The Prayer of First Love

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV) For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. CONSIDER THIS A simple yet profound prayer has emerged for me through this First Love series. I have come to call it the Prayer of First Love. 5 words: “Jesus, I belong to you.” You will remember the challenge to pray it 100 times a day. One morning when I was praying the simple prayer, it began to flow out in a lot of particular directions and prophetic dimensions. I captured it in writing. After sitting with it a few weeks I have decided to share it with you. It remains, like me and you, a work in progress. Jesus, I belong to you. I am no longer my own, but yours. You are my Lord and my God. I give you my complete, undivided, and whole-hearted attention. I give you my desires and affections and only receive them back as they have been granted by you. I receive from you the mind of Christ, . . . to think as you think, to imagine as you imagine, to ponder as you ponder, your curiosities, your impressions, your insights, your joys, your sadnesses, your longings, your loves. My work will find its origin and fulfillment in the gifts, talents, skills, and creativity you have entrusted to me. Jesus, I belong to you. Henceforth, Your vision will be my sight, Your word, my food, Your Spirit, my breath, Your resurrection, my power, Your suffering, my fellowship, Your Kingdom, my ambition, Your people, my passion, Your love, my life. Jesus, I belong to you. I covenant with you the following exchanges: My emptiness—for your fullness, My brokenness—for your wholeness, My sin—for your righteousness, My guilt—for your pardon, My lust—for your longings, My drunkenness—for your sobriety, My shame—for your glory, My pride—for your humility, My thirst—for fame for your desire for holiness, My striving—for your rest, My impossible burden—for your easy yoke. Jesus, I belong to you You are to me: The Word made flesh The image of the invisible God The exact representation of his being The first fruits of the Resurrection The bright and morning star The Ancient of Days, The Son of God and the Son of Man, The Bread of Heaven, The True Vine, The Way and the Truth and the Life, The Resurrection, The Light of the World, The Good Shepherd, The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, The Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world, The Messiah, the Savior, The Lord of Heaven and Earth. Jesus, I belong to you. By your commission I am called. By your calling I am chosen. In your communion I am consecrated. Through your fullness I am overflowing. In your holy love I am joyfully alive. Jesus, I belong to you. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.