Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Friday, July 10, 2015
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know
Today’s modern psalm is on one of the most striking attributes of God—most striking to me, anyway. God’s love. God is love. God loves you. God loves me. God loves all of us. (John 3:16 says so.)
This modern psalm, which comes from Praying the New Testament as Psalms, contains several verses that resonate with me. They echo and re-echo within my heart, personally, as well as strike me to the quick, in an outward fashion.
I realize that God loves me. I also realize that God loves my neighbor. The Stranger, the Other, the one on the other side of town, or on the other side of the tracks. The weird person I pass on the street. (Yes, God loves them.) The mean person in the next car who just cut me off. (Yes, that person, too.) Even the awful person who committed that unspeakable crime they’re talking about, on the news. God loves that person. Or ones in rehab facilities. Or in mental institutions. Or playing in parks or walking on beaches or in senior residences or homebound or at work or lonely or grieving or joy-filled. Or you, or your loved ones.
I would like to share two verses, both taken/adapted from Romans 5. Both coming from the writing of the Apostle Paul. “Your own love, God, has been poured into my heart/by the Holy Spirit, which has been given to me.” [1] This verse from the modern psalm talks about God’s love, comparing it to something being poured into me. Almost as if I am a thirsty vessel, or a water glass waiting to be filled. Then, the Holy Spirit fills me up to the brim. Cool, clear, clean, fresh water. And, I have been given the Holy Spirit. It’s all done, already. I don’t need to wait any more. I’m filled with the Spirit that refreshes.
The second verse is also adapted from Romans 5: “Jesus, You gave proof of God’s love for me./While I was still a sinner, You died for me.” [2] Lord Jesus, that astounds me even more than the first verse. Yes, the Lord has gifted me with the Holy Spirit. But—Jesus did not have to do any of that for me, since I was a sinner. I sinned in thought, word and deed, and I still do sin. But God so loved me, Elizabeth, that God gave His only begotten Son—for me.
You can put your name into that last sentence, if you want. Try that on for size, and see whether it fits. Whether you believe it. Whether you feel worthy, or not. It’s still true. Perhaps, it is especially true when you and I doubt the verity and veracity of that statement.
Thank You, God, for loving me, and for loving this dear friend who is reading along with us. And for loving all the people You have created. Thank You for Your everlasting, endless love.
Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.
Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind. @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .
[1] Praying the New Testament as Psalms, Desmond O’Donnell, OMI, and Maureen Mohen, RSM, (United States of America: ACTA Publications, 2002.), 88.
[2] Ibid.
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