The measure of our love for others can largely be determined by the frequency and earnestness of our prayers for them.
Love is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and the Spirit is given in answer to prayer (Lk. 11:13). Love is the outworking of faith (Gal. 5:6), and faith is sustained by prayer (Mk. 9:24, Lk. 22:32). Love is rooted in hope (Colossians 1:4-5), and hope is preserved by prayer (Eph. 1:18). Love is guided and inspired by knowledge of the Word of God (Phil. 1:9; Jn. 17:17), and prayer opens the eyes of the heart to the wonders of the Word (Psm. 119: 18). If love is the path of fullest joy, then let us pray for the power to love “that our joy might be full!”
John Piper Desiring God, 1996, p. 153, Used by Permission, www.desiringGod.org.
