Dear Lord,
A new commandment we are given through your word! A joy to know your commandments!
Yet, what a difficult commandment it is: Love one another.
Love my wife? Yes! Love my children? Yes! Love my friends? Yes! These I can do with minimal interference. It is this next group that troubles me: those who are unkind to me. Those who threaten me. Those who slander me. Those who wish to cause me downfall or harm. Love these?
So says the Lord: Yes!
Help me to love those who hate me, Lord. Give me your heart for them! Cure me of my fleshly selfish pride! Open my heart to be renewed and sanctified so that I may honor your commandments! I place my ways on the altar and call for your Spirit to lead me to a place of love for all of your people.
Help me, Father.
Amen