Daily Prayer
So far today, God,
I’ve done all right…
I haven’t gossiped,
I haven’t been grumpy, nasty, or selfish.
I’m really glad of that,
But in a few minutes, God,
I’m going to get out of bed.
From now on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help!
(pg. 13)
~Love is one of the few things in life worth pursuing with a godly passion. But loving others is one of the hardest things in life unless all conditions are just right – then, maybe then, we are willing to let go and love. (pg.15)
~My ability to love others is directly related to the condition of my own heart before God. (pg. 16)
~Loving God’s way is the process of recognizing our value to God and in turn recognizing the value of others. (pg. 16)
DAY ONE: The Hope of a New Love to Live By
1. Read Matthew 16:13-19
In verse 15, Jesus asks who Peter thinks He is. This question is just as appropriate for us today. People hold so many different opinions about Jesus. Nearly all world religions acknowledge Him, but not all religions acknowledge that He is the Messiah or the Son of God. Many don’t realize that He is still alive. Christian faith is based on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe in a living God. It is because He lives that we can face any relationship, any challenge, any insult.
• Is your relationship with God alive? How do you know?
• Do you believe in a living God? Why, or why not?
• What was Jesus’ response to Simon Peter’s answer (Matt. 16:17)?
• According to this passage, who reveals to our hearts the reality of who Jesus Christ is? Why does that matter? (If you are still uncertain about who Jesus really is, ask God to show you.)
• What did Jesus say He would give Simon Peter?
~It is God’s love that will set us apart for His purposes and set us free to love others. (pg. 18)
~Over the next several weeks we will be looking at three different things:
1. What is God’s love, and how does it differ from human love?
2. What does it mean to love God with all of our heart, will, and soul?
3. What does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves?
(pg. 19)
~We can’t change our pasts, and we can’t make everything in our lives turn out the way we want. We certainly can’t change other people, and we can’t control circumstances where other people’s choices are involved. (pg. 19)
2. Read Romans 5:5-8
• What has God poured into our hearts?
• How can we be sure God loves us?
• Write out Romans 5:5 and memorize the verse. It is important to remember that the source of love is always God and not yourself or others!
3. Read Hosea 2:7-20
In this passage, we see Hosea’s love for his unfaithful wife, Gomer. Her unfaithfulness is a picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness in her relationship with God. Instead of responding to God in thankfulness and love, the Israelites offered what they had to idols. They went after things and people to find love and fulfillment, instead of being thankful for God and His love.
• According to Hosea 2:8 and 2:13, whom did Israel forget?
• Maybe you have a habit of forgetting God. Have you ever experienced God drawing you back to Himself as He did here with Israel? (See 2:14) If so, describe your experience.
• Write out Hosea 2:19-20.
• What does this Hosea passage say to you personally when you stop and think of God pledging Himself to you and you to Him forever?
• Think of what it means to be engaged to someone. It is a connection, an interlocking, a tie-in with someone, a connection of two hearts – a commitment to travel through life together. How is this life the kind of connection God wants with us?
• Instead of forgetting the Lord and His love, what does this passage say you could do?
• Who or what holds the key to your heart today? (Consider things, people, agendas, or your dreams.)
• Have your own feelings of hurt or misunderstanding become your personal idols? If so, how?
• Can you trust in the Lord enough just for today to give Him the set of keys that you have and ask only, “They will be done”? What would that involve?
4. Look up and record the dictionary definition of acknowledge.
• Do the following definitions of acknowledge represent your current relationship with God? Put a check mark beside those that do, and an X beside those that don’t.
o Recognize – Do you recognize that God is your Maker and holds the blueprint for your life?
o BE acquainted with – Do you know Him in a daily relationship?
o Appreciate – Do you have a habit of thankfulness for who He is and His faithfulness toward you?
o Give heed to – Do you read His Word and take His instruction seriously?
o Cherish – Do you hold close to your heart all that He is and the example He sets forth for living?
Father,
I acknowledge You today. Forgive me for the times that I don’t remember You – for the times I live in my own strength. I ask You to fill me with Your love. Come now and pour through my life and draw others to You through the power of Your love working in and through me. I realize that loving others might be a challenge, but I ask You to do the impossible inside of me. Amen.
So far today, God,
I’ve done all right…
I haven’t gossiped,
I haven’t been grumpy, nasty, or selfish.
I’m really glad of that,
But in a few minutes, God,
I’m going to get out of bed.
From now on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help!
(pg. 13)
~Love is one of the few things in life worth pursuing with a godly passion. But loving others is one of the hardest things in life unless all conditions are just right – then, maybe then, we are willing to let go and love. (pg.15)
~My ability to love others is directly related to the condition of my own heart before God. (pg. 16)
~Loving God’s way is the process of recognizing our value to God and in turn recognizing the value of others. (pg. 16)
DAY ONE: The Hope of a New Love to Live By
1. Read Matthew 16:13-19
In verse 15, Jesus asks who Peter thinks He is. This question is just as appropriate for us today. People hold so many different opinions about Jesus. Nearly all world religions acknowledge Him, but not all religions acknowledge that He is the Messiah or the Son of God. Many don’t realize that He is still alive. Christian faith is based on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe in a living God. It is because He lives that we can face any relationship, any challenge, any insult.
• Is your relationship with God alive? How do you know?
• Do you believe in a living God? Why, or why not?
• What was Jesus’ response to Simon Peter’s answer (Matt. 16:17)?
• According to this passage, who reveals to our hearts the reality of who Jesus Christ is? Why does that matter? (If you are still uncertain about who Jesus really is, ask God to show you.)
• What did Jesus say He would give Simon Peter?
~It is God’s love that will set us apart for His purposes and set us free to love others. (pg. 18)
~Over the next several weeks we will be looking at three different things:
1. What is God’s love, and how does it differ from human love?
2. What does it mean to love God with all of our heart, will, and soul?
3. What does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves?
(pg. 19)
~We can’t change our pasts, and we can’t make everything in our lives turn out the way we want. We certainly can’t change other people, and we can’t control circumstances where other people’s choices are involved. (pg. 19)
2. Read Romans 5:5-8
• What has God poured into our hearts?
• How can we be sure God loves us?
• Write out Romans 5:5 and memorize the verse. It is important to remember that the source of love is always God and not yourself or others!
3. Read Hosea 2:7-20
In this passage, we see Hosea’s love for his unfaithful wife, Gomer. Her unfaithfulness is a picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness in her relationship with God. Instead of responding to God in thankfulness and love, the Israelites offered what they had to idols. They went after things and people to find love and fulfillment, instead of being thankful for God and His love.
• According to Hosea 2:8 and 2:13, whom did Israel forget?
• Maybe you have a habit of forgetting God. Have you ever experienced God drawing you back to Himself as He did here with Israel? (See 2:14) If so, describe your experience.
• Write out Hosea 2:19-20.
• What does this Hosea passage say to you personally when you stop and think of God pledging Himself to you and you to Him forever?
• Think of what it means to be engaged to someone. It is a connection, an interlocking, a tie-in with someone, a connection of two hearts – a commitment to travel through life together. How is this life the kind of connection God wants with us?
• Instead of forgetting the Lord and His love, what does this passage say you could do?
• Who or what holds the key to your heart today? (Consider things, people, agendas, or your dreams.)
• Have your own feelings of hurt or misunderstanding become your personal idols? If so, how?
• Can you trust in the Lord enough just for today to give Him the set of keys that you have and ask only, “They will be done”? What would that involve?
4. Look up and record the dictionary definition of acknowledge.
• Do the following definitions of acknowledge represent your current relationship with God? Put a check mark beside those that do, and an X beside those that don’t.
o Recognize – Do you recognize that God is your Maker and holds the blueprint for your life?
o BE acquainted with – Do you know Him in a daily relationship?
o Appreciate – Do you have a habit of thankfulness for who He is and His faithfulness toward you?
o Give heed to – Do you read His Word and take His instruction seriously?
o Cherish – Do you hold close to your heart all that He is and the example He sets forth for living?
Father,
I acknowledge You today. Forgive me for the times that I don’t remember You – for the times I live in my own strength. I ask You to fill me with Your love. Come now and pour through my life and draw others to You through the power of Your love working in and through me. I realize that loving others might be a challenge, but I ask You to do the impossible inside of me. Amen.
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