Your graces, I will hold fast the confession of my faith without wavering, because I know You are faithful with all You promise (Hebrews 10:23). 

  • Praying for Spiritual Strength

    God Father, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You will strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so Christ Jesus may dwell in my heart richly through faith (Ephesians 3:16-17). Please cause me to increase in the knowledge of You, my God. I pray that I be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might (Colossians 1:10-11). 

    His power in us enables us, encourages us, and equips us.

    Father, please strengthen me spiritually, for my strength must come from Your mighty power within me, or I can do nothing (John 15:5). Please, loving Lord, encourage my heart and strengthen me in every good deed and word (2 Thessalonians 2:17). Then I will be of good courage because You strengthen my heart (Psalm 31:24).

    You, O Lord of Hosts, are the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26), so I will be of good courage, for all my hope is in You (Psalm 31:24). The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect me from the evil one… And I will never tire of doing what is right (2 Thessalonians 3:3, 13).

    Lord God, strengthen me physically according to Your Word (Psalm 119:28).  Lord, You are my light and my salvation.  Whom shall I fear?  You are the strength of my life.  Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).  I thank You, Father, that nothing is too hard for You (Genesis 18:14).  Thank You for the multitude of promises in Your Word which assure me that You will always strengthen me.  Thank You for the truth that I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

    You always give power to the faint, and to them that seemingly have no might You always increase their strength (Isaiah 40:29).  In every troubled situation I will wait upon You, Lord God, and as I do so, You renew my strength (Isaiah 40:31).  Being strengthened with all might, by Your glorious power, I enter into the realm of patience, endurance, and joy (Colossians 1:11).  And I give abundant thanks to You, gracious Father, because You enable me to share in the inheritance of Your saints in Your marvelous Kingdom of Light (Colossians 1:12).

    I love You, O Lord, my strength (Psalm 18:1).