"Love Is Not Proud"

By Regan Hershey

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”—Proverbs 15:1 (NASB)

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:5–11 (NIV)

Lord, thank You for my spouse and the beautiful gift of marriage. We pray that through this relationship, we would be reminded every day of the heavenly marriage between You and Your bride, the Church. We ask that You rid us of our arrogance, selfishness, and pride so we can love each other as Christ loved and died for the Church. We ask You to sanctify us, continually making us more like Christ, who "did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, but rather made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant." Please clothe us in this deep, all-consuming, sacrificial humility. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.