Advent is the four weeks of excitement and expectation that culminates with Christmas. Each week focuses on a unique theme, with the last week traditionally highlighting love. Love is the essence of the Gospel. God loves us beyond measure and calls us to love others as He has loved us. Let’s explore the theme of love through the lens of scripture and create some breath prayers for love to enhance your celebration of this season.

What is Love

Love is an unclear word in English. We love our spouses, children, church family, pets, random things we see on social media, favorite hobbies, and chips and queso. Although I may love chips and queso, that’s not the same as loving my husband, and that’s not the same as how God loves us.

Two primary Hebrew and one Greek word comprise most of the word “love” in our English Bibles. Together, these words appear 627 times in the Bible!

Love in the Old Testament 

Ahavah (אַהַב) in Hebrew encompasses love in all its dimensions—affections, will, and actions. It is also translated as beloved, dearly loved, friend, loved, and loving. Khesed (חֶסֶד) is a bit harder to decipher, as it packs several ideas into one word. The concepts of generosity, goodness, kindness, loyal love, affection, enduring commitment, and everlasting love are all embodied in this single word. It’s about deep personal care.

Love in the New Testament

Agape (ἀγάπη) is a Greek word from the New Testament. It wasn’t a common Greek word, and its definition is derived from Christ’s life and teachings. Agape is a generous, self-giving love that reflects God’s character.

The Bible demonstrates that love is active, selfless, and sacrificial.

The Bible demonstrates that love is active, selfless, and sacrificial. It’s the chief test of Christian discipleship and one of the Fruits of the Spirit.

When Jesus was asked about the most important command, he quoted from Deuteronomy 6, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” But he added to this by quoting Leviticus 19, saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving others is not a suggestion; it’s a command.

Love is not a feeling. Love is an action. It’s about seeking the well-being of others. This generous love reflects God and does not expect anything in return.

Jesus constantly helped and served others; he actively moved towards sinners and the forgotten members of society to show them love.

Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. He gives us life. We don’t have to clean ourselves up to receive his love. The cleaning up happens because of his love. It’s a natural response to being loved and made whole.

Jesus came to earth to demonstrate to us what love is. When Jesus died, he stated, “It is finished.” In other words, My work is done, and God’s love has been delivered for all through my sacrifice.

Loving our neighbors, even our enemies, as Jesus commands, does not come naturally to us. We have to be provoked to love. God’s love for us flows naturally from him.

God’s unrelenting perfect love spurs us on to love others.

We begin to change our behaviors by surrendering ourselves, our ego, our pride, and our hate to God and actively choosing to treat others with love. God’s unrelenting perfect love spurs us on to love others.

Breath Prayers for Love

Breath prayers are simple, short prayers that accompany your breathing rhythm. They are a way to keep in touch with and show reverence to God at any moment throughout the day. Here are a few breath prayers inspired by scripture for this Advent season, centered around love.

Inhale: I love You, Lord
Exhale: with all my heart, soul, and strength.

Based on Deuteronomy 6:5: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

If you’re struggling to love God, use this prayer to ask God to transform your heart, soul, and strength. 

Inhale: Help me love my neighbor
Exhale: as I love myself

Based on Mark 12:29-31: Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Inhale: As You have loved me
Exhale: I will love others

Based on John 13:34-35: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Inhale: God, thank you for demonstrating your love
Exhale: Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice

Based on Romans 5:8, God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Inhale: God, you are love
Exhale: help me to love others

Based on 1 John 4:8-11: Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another

Inhale: Father, thank you,
Exhale: for your compassion, grace, patience, love, and faithfulness

Based on Exodus 34:6: The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

In the fourth week of Advent, we are called to embrace love. Not the temporary feeling that the Christmas season may bring, but an active, selfless, and sacrificial love that puts others first and reflects God’s characer. As we celebrate Advent, let’s reflect the unrelenting love God has shown us by extending it to others, fulfilling the greatest commandments, and bearing witness to our identity as disciples of Christ.