Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col. 3:12-14
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of another day. Like every day, it’s a day you’ve made, so we want to rejoice and be glad in it. Captivate our gaze with your beauty, fill our hearts with your grace, and liberate our hands for your service.
This portion of your Word is the perfect on ramp for praying for our relationships—for there’s no aspect of our lives more consistently in need of your Spirit’s work.
First of all, we’re thrilled to affirm we are a chosen people (not choice); holy (in you, not in ourselves); and dearly loved (not conditionally approved). No one has more compassion for us, or shows us more kindness, than you do, Lord Jesus; no one has demonstrated greater humility, or is more gentle and patient with us than you. It astonishes us to realize that you love us as much as the Father loves you; and the Father loves us just as much as he loves you.
We believe this glorious affirmation, yet free us from our dogged, lingering, stubborn unbelief. We want to love the people you’ve placed in our lives out of your immeasurable, inexhaustible, irrepressible love for us. So help us to love our spouses, as you, the Ultimate Spouse, love us. Bring fresh grace, deep respect, and renewed connection in our marriages.
Help us to love our children and grandchildren, in-laws and step-kids as unto you, not out of fear and control, pride or guilt, self-protection or hidden agendas. Help us to love and serve our friends and neighbors—the “easy” ones, and the ones requiring great grace and your Spirit’s power. Help us to love each of them with the love you lavish on us every single day, Lord Jesus.
Lastly, “supersize” our forbearance towards one another, and make us quick, sincere, and deep forgivers. We long for the Day when we will love perfectly as you perfectly love us. Hasten that Day; hasten it. So very Amen we pray, in your tender and triumphant name.