I believe that the Lord asks us to love one another because we don’t know how difficult we ourselves can be. We critique and accuse each other, not acting in love but often forcefully and out of a need for control. Then, we become guarded and distrusting of people and act surprised when people act the same in turn. God blesses us with people in our lives and those who are strangers that offer us love.
I ask that the Lord help us to love one another. I pray for truth, discernment, and transparency in my relationships and that I treat people how I would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). I pray that they demonstrate a greater love for me than I have shown that I may learn how to love even more. May we not keep a record of wrongs but forgive each other. Help us oh Lord to learn how to communicate with one another, being slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger (James 1:19). I pray for those people in my life who are guarded and distrusting, that God may heal their hearts and teach them to trust and love others, loving as His Word teaches us: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New International Version (NIV) 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.