Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 253 / 253

Marriage

Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is the apostle Paul’s description of love, written to the church in Corinth in a letter that turns from spiritual gifts to what he calls “the most excellent way.”

Lord, You are patient and kind with me every day. Teach the two of us to love each other that way. When I want to keep score, help me keep no account of wrongs. When I am proud or quick to anger, soften me. Let our home rejoice in the truth. Help us bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things, together with You. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is the apostle Paul’s description of love, written to the church in Corinth in a letter that turns from spiritual gifts to what he calls “the most excellent way.”

The Scripture

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Prayer points from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

  1. Thank God for His patience and kindness toward you
  2. Name one wrong you are still keeping account of, and ask for grace to let it go
  3. Ask Him to make you slow to anger and quick to listen
  4. Pray by name for your husband or wife, or the person you love
  5. Confess any envy, boasting or pride that has crept into your home
  6. Ask God for a love that bears, believes, hopes and endures through this season

About this verse

Paul wrote these lines to a church divided by quarrels and proud of its gifts. Just before them he says that speaking in tongues, prophecy, and even faith that moves mountains are nothing without love. Then he describes love not by how it feels but by what it does and refuses to do: it is patient and kind; it does not envy or boast; it is not rude or self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no account of wrongs. The passage was not written about marriage, but couples read it at weddings because it describes the love a marriage needs on an ordinary day: patience when someone is late, kindness after a long shift, a short memory for old hurts. No one loves like this all the time, which is why it becomes a prayer. A few verses later Paul says, “Love never fails.” This prayer is for husbands and wives, engaged couples, and anyone who wants to love the person closest to them better.

When to pray this prayer

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