As I was praying and meditating this morning it occurred to me that it can be difficult to love God and our neighbors as ourselves if one does not love them self. How can one encourage another that they are loved and that they matter if they themselves do not feel loved or think that they matter or that they deserve it. I share this prayer that found me to remind me, heal me, encourages me that love begets love. May it bless you as it has blessed me. Blessed and Devine Spirit of love, I ask for and accept your forgiveness for anything I have done in violation of the law of love. I ask for and accept self-forgiveness for anything I have done to violate the presence of love. I forgive myself for all the times I have chosen fear instead of choosing love. I forgive myself for all the ways I have chosen anger instead of choosing to be loving. I forgive myself for all of the incidence where I have chosen guilt or shame or blame instead of choosing love. I forgive myself for holding on to thoughts and feelings that have blinded me to the presence of love. I forgive myself doubting, denying, avoiding, and resisting, the power of love in my life. I forgive myself for denying myself the joy of the presence of love. I forgive myself for anything I have done or not done in support of the belief that I was not worthy of love. Today I ask for and allow myself to experience love, to express love, to be loved and to remember that I am lovable. I offer myself total and unconditional forgiveness because I now recognize and understand I was the only thing that blocked, hindered, delayed and denied the fullness of the presence of love in every experience in my life. ~Iyanla Vanzant In Christ name I pray always giving thanks. Amen.

loving God heart, mind, soul, and strength pastor latonya