1 Corinthians 9:1-14

Father, forgive us

    For the times that we have squandered your blessings on our own desires:

    For the times when we have supported causes through emotion and not careful             consideration:

    For the times when our motives in giving have been selfish rather than selfless:

    For the times when we have begrudged a living to those in ministry:

    Forgive us for muzzling the ox; and receiving your word without                                     generous compensation.

Grow our love, for your servants;

for Jesus sake.

Amen

1 Corinthians 8:4-13

Almighty God, 

you are the only true God, the maker of all things; the one for whom we live.

Help us to guard our freedom;

    to not cause others to stumble;

    to not destroy those you love;

    to not to sin against them;

    to not wound their consciences.

May we restrain our freedom and live for love.

Amen

Prayer for a Loving Heart

Father, cleanse our souls from the clutter that dampens our love for you.

We confess that our hearts are filled with false loves that have become a cheap and unsatisfying substitute for loving you.

Show us the loves of our hearts.

And then show us yourself so that we may

     adore you,

     worship you,

     And cherish you.

Father, we are prone to love ourselves.

But we are not made for that love.

We are not made to live inwards towards ourselves.

We are made to live outwards towards others and upwards towards you.

Create within us that love for you.

Cause us to remember that you have loved us and lead us to love you with our whole hearts.

And then create in us a love for others.

Amen.