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 10:11
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
The mouth is a powerful thing. What comes out of it can be a great source of life or source of mischief and malice. For the righteous, the ultimate source of the fountain is the Lord. Yet here in this Proverb, we find this refreshing nourishment springing up in the life of the wise. The fountain of life; what a wonderful way to describe God’s goodness flowing out of his people!
There are several splash parks in Wichita. During the summer, they’re packed with children wanting to escape the summer heat. It’s quite a sight to see as cold water shoots up into the air and cascades back to the ground, splashing all over little ones excitedly leaping in its refreshing coolness. That’s the kind of picture the Proverb is painting for us.
The words we speak are powerful. James reminds us that the tongue, petite as it is, if used wrong, it can set a forest ablaze (James 3). It is vitally important that we understand that what comes out of our mouths matters! What comes out of our mouths is also revealing. Remember, the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. So if we want good stuff coming out of our mouths, then we have to guard the kind of thoughts that go into our hearts. Paul understood this. That’s why he urged believers to watch what was coming out of their mouths. It may take some work to change what comes out of our mouth, but we can do it! Our words should be wholesome and helpful for building up others according to their needs (Ephesians 4:29-30).
I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: the longer we walk with Jesus, the sweeter we should be getting. Oh, that our mouths would be a “fountain of life” to a dry and weary world!
Respond:
Ask the Lord to help your words be a refreshment to those around you.
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 6:6
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise.