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 15
Reflect:
Proverbs 15:17
17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox with hatred.
If you’ve ever been in a bad relationship or you’ve been around a bad relationship, you know the truth of this proverb. No amount of money, possessions, or creature comforts will ever be enough to bring happiness. There is nothing that can compare with being in a loving relationship.
Max Anders says, “Love is the essential ingredient of any good relationship—with God, with family, or with friends.” You know he’s right because love is the highest virtue, it’s the bedrock to any relationship. Love can get us through times of want, loneliness, uncertainties, and a host of other complicated things we go through this side of Heaven. Material wealth won’t do it—it will all one day fade away, and just like the proverb teaches, it loses all its luster amidst hatred. It’s vitally important that we pursue what is truly important—loving relationships.
Look at what the New Testament tells us about love… 4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) And 1 Peter 4:8 tells us to, “8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
Here’s a question for you: how are you doing at loving those God has brought around you?
We need to be mindful of these things. We can’t let other things creep in that will distract us from living life as God intended us to. Living outside His ways leaves the door open for us to pursue things that in the end, don’t matter, things that lead to us despising those who should matter the most to us, and in the end, opens the door for hatred to barge in and wreak havoc. Hatred leaves the door open to discontentment and when this happens everything seems worthless. Don’t do it – don’t allow hate to rule!
Respond:
Pursue loving relationships with God, family, and friends. Make it your highest priority! Jesus did, remember His top priority was to love God and people. (Matt22: 37-39) Genuine love is demonstrated in the practical, everyday interactions between people. What can you do today to help you to not get taken in by those who are not truly your friends? What can you do to love those God has placed in your life?
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.