Oh, Lord, You and You alone are worthy of my wholehearted love and devotion! You are indeed ‘perfect Love, Who casts out all fear’, and I acknowledge that I only know what it means and am able to love because You first loved me. (1John 4:18-19)

Thank You for loving me perfectly—for being patient and long-suffering with me; for always showering me with mercy and kindness; for always honoring and respecting me, and although Your will is perfect, not forcing it upon me; for not holding my many sins against me, but instead always being ready and willing to forgive me; for being my ‘Shield and Protector’; and for always being ‘Faithful and True’ to me even when I am unfaithful to You. Thank You for Your steadfast, lavish, unfailing love! (1 Cor. 13:4-8) You and Your love are truly too marvelous for words!

I thank You most of all for demonstrating to me what true love looks like by sacrificing Your one and only, perfect Son Jesus Who took my place on the cross, dying the death I deserved so that I could be reconciled to You, a Holy God. Thank You for the abundant life I can have here on earth through faith in You—including peace, joy, and contentment even in the midst of earthly trials— as well as the sure promise of spending eternity in Heaven in Your glorious presence where there will be ‘pleasures forevermore’. (John 10:10; Psalm 16:11)

Forgive me for not loving You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength, and for not loving others as You have loved me. I confess that all too often I am self-absorbed and desire that ‘my will’ rather than ‘Your will’ be done. Help me to daily die to myself and to daily live for Your glorious purpose, which is to be conformed into Your image and used to draw others to You, the One Who is the ‘Way, the Truth, and the Life’. (Luke 9:23; Romans 8:29; John 14:6) Help me to love You ever and even more each day, demonstrating my love by my words and actions so that all who know me will see you at work in me and come to know You too and be transformed by Your extravagant, unfailing love. (Matthew 5:16) In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen.