Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Ps. 63:3-5
Dear Lord Jesus, King David’s song of unbridled adoration is a rebuke to my measured heart. I spend a lot of my time and energy trying to make a “better” life for myself, and yet David speaks of your love as being better than life itself! What a holy paradox. Oh, to know your love in such a sensate, soul-satisfying way.
Jesus, what would it be like to be so alive to the width, length, height, and depth of your love that I lose control? David danced with shameless freedom before the Ark of the Covenant. I long to be just as free because of the riches of the gospel.
I have no trouble singing to you or lifting my hands in the assembly of your people. But I want your immeasurable love to spill over into all of my relationships. I want to finish this journey with my spouse as sweethearts. As I get older, I don’t want to suffer from the “hardening of the categories”; rather I want to grow more spontaneous, flexible and willing to take risks with family, friends and whomever you bring into my day. I want to be less controlling and cautious in relationships, and more relaxed and engaged.
Jesus, I want your love to be so compelling to me that I don’t think of “witnessing” to people, just loving and serving them. I want to greet people with your welcoming heart; grant them your mercy when life is hard; and extend your grace when relationships get sticky.
I want your love to be so satisfying that I find it hard to make excuses for my brokenness, and much easier to live transparently and authentically before others. I want your love to bring forth hot tears of compassion and loud guffaws of joy. You’ve set me free for eternity. Jesus, please set me free for today. So very Amen I pray, in your loving name.
