Prayer: Examining the heart
Lord, restore my first love, examine my heart, and show me what, little by little, may be taking the place that belongs only to You without me realizing it. I do not want to become so accustomed to the routine of faith that I forget the reason why I began to follow You. Deliver me from living only by appearances, from fulfilling religious obligations without true communion with You, and from believing that my works are sufficient when my heart is distant. May I never be so busy doing things for You that I forget to be with You.
Help me to love Your truth without losing love for people. Give me discernment to recognize what does not come from You, but also humility so as not to turn the knowledge of Your Word into pride or judgment. May my words be accompanied by attitudes that reveal Your grace. I do not want to defend the truth in a cold manner.
Jesus, if at any moment I have let my first love grow cold, call me back. Forgive me for the times when prayer became merely an obligation, for the moments when I read Your Word without dedicating attention to what it wanted to transform in me, and for when I served expecting recognition.
I do not just want to miss the time when my faith seemed more intense; I want to return to cultivating a life of intimacy, obedience, and surrender. Renew in me the desire to seek You not for what You can offer me, but because You are my Father and the greatest treasure I can have. Do not allow me to confuse activity with intimacy. May my works be fruits of a heart that remains connected to You.
God, help me to recognize my mistakes and change direction whenever necessary. May my faith not be sustained only by a routine, but by a true relationship with You, which transforms the way I think, speak, serve, and treat people.
Keep in me a sincere love for You until the end. May I not lose the essence of the Gospel while I strive to defend what I believe. Teach me to remain firm in Your Word, sensitive to Your voice, and willing to obey.
May my life be marked by a walk of communion with You. Restore what needs to be restored and do not allow me to distance myself from You. In the name of Jesus, amen.
by
Rapha Abreu is a journalist and cultural producer, and part of the marketing, writing and content production team at Mr. Rocco.
