Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your support, prayer, and advocacy for the Kingdom mission of Greenhouse. This month we invite you to pray through 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
As you prayerfully contemplate this remarkable portrait of charity, may God’s love transform you, flavor your conversations, and foster Kingdom fellowship in your home. Consider how you can live out Christ’s new command to love others (John 13:34-35) in the Greenhouse community and events. Why is growing in love important for a learning environment, but particularly at home and at Greenhouse? What does such love look like in a homeschool setting and at Greenhouse? How can I show specific features of love during the Thanksgiving celebration in which I will participate?
We invite you to pray through each aspect of biblical love during the month of November. Welcome the comfort, conviction, and encouragement of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to empower you to love as God loves. The following exercise may prove fruitful as you pray.
Using the words from the passage, begin with questions and end with declarations. When you ask these questions, listen for the Lord’s answers; beware of the accuser’s voice, and past shame. Then move to declaration. You can declare what is true even if you do not feel it, don't see evidence of it, or struggle to believe it as true. By declaring it as true, you partner with the truth of God’s Word and what God says about Himself: He is love. You also partner with the truth about who you are in Christ as a new creation and who you are becoming in Christ as you journey with Him from "glory to glory" (2 Cor. 5:17 & 3:18).
ASK: Holy Spirit…
Am I patient? Am I kind? Am I not envious? Am I not boastful? Am I not proud? Do I honor others; am I not rude? Am I not self-seeking? Am I not easily angered? Do I keep no record of wrongs; am I forgiving? Do I not delight in evil? Do I rejoice in the truth? Am I protecting? Am I trusting? Am I hopeful? Am I persevering?
DECLARE: I believe that…
God is patient. God is kind. God is not envious. God is not boastful. God is not proud. God does not dis-honor others; God is not rude. God is not self-seeking. God is not easily angered. God keeps no record of wrongs; God is forgiving. God does not delight in evil. God rejoices in the truth. God protects. God is trustworthy. God is my hope. God perseveres.
ALSO DECLARE: In the power of Christ, and through His Spirit…
I am patient. I am kind. I am not envious. I am not boastful. I am not proud. I honor others; I am not rude. I am not self-seeking. I am not easily angered. I keep no record of wrongs; I am forgiving. I do not delight in evil. I rejoice in the truth. I am protecting. I am trusting. I am hopeful. I am persevering.
May it be so, dear Lord!