I Love You Lord
Well, friends, I do hope that these oxygen prayers have been helpful to you. And the last one of the week that I want to share with you is simply this: I love You, Lord.
You see, so far we've been kind of focused on ourselves here. Come, Lord, so that I can feel Your presence. Help me, Lord, so that I can live more like You. Thank You, Lord, for all You've done for me. Change me, Lord. It's all been kind of inward focused. That's OK because it's been alongside God, but perhaps we need to be praying more prayers that focus on God. "I love You, Lord" is a way to just forget about yourself and concentrate on Him.
Loving God Deeply
Psalm 18:1 begins with those words: "I love You, Lord, my strength." I love You, Lord.
You know there's an old joke about a wife saying to her husband, "You never say I love you anymore." And he replies, "I said it on our wedding day, and if anything changed, I'd let you know."
For some people it's hard to express their love, to say the words "I love you." And I think for many people it's the same with their relationship with God. It's not something that comes altogether too easy—to just say, "I love You, Lord."
Mother Teresa, on the other hand, died saying, "Jesus, I love You. Jesus, I love You." Those were her last words on September 5, 1997. Man, how I'd like my last words to be, "Jesus, I love You. Jesus, I love You." Or, "I love You, Lord." What a wonderful way to close your life. And what a wonderful way to live your life—with the words "I love You, Lord" on your lips at all times.
Do You Love Me?
In fact, remember in John 21 where Jesus pulled Peter aside and asked him a few questions? He said to Peter, "Do you love Me?" Peter said, "Yes, You know I love You." Jesus said, "Tend My lambs." And He asked him again, "Simon, do you love Me?" "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You." And He said to him, "Tend My sheep." Then He asked him a third time. "Simon, do you love Me?" Peter got all upset and said, "How can You ask me this? Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You."
Now that's quite profound right there. Even though Jesus knew all things and knew that Peter loved Him, He still asked him and had him say it out loud. Because it is almost as if saying it out loud unlocked something new in his life, helped him to actually express it in more ways, and to go and live a life that loved others because of his love of Jesus.
Maybe God is saying to you, "Well, I know you love Me, but say it!" Because if you say it—if it becomes part of your daily prayer life—things will change. Your love will grow even deeper, and your love for others will grow even deeper.
Live Love Outwardly
Maybe Jesus is saying to you and I today, "Do you love Me?" And this oxygen prayer can be one we pray all throughout the day: "I love You, Lord. I love You. I'm on a mission for You. Show me where I can love others for You."
Maybe the point of saying, "I love You, Lord," is so that we can find out where He wants us to share His love. The more we say, "I love You, Lord," the more inspired we are to take that love and share it with others. He loves us so, and so let us love Him too.
And so may these oxygen prayers really bless you as they have me.
