There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 NIV

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 NIV

We are on a mission to perfect our love. A first step in this process is to, “Experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then will we be made complete.” (Ephesians 3:19) I want to be a complete person, a whole person. Marriage often provides a context in which my inefficiencies shine for all my family to see, but together we are learning to receive the love of God and, in turn, become better at loving others.

God is the perfect lover, and He, by His grace, is apprenticing His followers to be just like Himself!

Father,

Your perfect love is what I long to experience. All other loves are wonderful, but until I learn to receive and appreciate your great love for me, I won’t have the capacity to fully appreciate love in my marriage or in any other relationship. Please expand my capacity to know “How wide, how long, how high and how deep” your love is. I receive this capacity in faith today, and I thank you for it. You are making me aware throughout my day that I am loved with an everlasting love, never ending, never vacillating, never diminishing, never negotiating, always true and strong. Thank you for helping me understand and experience your love day by day.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.