God’s Love

God’s Great Action of Love and Encouragement for His Children (Based on Psalm 103)

/ timewithourcreator / 3 Comments
Photo taken in Hawaii.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Loving Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank You for the love and encouragement You show to all of us who are born again believers in Jesus Christ. As I look at all that You have done and are doing, I see the awesome God You are. At times when I get concerned or discouraged, direct me to look at David’s list in this Psalm of what he praised God for, and encourage me to do the same to get my mind focused on You. Verses 3-6: “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” Verse 8a: “The LORD is merciful and gracious.” 

It is a blessing to receive all of what is expressed in these verses when I do not deserve any of it. Thank you for the promise in verse 10. “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.” What an encouragement it is to know that Your love for me is not based on my actions, but that You give grace for my shortcomings. I ask that You continue to give me more of an understanding of Your mercy and grace, and in turn, a respect for all that You are. Verse 17a: “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him.” The message in this Psalm shows that You have unlimited power over everything. Therefore, direct me to realize that You are sufficient to control all of my life if I am willing.   

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Prayer About Looking at the 10 Commandments Through the Eyes of God’s Love (Based on Exodus 20)

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment
Photo taken in Utah.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Loving heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank You for the Ten Commandments in Your Word, the Bible, and for giving these instructions for Your children to develop a righteous life.  It is a blessing that You make it clear that living by the Commandments has nothing to do with salvation, the way to Heaven, but everything to do with developing a godly life. Salvation is explained in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

Probably the most important Commandment is the one that teaches me not to worship any other God than You, the one and only true God. Exodus 20:3-4 “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Thank you that, because of Your love for Israel, You shared these commandments with them through Moses.  Now, because of Your love for me, and through the grace provided by Jesus Christ, I can follow these same principles to live a life that will bring freedom, personal growth, and many other spiritual blessings.

Since the Commandments come from Your love and can be held as ideals even if they can’t be perfectly obeyed, direct me to read and use them as a guide for living. This will be a good check to see how I am doing with how You want me to live. If I am failing in practicing any of Your guidelines, direct me to do whatever it takes to get back on track, even if it involves forgiveness and repentance. Thank you that all Your commandments and instructions are because of Your gift of love and protection for me.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Prayer About How God Loves Us, How We Should Love Him, and How We Should Love Others

/ timewithourcreator / 2 Comments

Author: Ali, Contributor: Elton Streyle and Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Loving God, I come to You in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to praise You for the love You give to me and enable me to return to You and extend to others. Remind me that Your love is not meant to stop with me. I am to love You and love others in return. John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.“

Remind me that loving others through action is ultimately an expression of my faith in You. James 2:15-17 “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Direct me to be alert to others’ needs and care for those You have placed around me both in word and deed.

Thank you that You do not expect me to develop the capacity to love like You without assistance. As I take the time to experience Your love for me, Your Holy Spirit will transform me so that I can do the good works of love that You have laid out for me. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.“

Thank you, Father, for Your everlasting, perfect love. Direct me to grow in love towards You and others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Prayer About Valentine’s Day as a Reminder of God’s Love

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment
Photo taken in Colorado.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Loving Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, thank you for the reminder this Valentine’s season gives about love. In spite of the joy of seeing so much around us about love made up of cards, flowers, teddy bears, and candy, it does not come close to the genuine, lasting love You have for us.

Your Word, the Bible, has many expressions about how much You love Your children. The ultimate expression is found in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

So many times, my love is conditional. How great it is that Your love is unconditional. It is not based on who I am or what I say or do. I could not earn Your love no matter how hard I tried. It is wonderful that Your love is based on Your unfailing character. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It is Your love for me, and the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, which allows me to have the privilege of loving others with a genuine love as expressed in John 13:34. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Thank you for the many Scripture passages in the Bible like 1 Corinthians 13 that give direction on what Christ’s love through me can and should look like. You point out in the Bible that there are many spiritual gifts, but love is one that we all have and should demonstrate.

As I go out in the world and see many different expressions of love, direct me to always put far more focus on Your love.

In Jesus’ Name, thank you for the powerful message in this little chorus: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Amen.

Prayer About Receiving and Giving God’s Love (Based on 1 John 4:7-11)

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment
Photo taken in Colorado.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Loving Heavenly Father, I come before You in Jesus’ Name, knowing that the only reason I am worthy to be in Your presence is because of the love and sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. My life was marked by the stain of sin from the moment I was born. I know that apart from Jesus, there is no love and hope. Thank you that when I professed with my mouth and heart to accept and believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior, I was also accepting Your endless love.

Sometimes it is hard to find words to express my joy and gratitude for Your love. I acknowledge that all the love that I have and give to others flows from You. Verse 7: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” Direct my relationship with You to be such that I can see the effects of the saving grace that Jesus has brought.

It is clear in the Bible that You love and care for people, otherwise You would not have created the human race. You gave me a free choice because You desire a loving response from Your people. Your love is seen into eternity by giving me, and all your people who have accepted Your Son Jesus Christ, eternal life.

Thank you for giving Your Holy Spirit to dwell in believers and empower us to love others. I ask that You give me a heart more like Yours, always ready to do good for those around me, reflecting the love that You have so generously given. Verse 11: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.“

In Jesus’ loving Name, Amen.

Prayer from Hebrews 12:1-13 About Accepting God’s Discipline as Part of His Love

/ timewithourcreator / 2 Comments

IMG_6138

Photo taken in Utah.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Loving Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, thank you for Your multifaceted role as my Heavenly Father. Often I see You as Redeemer, Savior, and Friend, which is important and true about You. However, just as an earthly father does, You desire to be a big part of my life when it comes to directing and correcting me to do what is ultimately best for me.

Sometimes it can be difficult to see how You use problems and hardships as a loving correction rather than what sometimes seems like purposeless pain. Hebrews 12:6-7 “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

I ask that You develop in me a good perspective of what is expressed in verse 11 about my times of trial and correction. May I accept it gratefully as the appropriate response toward a loving Heavenly Father. “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

As difficult as some of these situations may be to develop Christian maturity in me, may all of Your loving training for me also be an example of encouragement for believers around me who may be weak and struggling to believe, follow, and mature in Christ.

In Jesus’ Name, thank you for conforming me more and more to the likeness of Jesus through Your loving process. Amen.

Prayer About Valentine’s Day as a Reminder of God’s Love

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment

IMG_7587Loving Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, thank you for the reminder this Valentine’s season gives about love. In spite of the joy of seeing so much around us about love made up of cards, flowers, teddy bears, and candy, it does not come close to the genuine, lasting love You have for us.

Your Word, the Bible, has many expressions about how much You love Your children. The ultimate expression is found in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

So many times, my love is conditional. How great it is that Your love is unconditional. It is not based on who I am or what I say or do. I could not earn Your love no matter how hard I tried. It is wonderful that Your love is based on Your unfailing character. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It is Your love for me, and the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, which allows me to have the privilege of loving others with a genuine love as expressed in John 13:34. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Thank you for the many Scripture passages in the Bible like 1 Corinthians 13 that give direction on what Christ’s love through me can and should look like. You point out in the Bible that there are many spiritual gifts, but love is one that we all have and should demonstrate.

As I go out in the world and see many different expressions of love, direct me to always put far more focus on Your love.

In Jesus’ Name, thank you for the powerful message in this little chorus: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Amen.