I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
We sing it, and we say it in our public prayers: "Father, God, we love you." But notice very carefully the beginning phrase of our verse. "I love you, O
Lord..." Even in public, community worship,* we are taught the importance of a personal expression of love to God. When is the last time you told the Creator of the universe, "I love you!"
* We often forget that the collection of Psalms in our Bibles was used in the worship of God's people for centuries before Jesus came, and given to us for both private and public expressions of worship!
Father in heaven, I love you. I love you because you are more than worthy of my love. I love you because you have first loved me. I love you because you sent your son to be my big brother and friend,* who paid the price for my adoption into your family. I love you because of your faithfulness. I love you because you have permitted me in your grace to love you. In the name of Jesus, my brother and friend,* I love you and thank you. Amen.
* Over the years, when I have prayed "in the name of my brother and friend, Jesus..." some people have responded with anger and confrontation, saying something like, "Jesus is our Savior, Lord, Redeemer, and Son of God, how dare you reduce him by calling him my brother and friend." However, the Scriptures themselves, and even Jesus, describe our Savior as a brother and friend (
John 15:15,
21:5,
Hebrews 2:10-18).
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