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 9
Reflect:
Proverbs 9:2-4
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls
from the highest point of the city,
4“Let all who are simple come to my house!”
This is Lady Wisdom’s invitation to come and dine. She has prepared an unbelievable banquet, and here’s the good news—it’s open to everyone! That’s right. She is sending out her servants to tell everyone they can come, find, and enjoy it for themselves. The choice is theirs to make.
Jesus tells a parable about the kingdom of God that sounds similar to wisdom’s banquet feast. ” …There once was a king who arranged an extravagant wedding feast for his son. On the day the festivities were set to begin, he sent his servants to summon all the invited guests, but they chose not to come. So the king sent even more servants to inform the invited guests, saying, ‘Come, for the sumptuous feast is now ready! The oxen and fattened cattle have been killed and everything is prepared, so come! Come to the wedding feast for my son and his bride!’ But the invited guests were not impressed. One was preoccupied with his business; another went off to his farming enterprise.” (Matthew 22:2-5 TPT)
With Jesus’ first coming, He was inaugurating the kingdom as He changed the hearts of men, one at a time. His kingdom is still like that banquet, and people are still called today to come and enjoy the feast. But sadly, many are too preoccupied to attend and enjoy the feast.
We live in the in-between time, the “already not yet” reality of God’s kingdom. Yes, His kingdom has been inaugurated and now we wait with anticipation for its consummation. We wait for the time when He will live among us, a time when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and eliminate death entirely. No one will mourn or weep any longer. The pain of wounds will no longer exist, for the old order has ceased.” (Revelation 21:4 TPT)
So now we wait. And as we wait, we can’t get discouraged; we can’t get preoccupied with the cares of the world. No, we have to be determined to lean in on the truth of the Gospel. The banquet is set before us, now let’s share in God’s gracious provision.
Respond:
Are you feasting on wisdom, or are the cares of the world occupying much of your time? Ask God to help you see the reality of His kingdom. Choose today to come, find, and enjoy walking in the wisdom of Christ.
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 10:9
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.