Day 4 - God is Love [S1-EO4]

In this devotional from 21 Days of Prayer & Meditation, Anthony Skinner guides a Christian meditation on 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (“love is patient, love is kind”) to reveal the true nature of God’s love. By reading the passage with “God” in place of “love,” you’ll heal distorted views of love, receive His patient, kind, unfailing heart toward you, and rest in your identity in Christ. Through scripture reflection, prayer, and stillness, cultivate inner peace, resilience, and spiritual formation as God’s love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, love never fails."

SCRIPTURE

Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, and 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. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV) 

DEVOTIONAL

God longs for you to know His love -- for God is love. To know God is to know the source of Love.  But what does God’s love look like?  As beautiful as human love can be, it falls short in comparison to the perfection of God’s love.  As humans, we often think we know God and how He loves us by what we have experienced from the people in our lives.  Sometimes, this helps us understand the depth of God’s love - if we have been loved well.  But, if we have been hurt by those we love, we often consciously or unconsciously project onto God's attributes of our flawed experiences with human love. So, what does God’s love look like? 

Slowly read aloud 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 again.

Now read the passage below, but substitute God for love -- because God is love.

(God) is patient, (God) is kind. (God) does not envy, (God) does not boast, it is not proud. (God) does not dishonor others, (God) is not self-seeking, (God) is not easily angered, (God) keeps no record of wrongs. (God) does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (God) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (God) never fails. 1 Corinthans 13:4-8 (NIV) 

QUESTION

Which of the above 1 or 2 statements resonates with you the most? Write them down on a card, in your journal, or in your phone. Let them feed your soul.

PRAYER Pick out 1 or 2 of the above phrases and pray like the example below. Take your time. Move through this practice of taking the scripture and making it your prayer.

God, I thank you for being a good father. You love me.  You are not easily angered with me. You always hope for me. Would you catch my attention when I slip into conscious or unconscious thoughts opposite to these truths?  Thank you for being my loving Father.

PRAYER 

Pick out 1 or 2 phrases above and pray like the example below. Take your time. Move through this practice of taking the scripture and making it your prayer.

God, I thank you for being a good father. You love me.  You are not easily angered with me. You always hope for me. Would you catch my attention when I slip into conscious or unconscious thoughts opposite to these truths?  Thank you for being my loving Father.