Banish any self-love so that I can be sincere in my walk with you.

The finest bread hath the least bran, the purest honey the least wax,

 and the sincerest Christian the least self-love 

~~Anne Bradstreet 

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

Quality always matters. It is timeless. From Anne Bradstreet’s seventeenth-century world she describes the defining qualities of bread and honey—and sincere Christ followers. And the quality of a Christian, both then and now, has not changed—a sincere believer has the least self-love.

This rubs against our “me-first” culture. Many people live as though their actions happen in a vacuum. They do what they want to do, and their self-love leaves devastation in their wake.

Christians are not immune. While a healthy self-image is certainly important, it is unhealthy to love ourselves more than we love God, more than we love our family, or more than we love our closest friends. Our Savior wants to be first. If we love him more than we love ourselves—really, truly, sincerely—then loving others will come naturally.

Self-love will drive others away; God-love will bring others closer to you, and to God through your example.

Prayer for Meditation

Banish any self-love so that I can be sincere in my walk with you.

Scripture for Meditation

You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22 

Music for Meditation

Loving God, Loving Each Other

 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com