Lord, let the thoughts of my mind and the attitudes of my heart be in perfect alignment to Your thoughts and anchored devotedly to Your heart. For You were the One who took on flesh and entered the corruption of this world because You sympathized with our predicament. How generous is Your forgiveness, mighty King. Teach Your beloved followers how to love one another as You have loved and cherished us. Only Your gracious fingers can caress the hardened heart until it is tender once again. Only You can diminish the proud in a non-destructive way so that they land in a feather bed of humility instead of on the spears of condemnation. When evil tempts me to respond in kind, Jesus, help me turn the other cheek. Your example is difficult to follow because of our carnal nature and selfish temperaments. But let Your children, the ones who proclaim Your Name, have a radical response that differs from what is expected. Truly, You have made Your people to remain set apart from worldly responses. Let us bless the reviling and keep our tongue from issuing seeds of hatred and contempt. Truly, Your eyes watch over us, Your Spirit lives through us, and Your love spreads in us as we relinquish our rights to Your authority. Blessed be the Name of the Lord God Almighty. Under the truth set down in John 13:34-35 and the authority of my Savior Christ Jesus, I bow in prayer.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35, NIV