The Love Stories of the Bible Speak

Chapter 1 The Gift of Love

(Song of Solomon)

Prayer: Father, thank you for the divine gifts of love, romance, and marriage. Help us to remember that You created all of these treasures specifically for us. Guide us so that we treat them with respect and find great joy in them! Where we have strayed from Your perfect plan, repair our hearts and move us forward in forgiveness. Show us how to love our spouses with abandon. 

Chapter 2 Mercy and Restoration. Samson and Delilah 

(Judges 13-16)

Prayer: God of heartbreak, forgive me for the times when I have betrayed Your trust in me, and for the times when I have wounded others. Where I have been prideful and selfish, may my heart humbly return to You with repentance and obedience. If trust has been damaged in my marriage, grant us both the grace to commit to each other with renewed hope, for You are the God of restoration and new beginnings.

Chapter 3 The Original Love Story. Adam and Eve 

(Genesis 1-4)

Prayer: Gracious God, Lord of all love, help me to fully appreciate the beauty of Your original plan for humanity. Please open my eyes to the folly of chasing my own kingdom, thinking I know better than Your divine wisdom. Let those who seek marraige do so with reverence and humility, with a true commitment to know and be known. Wrap Your arms of protection around us and forgive us when we disobey. Increase our love for You, and our love for each other.

Chapter 4 A Bond of Trust. Joseph and Mary 

(Matthew 1: 18-2:23, Luke 2: 41-52)

Prayer: Loving God, please remind us of the beautiful lessons we see in the marriage of Mary and Joseph. For those who are married, or hope to be, help us in the midst of all our challenges to find our way to an "us". Show us how to die to self and operate as a team committed to caring for and esteeming each other. Comfort us in our loneliness, and in those times when we are apart.

Chapter 5 Marriage to a Monarch

(Esther)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help us to see that You are always working through our circumstances and our lives- even when our situations are less than the ideal we hope and pray for. May we find the courage to speak up in the moments we find ourselves in the midst of a difficult assignment. Give us the discernment to make our case with wisdom and humility and to trust You with the outcome.

Chapter 6 Second Chances

(Ruth)

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for working even when we cannot see Your Hand through our own pain and loss. Thank You for reminding us throughout Scripture that You are the God of second chances. Please help our eyes and hearts to be open to the evidence of Your work in the midst of our trials. Prompt us to give sacrificially to those in need in our lives, knowing that servanthood is what You call us to- and equip us to fulfill. May we cherish the gift of love.

Chapter 7 The Rebel and the Peacemaker. David and Abigail

(1 Samuel 24-25)

Prayer: Heavenly Father ,please gift us with Your wisdom and discernment in every challenge we face. Help us to be humble, but willing to step in and act to right a wrong. Please show us, Lord, how to make peace and bring harmony in the midst of chaos and injustice. Remind us that we are not powerless in the midst of trouble, that You equip and guide us. You are the God of second chances.

Chapter 8 Brothers in Arms. David and Jonathan

(1 Samuel 17-18:9, 19:1-7, 20:1-42, 23:15-18, 2 Samuel 1:22-27, 9:1-11)

Prayer: Lord, You bless us with the miracle of friendship. Help us to remember to cherish and celebrate it! Please open our hearts and our minds to the connection of companionship. Just as Your are our Faithful Friend, may we learn to be a steady confidant to others. Spur us always to put You and Your wondrous love at the center of friendships.

Chapter 9 Friendship in the Fire. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

(Daniel 1-3, Psalm 137, Jeremiah 29:1-11)

Prayer: Almighty God, help us to support our brothers and sisters when life is good and when it is trying. Spur us to be vulnerable and transparent so that we may find strength in our unity. May we sharpen and challenge each other to grow in our knowledge of- and commitment to- You. Guide us to inspire and embolden each other to stand in the face of trouble.

Chapter 10 Companions for the Journey. Paul and His Friends

(Ananias (Acts 9:1-19), Barnabas (Acts 9:26-30m 11:19-30, 15:1-12), Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-21, 18:24-26), Onesimus (Philemon)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the friends You send into our lives to help us navigate our journeys. Whether we stay close to home or travel the globe, may we take Your faithfulness and truth to everyone we meet. We are grateful for those who will walk the extra mile with us, pray for us and encourage us when we need it most. Please remind us to be that kind of friend to others, seeking the good and forgiving the bad. Help us to include all kinds of people in our lives and to pour into theirs Your love, grace and mercy.

Chapter 11 Job and His Friends

(Job)

Prayer: Lord God, grant me the strength to be a true friend to those in grief. Guard my heart and my tongue. Help me to sit in silence. Help me to look for Your paths and Your purposes in the midst of sorrow, and to be honest when those are hard to find. Teach me to be a voice of comfort to those who mourn.

Chapter 12 Friends for Eternity. Jesus and John

(Luke 5:1-11, Mark 3:13-19, Mark 9:38-40, Luke 9:51-55, 1 John 4:7-16, Mark 8:27-30, Matthew 26:36-46, Matthew 20:20-28, John 19:25-27, John 20:3-10, Revelation 1:10-18)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are our truest Friend. Help us to follow Your example of commitment, honesty, and compassion. May we be steadfast  in times of testing, and brave in times of trial. Help us to mature in Your, to grow in our ability and desire to care for others and to follow Your model of friendship and community. Thank you for displaying the greatest love of all by laying down Your life for ours.

Chapter 13 God's Unconditional Love For Us

(Hosea)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, than you for the precious gift of Your unending love. Help me to remember that nothing I have done or ever will do could begin to outweigh Your unlimited mercy and grace. Long before I existed, You knew all of my days, and loved me unconditionally and without reservation. May I rest in that immovable truth! Expand my heart to share Your love with others, selflessly and with great joy.