What is an overview of Christian spiritual practices for cultivating and increasing love over time?
Some things Christians should are universal because they are simply biblical, while other may be more tuned to a particular denomination.
Common denominators are prayer, contemplation and study of God’s Word.
Biblical based things all need to do in order to grow in love of God are as follows:
- If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. - John 14:15-16
- Prayer and Contemplation of God’s word in Sacred Scriptures.
- Follow Jesus’ example in all our daily endeavours put before us. Pray for our enemies. Jesus often searched for a secluded place to pray to the Father.
- Loving God and neighbour requires that we search and study the Scriptures. If we genuinely desire to grow in the love of God and neighbour, we need to understand what the Bible explains in growing in holiness and in love. Daily study is recommended by most denominations. Cultivating love means imitating Jesus and studying the Scriptures to understand his relationship to the Godhead.
Christians should also pray daily for the gift to love God.
Here is a simple example:
Father, please flourish my heart with genuine love that will benefit other people and me. Also, let the demonstrations of my love result to the glorification of your name. Let my love be selfless, impartial, truthful, and fruitful! For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. - Prayer to Love God
If we truly love God, we will trust in him always. We can pray to love and trust Jesus in all things as this litany shows:
Litany of Trust
From the belief that I have to earn Your love
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that I am unlovable
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the false security that I have what it takes
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute
Deliver me, Jesus.
From all suspicion of Your words and promises
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You
Deliver me, Jesus.
From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will
Deliver me, Jesus.
From anxiety about the future
Deliver me, Jesus.
From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past
Deliver me, Jesus.
From restless self-seeking in the present moment
Deliver me, Jesus.
From disbelief in Your love and presence
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being asked to give more than I have
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth*
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of what love demands Deliver me, Jesus
From discouragement
Deliver me, Jesus.
That You are continually holding me, sustaining me, loving me
Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings and transforms me Jesus
I trust in You.
That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You Jesus
I trust in You.
That You are with me in my suffering
Jesus, I trust in You.
That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church
Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your plan is better than anything else
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You always hear me and in Your goodness always respond to me
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked
Jesus, I trust in You.
That my life is a gift
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will teach me to trust You.s
As our relationship deepens with the Almighty, our trust and love of Our creator will naturally grow more profound.
In this YouTube video on how to develop a closer relationship with God, Pope John Paul II gives us 10 Habits to Grow Closer to God (St. John Paul II's 10 Habits to Grow Closer to God) Although directed towards Catholics some elements may be useful to other Christians.
Ten Pillars of Spiritual Exercises to grow in Holiness of Pope John Paul II:
- Cooperation with Grace
- Prayer
- The Holy Eucharist
- The Sacrament of Mercy (Confeession)
- Listening to God’s Word
- Proclaiming God’s Word
- Marian Devotion
- Family Life
- Work
- Suffering
The Reformation Scotland site gives us 5 Ways to Grow in Love for Christ
People often speak about spiritual growth, but what does it look like? Words and activities are easy. Love in the heart and in outward expression and obedience is what Christ looks for (Revelation 2:4; John 14:15). Love to Christ makes us want to be like Him. Where does that love come from? Love comes from love. Our love can be kindled and increased from His own love towards us. How do we grow in our love for Christ? He uses means such as prayer and the Word to strengthen this love. We must take time to consider deeply the Saviour and His love and seek to draw close to Him. Here are five ways in which Christ makes the flame of love in His people burn stronger and brighter.
In preaching on John 17:24, Robert Traill gives some clear and helpful advice on increasing our love for the Lord. Christ’s heart is set on having His people where He is. Surely, we ought to love Him in return. Most of those who lay claim to the name of Christian, think they make some conscience of loving Christ. They think it to be an entirely just debt and duty to Him and are ready to say with Paul, “If any man love, not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema, Maranatha” (1 Corinthians 16:22). But just as the love that Christ bears to His people, is not so well known and believed as it ought to be; so the love His people owe to Him, is not as well paid as it ought to be. Previously, we have considered 9 Ways to Demonstrate Your Love for Christ. In the following updated extract, Traill shows us five ways to increase in love for Christ.
Consider Christ and his Love
Believe Christ’s Love
This
Pray to Experience his Love
Kindle your Love from Christ’s Love
Let your Love Burn for Christ
Corey Sleep gives us 4 ways to deepen our relationship with God:
What does it look like practically to make sure that indeed our mind, soul, and heart are set on prioritizing God above all things?
Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37).
- Prioritizing the Bible
The Bible is the Word of God—his special revelation to us about who he is and what he has done. It is, in effect, God’s very words to us, his people, breathed out for our betterment, equipment, and sustenance (2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 8:3).
- Prioritizing Prayer
In my early university years, someone pointed out that “if you’re not talking to someone, you don’t have a relationship with that person.” It makes a lot of sense, and prayer is an awe-inspiring privilege to have a relationship with God that we all too often take for granted. How can we make it a priority?
- Prioritizing Community
God ministers to us through us
The Apostle Paul often compares the Church (all Christians) to a body of many different parts that are indispensable to one another, and in Ephesians 4 tells us that our growth into maturity is done through community. We cripple ourselves and stunt our spiritual growth if we are not in serious, Christ-centred fellowship and community.
- Prioritizing Mission
This one might come as a surprise to some, but I don’t think it should be. Love, defined biblically, is inseparable from action, and any action we take as believers should be to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), and so part of the mission of God. If we fail in being a doer as well as a hearer, we fail to prioritize God and his Word in our hearts, and so we have placed another god before him in our lives.
4 ways to transform & grow your relationship with God
