Prayer for Strength in Love

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."
- 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14


I won't go into the details of the particular challenge I've been facing the last few days, but let's just say that I'm experiencing first hand how being sinned against has the very specific outcome of either leading us to opening a foothold of anger in resentment in our life that Satan can latch on to, or pushing a closer in to the Lord. I'm afraid that I have done both in the last few days and as a result I have been repeating this passage this morning with a cadence not unlike Tina Turner and her Buddhist mantra's from "What's Love Got to Do With It." (does anyone else find them self tempted to break out into song just reading that string of words?).


In any case, I thought I'd share where the spirit is leading me with this passage in the form of prayer.


Father God, I thank you for giving me these words today. For the encouragement, for the love, for showing me that you are here for me.


Lord, I pray that you would help me to be watchful. Watchful of the people that might attack with false accusations and hold me in judgement for reasons unknown. I don't ask this so that I can avoid them or be ready with response, because God I know that you will protect me. Lord I pray that I would be watchful over my own reaction. That I would be careful not to respond in anger as, I confess, I have done. That I would not open the door and let Satan into my life. Because he is so destructive God. He gives me a brief moment of raging satisfaction which is not only followed by your holy conviction, but which does not reflect the love, forbearance, and patience that you have given to me.


God, help me to stand firm in the faith. I pray that you would give me the strength to both represent you well AND to lean into you for words and a heart of love. I am so tempted to use a sharp tongue and rely on my own wit or deductive reasoning, to try and win an argument about worldly things with worldly reasoning when the issue at hand is most likely you. God help to trust in you with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).


Jesus, show me what it means to be a man in this struggle and in all of my life. To lead my wife by example. To prioritize as you call me to (You --> Brooke --> Baby --> Family --> Work --> the Church). To reflect you and what you have done for me, for them, and not to protect my pride. To reflect your love through the heart you have given me by the spirit that empowers me to do so.


Father, help me to be strong in all of this. To live with a strong conviction, strong faith, strong love, and strong resistance to temptation towards sin. Help me to be strong through you and not by myself. And when you help me Lord, please help me to not seek glory in my strength.


Finally, God, may all that I do be done in love. I have given far too many apologies lately for acting out of anger. I fear I haven't apologized enough. God when I like anger guide my behavior I do not reflect you. I don't share how much you have done for me, how you have been patient with me, how you love me and offer forgiveness no matter what I do. I pray that I can be more like you in this. Because the surest way for anyone to know you, to love you, is to feel your love. By your grace I have the ability to share that love. I pray that I would do so.