Do you know that God loves you? It's so easy to forget this in the hustle and bustle of everyday existence. And yet, God has made His affection very clear across the Bible. Consider Isaiah 43:4 - I will give up whole nations to save your life, because you are precious to me and because I love you and give you honor (GNT). Not to mention He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on our behalf so we'd be set free from the consequence of sin.
Yet, so many of us can't grasp that we are loved by God because we don't know what true love truly is. We haven't slowed down enough to enjoy the experience of His love. Sure, we think we know what love is. We've all watched shows and think love means someone buys us things or spends quality time with us. Then there are the R&B love songs, with crooners singing about 'love' and declaring their adoration. However, God has written poems and extensive love letters to us in the Bible about how He feels about us. He even helped us understand love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...
Let's unpack this shall we?
According to 1 John 4:8, God is love. Therefore, and as 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us, He - God/Love - is patient with us and kind. He won't dishonor us, isn't easily upset by us, and doesn't hold onto our sins. He rejoices in the truth about us and doesn't believe the lies, He protects us and even trusts us. He has great expectations and hopes for us. He will also persevere for and with us, and will never fail us. This is how we are to understand love and it is how we are to see God. Far too many of us see Him as a grumpy old man in the sky who doesn't want to be bothered and who does mean things to people for no reason. That is not who He was, who He is or who He ever will be.
This is not to say that God will not discipline. In fact, He made it clear that He disciplines those He loves in Revelation 6:19 - Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. He wouldn't be a good Father if He didn't. Nor does it change the fact that love is a two way street. While God surely loves us, we can't ignore that we must express our love through our obedience to the Lord. The scripture makes this clear in John 14:15 - If you love me, keep my commands. There is also 1 John 5:3 - In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
Never forget God loves us unconditionally, even when we are at your lowest. And, He yearns for each of us to genuinely love Him too - not just for what we can get from Him. We in turn must remember to live as lovers of the Lord and His Son, Jesus Christ. Plus, live as lovers of the people He created as we've been instructed in the Royal Law.
Mark 12:30 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
May we all remember that God loves us and we are the apple of His eye. May we in turn express our love for Him in the obedience of HIs words as well as be vessels of His love to others, IJMN, Amen.
See you at Noon EST for fellowship. God bless you!
To read more on this topic:
GOD Loves You - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) March 30, 2021
Abounding in Love - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) October 15, 2021
Love One Another - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) October 19, 2021
Love (P&P 100) - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) November 9, 2021
Don't Forget God's Love - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) December 24, 2021
Fear of the Lord: Love & Generational Blessings - Praise & Pray (for others) Friday March 11, 2022
God's Love Trumps Fear - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) May 3, 2022
How do you love? - Praise & Pray (for others) October 4, 2022
CLOSING MESSAGE
Praise be to the Lord God Almighty. The King of kings and the Lord of lords. Thank You Father for bringing us to the end of another hour of fellowship. It was a blessing to spend time together in Your presence. Take all the glory, Lord.
Please guide each of us in Your way and in Your word. Help us to lean on You more and submit to Your will for our lives.
Thank You so much for reminding us of Your abounding love and how we can love You back. Grace to do just that, Lord, IJN, we pray. For Your love is the key and that's all we need.
Bless today's participants and kindly bless those who will participate at a later time.
To You be praise and adoration for ever more, IJN, Amen!
From KG - Thank You Father God for all of the rapidly occurring changes that have been happening in my life. It has not been easy, but thanks to Your strength and guidance, I am welcoming these changes with open arms. I know that something much better that is Your will instead mine is on the way and I am so grateful!
I am also thankful for my sobriety. I know that I could not have done it without You Father God and I just love You so so much.
Thank you God for your patience and grace as I do my best to be more obedient to your Word and I pray that you continue to let Your Holy Spirit work through me Father God that I may do Your works here on this beautiful Earth.
Thank you thank you thank you! I give you all the glory Father God. In Jesus name amen amen amen
LAST 10 MINUTES
Today we examined the fact that God loves each of us. The question is do you believe it? Or was today's message just something you read, nodded your head to, but didn't let it sink into your marrow?
God has a deep desire for all whom He created. Certain books in the Old Testament are just Him pouring out His heart like a jilted lover yearning for the one who turned away from Him. That God continues to long for You to understand how much He loves You as well as yearn for Your affection for Him. His love is pure and not tainted like the images and ideas of love that we humans have and apply toward each other. It's a love that needs to be experienced.
Have you felt God's warm embrace before? If you don't think so, or if it's been a while, the next few minutes offer us an opportunity to ask God for it. Even if you are familiar with God's regular affection, ask for more. I know someone who regularly declares that she's God's princess and I've seen the favor and grace she encounters multiply rapidly over the years. This person also does what she can to love God back by obeying His instructions. I've learned from her to apply that combination - declare and believe God's love and love Him back - and have also noticed God's grace increase in my life. This approach works because God loves to prove the faith we affirm in His love.
So, why don't we pray together?
God, thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me even at my weakest points. Your word says that Your love endures forever and I am thankful for this. Today, I ask You to embrace me even tighter in Your heavenly arms. I call on You to help me to always remember that I am loved by You, no matter the circumstances. Help me to take that love You freely give to me and also share it freely with others. All by Your grace and to Your glory, IJN, Amen.
PS: if you want to copy the person I mentioned above, regularly say "I am God's prince/princess" out loud to folks (i.e. your family and friends. Feel free to say it to strangers too, though). And believe it, of course. Let me know if you notice an increase in the blessings that come your way.
Lord, I pray for the deliverance of souls from the schemes and wiles of the devil. It plots and plans wicked schemes to ensnare and entrap people.
God of love, I lift up Isaiah 64:2 - As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
Heavenly Father, let the enemy know the zeal You have for Your beloveds. You created them in Your image, after all. Set the captives free as Your very word promises for Jesus came to accomplish this very feat. He had victory so long ago and there is no need for a repeat of His courageous feat.
Lord, for even the lawful captive shall be set free is Your promise and I declare this for all who You will allow this prayer to reach, IJMN, Amen.
Father I thank You for the deliverance I received. I am made new, and all old things have passed away! Who the Son sets free is free indeed.
God I pray over fellow Peppers. God, You show no favoritism. This good thing You have done for me, I also would like for them, as long as it be within Your will.
I pray for them, that the "eyes of their understanding" may be enlightened, and may they know what they need freedom from.
I ask this of You because it is written: Him who is able to keep you blameless till the end, and to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling.
"He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 1:8)
"_Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy_—" (Jude 24)
Also Your word says: _For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him._ (Phil 2:13)
Because they are vessels of the Holy Spirit, I ask that You would indeed help them to keep doing what pleases You, and help them to stop doing what displeases Your Spirit.
Amen, in Jesus name.
From BI - Lord, I pray You lay Your healing hands on anyone in P&P waiting on You for healing and restoration. Glorify Your Name in their lives. Show them You are God all by Yourself. Heal them in mind, body and spirit. May the mantle of good health and long life rest upon them. May they return to give testimony of Your goodness and mercy IJMN Amen.
Abba Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to illustrate what it means to be a good shepherd of the flock.
Lord, Your word states in Ezekiel 34:10 that You will rescue Your flock from the mouths of false shepherds and that Your sheep will no longer be their prey.
Dear God, I know that the devil's plan is to lock people up behind 'shepherds' and movements not ordained by You but I pray for the release and rescue of Your sheep from the teeth of the wolves. You who have promised to have mercy on the flock, please have mercy and let the flock be recipients of Your great compassion, that they be restored in right standing to You where they have been led astray, IJMN, Amen.
From MFC -
"According to 1 John 4:8, God is love. Therefore, and as 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us, He - God/Love - is patient with us and kind. He won't dishonor us, isn't easily upset by us, and doesn't hold onto our sins. He rejoices in the truth about us and doesn't believe the lies, He protects us and even trusts us. He has great expectations and hopes for us. He will also persevere for and with us, and will never fail us. This is how we are to understand love and it is how we are to see God"
Glory to God and Hallelujah! God bless you for today's message@FFJ.
Thank You God for covering me with your love. You loved me enough to send Your only Son to redeem me from my sins. Thank You, Father, that You’re always ready to hear my honest prayers. Dear Jesus, open my eyes and heart to people around me who need to hear of Your love. Please give me the opportunity to share the gospel with them so they can experience the life-changing love that comes with Your grace and mercy. AMEN!
PRAYER TIME
Let us concentrate on praying for other people right now. Turn your attention to their needs and call on the Lord to help them.
Pray for your neighborhood. Pray for your coworkers. Pray for the shops/businesses you frequent. Pray for your fellow Peppers in this thread who've shared what they're going through.
Pray, pray, pray.
Amen, Amen!
Blessings and glory.
Wisdom, thanksgiving and honor.
Power and might belong to the Lord.
Forever and ever.
Amen!
Thank You Lord. You are mighty. Holy in all Your ways.
From CX - Good day, sisters!
I will not be able to join life but will come back around to continue to lift up your prayers to our Abba.
Thank you @FFJ for this reminder of God’s all-abiding love. I sometimes lose sight of the immensity of it because it’s difficult to grasp its breadth & depth. Oh how He loves us!
Thank You God for the novel experiences I had yesterday. Thank You for the grace from You to learn and to move alongside Your will. I am grateful to You for leading me and bringing me to a point where I could stand firm, my face fixed like flint because I knew I was not alone. I knew I stood on Your authority, Your solid rock.
Thank You, Lord! Thank You for being in control of everything. Thank You for Your loving kindness!
God, I want to thank You for the blessings of last week. I am grateful for the way You spoiled us and showed us great kindness. Thank You for sending unexpected blessings that brought joy to my family and loved ones.
Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!
From BI - Blessed be Your Name my Abba. You alone are worthy of all praise, honour and adoration. You do so much for me that I can’t count them all. Thank You for providing for me and never withdrawing Your love. El Shaddai I hail thee now and forever.
Father, we are gathered before You today to honor You with our praise, our worship and our thanksgiving. We are grateful for this opportunity to lift up Your Holy Name in exaltation and joy in our hearts.
Glory be to You, Lord!
PRAISE TIME
Alright ladies and gents, let us do as the Psalm instructs -
Psalm 95:1-2 - Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
It is time to honor God with our praises.
You ready?
From IA84 - Good morning everybody! I'm running behind my work errands, so I wanted to stop in while I have a moment and just again, thank everyone for having me. It's been a rough and frustrating last week or so and I've been trying to do everything I can to just mentally and emotionally stay strong. I give thanks to God, first and foremost for another day. I thank God for being patient with me and not being mad at me, despite my faults and flaws. I ask the Lord to be a light and my guide, in the situations that stand before my life right now. Things are not perfect. And though I am truly blessed, I know things could be better. I'm having my struggles mentally, emotionally, physically and just ask God to heal and comfort me in his presence. May God heal and recover me, so that I may be of good use to not only myself, but others who are in need. I give gratitude and thanks for all God's blessings. And for whatever God decides to gift me today, I give thanks, because I know he's with me, and he's turning things around for me, even if it will take a little time. Thank you God for all. Amen!
From M22 - Next week Monday marks a year since I joined this wonderful prayer family. I am grateful for everyone of us both offline and online. I want to appreciate sis @FFJ for being the most amazing convener bringing us together twice a week to pray, praise and worship. I want to appreciate everyone for praying for me even on days where I couldn't attend P and P. God bless everyone of us.
From SB - This just made my morning. I need to press in more and develop a more consistent prayer life. So much to be thankful for. Our God is soooo GOOD!
From AC - I have to run for an appointment but wanted to express how grateful I am for @FFJ's beautiful message of God's love this morning. I will check back in later to lift up all prayers and prayer requests. God bless you all.
Abba Adonai, thank You for Your all-consuming love that is everlasting, unbreakable, and unchangeable. Thank You for mercy and Your radical grace - a neverending gift of compassion and forgiveness that we don't deserve and yet You give to us so freely. May Your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! (Nehemiah 9:5) In Jesus' name, Amen! Amen!