What is an overview of Christian spiritual practices for cultivating and increasing love over time?
score:0
What is an overview of Christian spiritual practices for cultivating and increasing love over time?
Some things Christians should are universal because they are simply biblical, while other may be more tuned to a particular denomination.
Common denominators are prayer, contemplation and study of God’s Word.
Biblical based things all need to do in order to grow in love of God are as follows:
- If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. - John 14:15-16
- Prayer and Contemplation of God’s word in Sacred Scriptures.
- Follow Jesus’ example in all our daily endeavours put before us. Pray for our enemies. Jesus often searched for a secluded place to pray to the Father.
- Loving God and neighbour requires that we search and study the Scriptures. If we genuinely desire to grow in the love of God and neighbour, we need to understand what the Bible explains in growing in holiness and in love. Daily study is recommended by most denominations. Cultivating love means imitating Jesus and studying the Scriptures to understand his relationship to the Godhead.
Christians should also pray daily for the gift to love God.
Here is a simple example:
Father, please flourish my heart with genuine love that will benefit other people and me. Also, let the demonstrations of my love result to the glorification of your name. Let my love be selfless, impartial, truthful, and fruitful! For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. - Prayer to Love God
If we truly love God, we will trust in him always. We can pray to love and trust Jesus in all things as this litany shows:
From the belief that I have to earn Your love
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that I am unlovable
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the false security that I have what it takes
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute
Deliver me, Jesus.
From all suspicion of Your words and promises
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You
Deliver me, Jesus.
From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will
Deliver me, Jesus.
From anxiety about the future
Deliver me, Jesus.
From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past
Deliver me, Jesus.
From restless self-seeking in the present moment
Deliver me, Jesus.
From disbelief in Your love and presence
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being asked to give more than I have
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth*
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of what love demands Deliver me, Jesus
From discouragement
Deliver me, Jesus.
That You are continually holding me, sustaining me, loving me
Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings and transforms me Jesus
I trust in You.
That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You Jesus
I trust in You.
That You are with me in my suffering
Jesus, I trust in You.
That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church
Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your plan is better than anything else
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You always hear me and in Your goodness always respond to me
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked
Jesus, I trust in You.
That my life is a gift
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will teach me to trust You.s
As our relationship deepens with the Almighty, our trust and love of Our creator will naturally grow more profound.
In this YouTube video on how to develop a closer relationship with God, Pope John Paul II gives us 10 Habits to Grow Closer to God (St. John Paul II's 10 Habits to Grow Closer to God) Although directed towards Catholics some elements may be useful to other Christians.
Ten Pillars of Spiritual Exercises to grow in Holiness of Pope John Paul II:
- Cooperation with Grace
- Prayer
- The Holy Eucharist
- The Sacrament of Mercy (Confeession)
- Listening to God’s Word
- Proclaiming God’s Word
- Marian Devotion
- Family Life
- Work
- Suffering
The Reformation Scotland site gives us 5 Ways to Grow in Love for Christ
People often speak about spiritual growth, but what does it look like? Words and activities are easy. Love in the heart and in outward expression and obedience is what Christ looks for (Revelation 2:4; John 14:15). Love to Christ makes us want to be like Him. Where does that love come from? Love comes from love. Our love can be kindled and increased from His own love towards us. How do we grow in our love for Christ? He uses means such as prayer and the Word to strengthen this love. We must take time to consider deeply the Saviour and His love and seek to draw close to Him. Here are five ways in which Christ makes the flame of love in His people burn stronger and brighter. In preaching on John 17:24, Robert Traill gives some clear and helpful advice on increasing our love for the Lord. Christ’s heart is set on having His people where He is. Surely, we ought to love Him in return. Most of those who lay claim to the name of Christian, think they make some conscience of loving Christ. They think it to be an entirely just debt and duty to Him and are ready to say with Paul, “If any man love, not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema, Maranatha” (1 Corinthians 16:22). But just as the love that Christ bears to His people, is not so well known and believed as it ought to be; so the love His people owe to Him, is not as well paid as it ought to be. Previously, we have considered 9 Ways to Demonstrate Your Love for Christ. In the following updated extract, Traill shows us five ways to increase in love for Christ.
Consider Christ and his Love
Believe Christ’s Love This
Pray to Experience his Love
Kindle your Love from Christ’s Love
Let your Love Burn for Christ
Corey Sleep gives us 4 ways to deepen our relationship with God:
What does it look like practically to make sure that indeed our mind, soul, and heart are set on prioritizing God above all things?
Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37).
- Prioritizing the Bible
The Bible is the Word of God—his special revelation to us about who he is and what he has done. It is, in effect, God’s very words to us, his people, breathed out for our betterment, equipment, and sustenance (2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 8:3).
- Prioritizing Prayer
In my early university years, someone pointed out that “if you’re not talking to someone, you don’t have a relationship with that person.” It makes a lot of sense, and prayer is an awe-inspiring privilege to have a relationship with God that we all too often take for granted. How can we make it a priority?
- Prioritizing Community
God ministers to us through us
The Apostle Paul often compares the Church (all Christians) to a body of many different parts that are indispensable to one another, and in Ephesians 4 tells us that our growth into maturity is done through community. We cripple ourselves and stunt our spiritual growth if we are not in serious, Christ-centred fellowship and community.
- Prioritizing Mission
This one might come as a surprise to some, but I don’t think it should be. Love, defined biblically, is inseparable from action, and any action we take as believers should be to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), and so part of the mission of God. If we fail in being a doer as well as a hearer, we fail to prioritize God and his Word in our hearts, and so we have placed another god before him in our lives.
More post
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, if the penitent thief had died before Jesus, would he have had to wait for his reward?
- 📝 What are the differences between the ELCA and UCC?
- 📝 How can Jesus rule the earth during the second coming, if he is only in Jerusalem?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, is it unlawful to cause others to work on Sunday?
- 📝 Where, exactly, were Christ's body and soul during the Descendit?
- 📝 What happens if the Pope is automatically excommunicated?
- 📝 Is there any historical evidence that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit were still in operation after the apostolic age?
- 📝 Dates of Epiphany and Baptism celebrations shifting in Ireland and England
- 📝 Early Christians who Defended Licitness of Non-Procreative Sex?
- 📝 Moral implications of heaven and hell doctrine
- 📝 Once a believer, always a believer?
- 📝 What is the Biblical Basis against the use of profanity?
- 📝 Who is this cardinal in this picture?
- 📝 Difference between contraception and abortion?
- 📝 Did St Paul have a death-wish?
- 📝 How do Jehovah's Witnesses explain Mark 1:1–3?
- 📝 Is there a biblical basis for naturalism?
- 📝 What are the main differences between 7th Day Adventists and Catholic/Protestant churches?
- 📝 Does Hell exist according to Catholicism?
- 📝 Why is literary style not inspired?
- 📝 Why did God give man an imagination?
- 📝 What is first time infant baptism was established and commissioned according to catholic church? What does church history say about this?
- 📝 Has the Anglo-Catholic understanding of suicide changed in the 20th-21st century enough to render Chesterton's comparison with martyrdom irrelevant?
- 📝 What Charities Did Jesus Contribute To?
- 📝 Why is "Fearing the Lord" equated to loving Him?
- 📝 Did the gospels really copy from each other?
- 📝 Were the actions of the 3rd Duke of Alba in the 16th Century considered a Catholic Crusade?
- 📝 Why Moses is not Sargon I?
- 📝 Author's words in Proverbs 5:20 compared to his way of living?
- 📝 What is a brief history on the idea that the Pope is the Antichrist?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian spiritual practices for cultivating and increasing love over time?
- 📝 What are Christian explanations for the similarities between ecstatic spiritual experiences of Christians and those of other religions?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian beliefs regarding which spiritual gifts are still available to the body of Christ and which ones have ceased?
- 📝 Which Christian groups prohibit playing cards, and what is their basis for doing so?
- 📝 What is the Biblical and historical basis for Christian pacifism?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the accuracy and truthfulness of the Bible?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, to what extent is the spiritual growth of a Christian impaired by his/her lack of devotion to Mary and the Saints?
- 📝 What is the basis for anointing of physical objects and who practices this?
- 📝 What is an overview for how protestants tend to regard progress in the spiritual life?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian epistemological views on scientific skepticism and the epistemic value of eyewitness testimony?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian views on alien appearances and abductions?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for speaking in tongues for deliverance and spiritual warfare?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian beliefs on the current state and location of Old Testament saints?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for distinguishing between spiritual gifts and church offices?
- 📝 What is an overview of arguments for and against the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus?
- 📝 How do Cessationists distinguish between miracles and spiritual gifts? What is the biblical basis for such discernment?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian beliefs on the essential features and functions of an Apostle?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the 'animal cruelty' argument for veganism?
- 📝 What is the difference between a missionary and an apologist when it comes to proselytizing for the Christian faith?
- 📝 What is the basis for saying Christians and Muslims worship the same God?
- 📝 What is the meaning and origin of bridal veils in Christian weddings?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for "Love God and do whatever you please"?
- 📝 What is the purpose and meaning of the Christian Flag?
- 📝 What is the origin of the Christmas tree and is it accepted in all Christian traditions?
- 📝 What is the basis for the claim that the entire New Testament can be reconstructed apart from original and copied manuscripts?
- 📝 What is the basis that many mainstream Christian groups justify labeling groups like the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses as Non-Christians?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for identifying the Lazarus Jesus raised from the dead and the Lazarus in the story of the rich man and Lazarus?
- 📝 What are the differences between the roles of husband and wife in a Christian marriage?
- 📝 What is the Bible and Christian view on Astrology?
- 📝 What is the purpose and basis for the special garments issued to temple-going Mormons?