A Prayer for Love and Presence
By Gem Fadling, host of Unhurried Living
Bible Verse:
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:28-31
Listen or Read Below:
These days, there are many reasons to feel either anxious and fearful, or distracted and checked out. I have never felt more inundated with contentious, divisive, and anxiety-producing rhetoric. The information age is not treating us well. Yes, there is much to “do” in response to what is going on culturally. But I also believe there is much to “be.” The world needs our grace-filled, wise, discerning, and loving presence now more than ever.
Love and presence may seem a bit lightweight for some. Some imagine they are about flitting about in a field of daisies. But I see them both as solid, weighty, life-giving, and necessary. The invitation to true love and real presence is not simplistic, but is at the core of any response we undertake. Let’s turn to what Jesus called the most important commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12)
I have heard these verses hundreds, if not thousands, of times, and because of this, their priority can be dimmed by sheer repetition. So it’s good to circle back and pause. What if instead of taking this truth for granted, we lean into it even more fully? What does a life built on this truth look like…feel like?
- Love God
- Love myself
- Love others
This is a life-giving flow. We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). We love God because of God’s love for us. Receiving God’s love, we then extend it to others (love your neighbor as yourself). Presence is necessary because each of these loves is experienced in the present moment. Practicing presence is far from lightweight. It is actually quite difficult because our brains want to rehearse the past or project into the future. But right here and right now is where love is experienced and embraced.
Is your confidence in the centrality of love and presence growing? I hope so.
Let’s Pray:
God, thank you so much for your presence with us right now. Your love continually surrounds us, and we choose to sink into this reality right now. Please help me remain aware of your love throughout each day. And may your love focus me so that I may be present to you, to myself, and to others. I deeply desire to love and serve others from an unhurried and present heart. Jesus, you modeled this for us as you interacted with so many people who needed to be seen and heard. I want to be like you. Love and presence are solid, foundational, and necessary. I receive your love now and hold it deeply within my heart. Thank you! Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/aapsky
Gem Fadling is a founding partner of Unhurried Living, Inc., a non-profit that trains people to rest deeper, live fuller and lead better. She is a trained Spiritual Director and a Certified Life Coach who trains people at the intersection of spiritual leadership and soul care. Gem is the co-host of the Unhurried Living Podcast as well as the author of Hold That Thought and co-author of What Does Your Soul Love? Her work has appeared in Propel Women and Our Daily Bread. To connect with Gem and find resources for soul care and leadership, visit unhurriedliving.com or find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Related Resource: Establishing a Routine of Rest
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!