Spurgeon's Prayer: Loving as Christ Loves

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
— John 15:12 (BSB)

The most difficult part of love is not loving the lovable, but loving those who are unkind, unworthy, and ungrateful.
— Charles Spurgeon

Father, we thank You for the love You have shown us through Christ. We know that without Your love, we would be lost in sin and darkness. But You have called us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light, and now You ask us to love others as You have loved us. Lord, help us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, recognizing that we are all members of one body, connected to You.

Let our love be more than just words, Lord. May it be active and alive, showing itself in compassion and care for those in need. Help us to comfort the mourning, show sympathy to the widow and the fatherless, and offer support to those who are helpless. Let our love be real, rooted in truth, and evident in our actions.

Father, we also ask for unity within the body of Christ. May we be patient with one another, bearing with each other in love, and seeking to maintain the bond of peace. Help us to forgive those who have wronged us, knowing that we ourselves have been forgiven much. Let our hearts be filled with Your love, so that we may love others as You have loved us.

Lord, we cannot do this on our own. We need Your Spirit to empower us to love in this way. Fill us with Your love, and let it overflow in our relationships with others. Amen.