Proverbs Devotional 3.12.20

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 12

Reflect:

Proverbs 12:9

9 Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant,
than to act important but have no food. 

This is the first of twelve “better than” proverbs. These “better than” proverbs are a realistic way of looking at life. Here the teacher is making clear that reality is more important than appearances. In this case, actually, having wealth is more important than the illusion of wealth. It is not that reputation is unimportant to the teacher; it just is not as important as reality. Indeed, better still, the sage would say, would be to have wealth and also to be known to be rich. (Longman)

Pride is at the heart of this proverb. Remember, “Pride is a subtle sin. In fact, it has been said it is the only disease that makes everyone sick except the person who has it… and those infected with it have difficulty admitting it.” (Max Anders) 

The main point is this: it is way better for us to live humbly within the reality of our circumstances than to act as if we have more than we actually do. A humble heart has no room for ego or pride or arrogance. The cure for pride is to follow Jesus’ advice to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Matt. 22:37-39) Doing so takes the focus off ourselves and place it where it should be—on God and on helping others. 

Respond: 

Are there ways that ego—pride—has permeated your life? Ask God to reveal those ways and then repent. Determine to love God and others as He would have you love them. 

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: