Watch the video below by Steve McVey, Christian Religion Lie #80 “You need to pray to love Christ more” and my comments follow…
I‘m sure we’ve all prayed a prayer like this (I know I have!):
“God, help me to love you more”
With sincere hearts and a real desire to WANT to love Christ more. It’s because we have “the mind of Christ” that we sincerely want to Love God more.
And we see other Christians and think “they obviously love God more than I do”–which leads us to feeling inadequate and wanting more.
So the idea of praying to love Christ more seems like a good one…
But what does the Bible say?
1 John 4:19 says…
“We love because he first loved us.”
Only when we understand how much God loves us ALREADY — are we capable of loving Him back. It is our response to His great love that causes us to love God.
So if you want to love Christ more, simply focus on how much Christ loves you — you will automatically fall deeper and deeper in Love with Him.
God is always the initiator, and we are always the responder to His ways. And His ways are ALL Love.
What’s wrong with this lie?
This lie keeps you focused on yourself, and how much YOU love God (instead of focusing on God, the very source of your life). And it leads to…
- Feeling inadequate…
- Feeling like you’re less of a Christian than someone else…
- Feeling guilty because you think you should love God more…
- Feeling ashamed and condemned because you’re not “loving enough”…
When the reality is that you’re fine just the way you are. You’re just focusing on the WRONG thing. You’re focusing on yourself, on what you’re doing. Instead focus on what God has already done.
Try this instead to Love God more
Instead pray, “God can you please reveal to me how much you love me more and more each and every day?”
Then as He reveals His love for you each day, your love will grow equal to your understanding of how much He loves you. You will automatically fall deeper and deeper in love with God and surrender more into His will as your understanding of His love for you grows. Once again, stay focused on Him and He’ll take care of it ALL.
With Love 
Caleb
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