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 18
Reflect:
Proverbs 18:4
4 Wise words are like deep waters;
wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. (NLT)
Words matter. They are powerful. They can be used to build up or tear down. The fool’s speech can be shallow and muddy—even completely dry. The fool’s words are useless.
In this proverb, the words of the wise are described as life-giving words like water bubbling up from beneath the ground like a fountain of cool, clean, refreshing water! Wise words are like the kind of water that revives the soul. People are thirsty for this kind of water!
Jesus said, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” (John 7:37–39).
One of the beautiful things about being a believer is that our lives are like pipes allowing the love of Christ to flow out from us to others. This is good news because the world around us is like a desert where water is desperately needed. As one commentator puts it, “Drops of water are not enough. Little trickles of water are not enough. The world needs streams—rivers—of living water!” (Hale) That water can be found flowing out of the life of the wise—the believer—the one who has placed their trust in Christ! A wise person’s words are helpful and encouraging because they flow out of a life directed by the Spirit of God.
Respond:
If you’re a follower of Christ, you have been filled with the Spirit of God. Will you allow the Spirit of God to be like a bubbling brook for those who are thirsty?
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 23:4-5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.