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 25
Reflect:
Proverbs 25:14
14Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
I grew up in west Texas where it is dry and hot. It seems like we were always in a perpetual drought. When you would feel the wind begin to blow and see storm clouds forming in the distance, you’d get excited. Lawns would get a much-needed watering, ranchers and farmers would get excited, and the local lake would fill back up. People were excited the rain was on the way!
Yet, there were those times when the dark and ominous clouds would move right over us, the air so saturated with water, you could smell it. And then as quickly as the clouds rolled in, they’re gone without leaving a drop of rain. It would be so disappointing!
Palestine is dry and arid, probably much like west Texas. Most of the rain would come during windy thunderstorms. The people would have seen the same kind of scene described in the paragraph above as a promise of much-needed rain! You can bet they would have watched with anticipation and excitement as the clouds approached. Without a doubt, they would have felt the same disappointment, too.
The clouds and the promise of much-needed rain is a metaphor describing someone who publicly and boastfully makes a promise and fails to keep it. It serves as a warning for us to not make empty promises. It can also reveal a person’s heart. What is driving them to make such a promise? Is it pride, image management, self-importance? Empty promises are “lose/lose” situations for everyone involved.
Jude used the same metaphor to describe some false teachers when he said, “They are clouds with no rain, swept along by the winds. Like fruitless late-autumn trees—twice dead, barren, and plucked up by the roots!” (Jude 1:12 TPT) Clearly, we don’t want to live this way. We want to walk wisdom’s path.
Respond:
Our words matter! When we make a promise, we need to make sure we keep it. Weigh the words you use carefully. Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. If you make a promise, keep it!
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 28:13
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.