Thursday - Don't Lose Heart (Love)

Welcome to daily prayer. We are continuing our series called “Don’t Lose Heart” focused on cultivating a life of faith, hope, and love. Today we reflect on Galatians 5 and the call to live in the freedom Christ has given us. Freedom expressed through humble love and a life led by the Spirit.

As we begin our prayer now, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord.

Today remember that we are free, not to serve ourselves, but to love. Lord, thank you for setting me free. Thank you that I can come to you with the confidence that as I draw near to you, you draw near to me. So Lord again today, I give everyone and everything to you. 

O Lord, may I walk by your Spirit today.

A Scripture Reading from Galatians 5:13–16

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

A Prayer of Adoration:

Lord Jesus, I praise you for the freedom you have secured for us. You set us free so that we could love. 

Holy Spirit, you are the gift of freedom within us. The Presence of God communing within us and guiding our steps, pouring the love of God into our hearts. Lord, you show me and empower me to live and love, and for that I adore you.

A Prayer of Confession:

Lord, I confess that I sometimes use my freedom poorly. Instead of serving in love, I retreat into self-protection. Forgive me for the ways that I resist love when it costs me. Instead of bearing burdens, I avoid the inconvenience. Instead of walking by your Spirit, I react from the flesh. 

I confess my willfulness and my selfishness. Forgive me and realign my heart with yours O Lord. I want to fulfill your purpose for me. 

A Prayer of Trust

Lord, I trust that you have truly set me free. Free from the law of sin and death. I am no longer under condemnation. I am no longer bound by the power of sin. You guide my heart by your Spirit and I trust that as I walk by the Spirit, you’re going to shape me, my responses, my relationships, my way of life. Lord, teach me to depend on you every moment.

A Prayer of Intercession:

Lord, I pray for our church and our community. As many of our small groups are starting in the coming weeks, I ask for your grace on us. Make us a people who use our freedom to serve one another. That we would be humble and loving. As we gather in your name, may we sense your Presence. Break down barriers that would keep us from knowing one another and being known. Help us to bear one another’s burdens with patience. Stir within us compassion. Lord, protect us from bitterness, self-seeking, divisions. 

Holy Spirit, lead us to be a joyful people together as we seek you in this season. May our freedom become a testimony of your grace.

And Lord, we just want to intercede for those beyond ourselves to our brothers and sisters around the world. Those loving you and serving in hard places. Lord, would you encourage their hearts by your Presence and may their joy be shielded as they gather in your Name. 

A Moment of Reflection:

Lord, I know that walking in your Spirit is the path to a life of freedom. Is there somewhere I have gotten out of step with your Spirit in the way I’m interacting with a brother or sister in Christ? How can I serve them today?

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

A Closing Prayer:

Lord, I thank you for calling me into freedom. into relationship with others. I want to love well. I want to serve well Lord. I want to walk in humility. Please fill me with your Spirit today. May our life together reflect the beauty of the gospel and the power of your Spirit at work among us.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen.