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 14
Reflect:
Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
This proverb contrasts the difference between the wise woman and the fool, the one who builds up her house and the one who tears it down. Remember that Proverbs was written as an instruction book for young men; here, we see the father urging his son to look for a wise woman. Women, in turn, are encouraged to be the kind of women that build up rather than tear down. Of course, her husband also shares in the responsibility for “building their house.”
The word “build” has a sense of making something by combining materials and parts. Think of a building being built from the ground up. A foundation has to be built first, and if it’s not done right, everything that is built on it will eventually come tumbling down. It takes a lot of work to get the foundation right for building. It’s not something you just do as an afterthought. It takes lots of dirt work. Sometimes it is months before concrete is even thought about being put down. Then the walls have to go up. Decisions need to be made, like the kinds of exterior materials to use. Either brick, siding, stucco, or some combination of the two. And we can’t forget about the roof. It is just as important. It’s got to be designed to withstand the harsh summer and winter elements. It’s designed to protect the occupants from exposure to rain or the blistering sun. Build the building right, and you’ll have a warm and inviting place to escape the outside elements.
So what’s my point? If we’re going to have marriages that can withstand the cultural elements, marriages that are built and rooted in Christ, then we’re going to have to put in the hard work to build strong and lasting marriages! Being married to a godly woman (or husband) is one of life’s greatest blessings. But being together can be miserable if you let the relationship deteriorate! The wise woman (or man) will do what they need to be done to ensure their family flourishes; the foolish one just lives in a way that causes it to deteriorate.
Respond:
Determine how you’re going to live. Ponder the good that comes from doing the work to build your family up. Choose today to do the good! Now get busy and do the hard work of building up your spouse, your family, and your community for the glory of God.
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 3:5,6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.