"Love Always Perseveres (Endures Through Every Circumstance)"

By Daryl Byrd

“In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body.”—Ephesians 5:28–30 (HCSB)

“Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You.”—Psalm 143:8 (HCSB)

“But Ruth said, ‘Do not plead with me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you sleep, I will sleep. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.’”—Ruth 1:16 (NASB)

Father, You are our God, and we need you. We desire to walk in obedience to You. Lord, please build us up so we may never leave your presence. Teach us to truly surrender and, through our surrender to You, may our marriage be built up to reflect the love that You have graciously bestowed upon us. Your love perseveres, so we ask that You teach us to persevere in love in all manners and circumstances with one another. Lord, teach us to lay down our lives as You have laid down your life in love for the Church, and through that may we love each other as we love our own bodies. Lord, strengthen us in faith and, through that faith in You, may we be strengthened with endurance to persevere with each other regardless of the trials, circumstances, and tribulations that may come our way. Lord, we love You, and we give You all the glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.