**Special Note** Devotionals in 2020 will go out every day. You are encouraged to read the chapter from Proverbs that corresponds with the date. Today we are reading Proverbs chapter 10. There is a link for you to read the Proverbs chapter online or you can read the chapter in your Bible. The devotionals will not follow the Sunday sermons.
Proverbs Devo 1.10.20
I. Prayer to enter the Lord’s presence:
Be still for a moment. “Lord, I give the day that is now past to you. It is yours. I give the day that is to come to you; help me to see where you are working and to join you there. Speak to me during these moments. I commit them and myself to you.”
II. Prayer of Confession:
“Lord, you are faithful to forgive me and cleanse me of my sin when I confess it to you. I confess my sin(s) of ______________. Thank you for forgiveness.” (1 John 1:9)
III. Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Choose to be thankful, speak out loud of what God has done.
“Thank you, Father, for _________________. Fill my heart and my mouth with gratitude throughout this day.”
IV. Scripture Reflection
Read: Proverbs Chapter 10
Reflect
Proverbs 10:4-5
4 Idle hands make one poor,
but diligent hands bring riches.
5 The son who gathers during summer is prudent;
the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.
Hard work and prudence go hand-in-hand. As well as “idle hands” and “sleep during harvest.” In these two proverbs we see a distinct contrast between two ways of living. One way leads to success and the other to poverty and dishonor.
The way to prosperity, according to Proverbs, is hard work. Work that’s not aimless but done with purpose and intention. To do something with diligence means to pay attention! To act with prudence is to act wisely—in other words, prudence is the care and good sense that someone shows when making a decision or taking action. Paying attention and prudence are traits of a disciplined person. One who is determined to live their life in agreement with God’s directives. One focused on walking with integrity—walking the path that is straight, right, and fair.
We’re called not to be lazy. We are not to sit there thinking about all the things we need to do, and then not doing them. A prudent person thinks about what they need to do and then gets up and gets busy.
Respond
Determine to work hard today. Put forth your best efforts in whatever it is you have to do today. Pay attention, act wisely, be disciplined. And, “23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.” (Col 3:23-24 CSB)
V. Prayer for others:
Pray specifically for the concerns of your life and the lives of others.
VI. Prayer of commitment:
“Lord God, I commit to love you with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind and to love my neighbor as myself. Empower me today to love you and others with everything that I am.” (Luke 10:27)
This Week’s Scripture Memory:
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.