A Prayer for Loving Our Neighbors As Ourselves

Last Sunday in worship, we looked at Romans 13:8-14 and as a group came up with the lists below.  In these lists are ways to give thanks to God, ways to love one another, harmful ways that need to change and for which we need forgiveness, and obstacles that we can ask God to help us overcome. So today this is my prayer.

Loving God, you call us to love our neighbors as ourselves, so we give you thanks for all these lovely things you have provided.  Help us to remember to share them with our neighbors.

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” -Leviticus 19:18, Romans 13:9

Ways we love ourselves:

• ·       Walking, exercise
• ·       Spending time with our dogs
• ·       Shoes
• ·       Cake
• ·       Espresso
• ·       Chocolate
• ·       Waking up
• ·       Praying
• ·       Working
• ·       Eating properly
• ·       Reading
• ·       Singing with a choir
• ·       Crafts
• ·       Sleeping
• ·       Soft clothes
• ·       Family Time
• ·       Psalms
• ·       Housing
• ·       Grace
• ·       Lucky Charms
• ·       Coffee
• ·       Puns

Regretably, instead of loving one another, we sometimes harm one another, often without even knowing it.  Forgive us for our harmful ways, and help us to be more aware of our impact on one another, and to listen to one another.

Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. -Romans 13:10

Ways we do harm:

• ·       Judgmental
• ·       Words
• ·       Neglect
• ·       Ignore
• ·       Abuse
• ·       Lies
• ·       Refuse to help
• ·       Enable
• ·       Criticize

Merciful and Mighty God, help us to overcome the all the things that get in the way of loving our neighbors as ourselves.  Help us to trust you to provide whatever is needed, and to rely on your strength instead of our own.

We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about! -Romans 13:11-14 MSG

What gets in the way of loving our neighbors as ourselves:

• ·       Pride
• ·       Defenses
• ·       Fear
• ·       Schedules
• ·       Haven’t met
• ·       Assumptions
• ·       Arrogance
• ·       Work
• ·       Lack of energy
• ·       Prejudice
• ·       Someone else will
• ·       Different beliefs
• ·       Insecurity – feel unable
• ·       Apathy
• ·       Indifference
• ·       Obnoxiousness

 
Thank you, God, for showing us the way through your Son Jesus, and for your Holy Spirit guiding us.  More and more may we be the people you are calling us to be, so that everyone will know your amazing, unconditional, inclusive love.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.