“Keep me the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 17:8

One of my favorite photographs is a picture of my son when he was three. His chubby cheeks beckon a momma’s touch, and his awkward smile echos the sound of “cheeeese…” But the best part about the photo is the image of the photographer in his eyes. . . the apple of his eye. Right smack in the middle.

That photograph has helped me visualize what it means to be the “apple of God’s eye.”

Right smack in the middle.

The object of His vision.

The Apostle Paul prayed a very important prayer for the Ephesians. It went like this:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and earth derive its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:14)

For years I believed that the most important prayer we could pray was, “Help me love you more, Lord.” It’s a prayer I prayed for decades, but lately, I’ve realized that this prayer still puts the focus on my ability, my work of love.

Rather than praying to love Him more, I think the better prayer is to pray for the Lord to help me know His love– just as Paul prayed. Because once we know beyond knowing that He loves us, we’re secure in His love and that changes you and me.

[tweetability]God’s love will change us forever.[/tweetability]

A new year is quickly approaching. It’s a time for reflection of the past year and resolutions and goals for the new. We often think of physical resolutions–lose weight, be more productive, read the Bible in a year . . .

But I wonder how different this year would be if we simply resolved to pray to know God’s love in new ways, wider dimensions, and deeper in our hearts past our heads. I’m hoping the Bite of Bread this week will get you on the right start to such a goal/prayer.

Choose one of these verses to memorize. Make one of these scriptures about God’s love for us one of your verses for 2015. Remember, His character is love. (1 John 4:8)

I’m reading with you and praying for you.

Grab your journal. (Did anyone get one for Christmas?)

Pour that hot tea or coffee. Light your candle. And read about how much He loves you.

Which verse will you choose to memorize?

With purpose beyond today,