Song: ‘Love’ Chris Tomlin
Reading:
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 4.7
Reflection:
What would the world be like if everybody loved each other? Imagine that! Of course love is difficult because our human nature, although capable of great love, is imperfect. Our selfishness keeps getting in the way. The Christian church is called to be a community of acceptance, forgiveness and love. This is not a cheap, easy, rose-tinted, naïve love. It is the stuff of revolution. As Mother (St) Theresa said, ‘I only love God as much as I love the person I love the least’. It is only possible with the Father’s love, Christ’s example and the Spirit’s power. And God teaches us to love as we pray. To pray is to love.
Activity: Using HALF of A5 piece of paper (use fire coloured paper i.e. orange, red, yellow OR colour whatever paper you have) and cut out a heart shape. On the front write the theme for the day.
Place the heart in front of you around the large heart shape and pray for the day ahead. Thank God for the day ahead. Pray for yourself, your family & friends, colleagues and neighbours, those on the frontline, those struggling, ill, grieving. And use the pray for today:
Prayer:
Loving God, help me to know You more. Through knowing You, may I show You more and love as You love. Please show Your love to my five friends – through me and others who love You.
Action:
How could you remind yourself to pray for your five friends? Could you set an alarm on your phone every day to pray that they may come to know your Jesus’ love?
Use the back of the love heart you created to jot down your answer.
The full version of the “Thy Kingdom Come” Prayer Journal 2020 can be viewed here: www.thykingdomcome.global/sites/PrayerJournal2020