“Live a life of love—in response to how Christ loved us by giving himself up for us …” (Eph.5:2). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom.15:13). “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” (Eph. 6:7).
Dear Jesus, we know it’s true, but we keep defaulting to it: There’s no greater morass and trap than living horizontally. That is, looking to people to fill us up, or living to fill them up. True freedom is only found in living vertically. That is, by receiving so much grace, love, comfort and encouragement from you that it overflows to others. Get us back on the right relational axis, Lord.
Overwhelm us afresh with your everlasting love and unfailing kindness. We want to live “smitten” with your beauty and bounty, Jesus. Renew our first-love for yourself. Restore our first-enjoyment of Gospel freedom. Refire our first-delight in living and loving to your glory.
Then free us to love and serve people as unto you—whether our kindness is acknowledged, reciprocated, ignored, or returned 10-fold over. Help us build this culture of grace in our friendships, marriages, parenting, and vocations. Help us to break the cycle of living as affirmation junkies, rejection “phobiacts,” and relational pragmatists. Help us take back the power we’ve given certain people to either ruin our day or “fill our love tank.”
Jesus, we long for the Day when we will be made perfect in love (1 John 3:1-3). Until that Day, keep toppling our people idols by the riches of your grace and wonders of your love. So Very Amen.