1 Corinthians Chapter 13 (NIV)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Father, as I come to You, I am so grateful for the wonderful gifts that You have so graciously given. I have been so ultimately blessed. You have freely given me life; air, water, shelter, clothing, health, etc., and the list goes on and on.

Father, as I look inside myself, at what I have given back, I am ashamed.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

I am ashamed because I know that, in my heart, almost every ‘good’ thing that I do is to, in some way, benefit myself. I volunteer at the church, hoping someone will notice that ‘I’ am faithful. I sing, hoping that someone will think that ‘I’ have a great voice. I visit the sick, hoping that they will see how giving ‘I’ am. And, again, the list goes on and on.

Oh Father, forgive me and teach me to ‘LOVE’, to truly love, with Your kind of unconditional, genuine love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Teach me to be patient with those who are ‘takers’ and kind to the ungrateful. Teach me how to rejoice for others, not envy their blessings. Teach me that ‘I’ have nothing to boast about except Jesus, and that only in Jesus, can ‘I’ be proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Forgive me for all the times I am short-tempered and rude. Teach me to always be aware that everything ‘I’ am about is about the Kingdom of God and NOT about me.

Father, I know in my mind that Jesus said, ⁽¹⁾'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' (Matthew 25:45). I ask that You will bring these words to life in my heart and spirit. I want to be able to forgive honestly and completely, not holding anything back.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Teach me how to graciously change a conversation from gossip to blessings. Teach me how to shield my eyes and ears from ALL negativity and to ⁽²⁾‘take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.' (2 Corinthians 10:5).

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Give me wisdom to know what and who to protect and when. Help me to see people the way that You see them so that I can trust them the way You trust them. Cause me to realize that in You I am fully covered and protected from ⁽³⁾‘the fiery darts of the wicked.’ (Ephesians 6:16).

Teach me that to ‘wish’ for something is not the same thing as having ‘hope’. Hope is truly a vision that ‘faith’ can use bring Your ‘will’ into existence. With hope being firmly balanced in my life, I will be able to ⁽³⁾‘stand firm then, (Ephesians 6:14) ⁽⁴⁾‘like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.’ (Psalms 1:3).

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Father, I know that ‘LOVE’ never fails, that only those things done in true ‘Love’ will be recorded and rewarded. Everyone’s ⁽⁵⁾‘work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.’ (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). I yearn to know that I am laying up ⁽⁶⁾‘treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.’ (Matthew 6:20). ⁽⁷⁾‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ (Psalms 139:23-24).

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

FATHER, TEACH ME TO LOVE.

Scripture References

1. Matthew 25:41-46
   41. Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
   42. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
   43. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."
   44. They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?"
   45. He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
   46. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
   Back to the TEXT
   
2. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
   4. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
   5. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
   Back to the TEXT
   
3. Ephesians 6:10-18
   10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
   11. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
   12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
   13. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
   14. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
   15. and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
   16. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
   17. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
   18. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
   Back to the TEXT
   
4. Psalms 1:1-3
   1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
   2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
   3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
   Back to the TEXT
   
5. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
   10. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
   11. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
   12. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
   13. his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
   14. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
   15. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
   Back to the TEXT
   
6. Matthew 6:19-21
   19. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
   20. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
   21. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
   Back to the TEXT
   
7. Psalms 1:1-3
   23. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
   24. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
   Back to the TEXT