True Love
Opening Prayer
Loving Lord, it’s hard to comprehend how much You love me. I only pray to increase in my love for You.
Read PSALM 116:1-19
[1] I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. [2] Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. [3] The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. [4] Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, save me!” [5] The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. [6] The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. [7] Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. [8] For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, [9] that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living. [10] I believed; therefore I said, “I am greatly afflicted.” [11] And in my dismay I said, “All men are liars.” [12] How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? [13] I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. [14] I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. [15] Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. [16] O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains. [17] I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD. [18] I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, [19] in the courts of the house of the LORD- in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What had the psalmist been saved from by the Lord?“I love you.” How many times has this been said – by lovers, within families or between dear friends? Wherever caring people work through challenging situations, the declaration “I love you” is the point at which arguments fall silent and even reason gives way.
Just so with the psalmist long ago. He states his love for his Lord before moving on to explain why he feels this way (1-9) and what he intends to do about it (13-19). People who see God only as an abstract concept, a remote idea of goodness, would do well to contemplate and absorb the energy of this psalm. At the heart of the matter is an intimate and passionate relationship between human and divine people. The intense emotion which is the heart of the matter cuts straight through the writer’s undeniably reasonable and orderly points.
An “easy” version of this psalm includes the following statements about why we should love God: “He listens to me. He is kind and good. He makes me feel safe. I’ve got something useful to do. He saved me.”
Apply
Ponder the extent of your love for God. How do you show it? Ask God to show you how you can love him more.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, lover of my whole self, I confess that my love for You is sometimes very weak. Make it stronger, I pray.
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