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 27
Reflect:
Proverbs 27:17
17As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
This is a well-known proverb, and rightly so! It focuses on what matters most—a relationship with God and a relationship with others.
Oh, the blessings of having faithful friends! Around our church, we like to call them “Battle Buddies.” It’s someone to come alongside you and help you grow in Christ’s likeness. This is a relationship with others that is Christ-focused, reciprocal, and personal.
Our proverb ties nicely in with Hebrews 10:24-25 which says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NIV)
Both of these passages remind me of what Paul Tripp says, “We were NOT created to be independent, autonomous, or self-sufficient…. We were made to live in a humble, worshipful, and loving dependency upon God and in a loving and humble interdependency with others.”
Our proverb and our passage from Hebrews make it clear that God is inviting us to build, maintain, and enjoy strong and healthy friendships; the kinds of friendships we find described in the Bible. These are the kinds of strong and healthy friendships God is inviting us to build, maintain, and enjoy.
Respond:
Take time to think about the relationships God has given you. Thank God for those relationships. Then do the work of developing faithful friendships. It’s worth it. Never give up the work God is wanting to do in your life; it’s too important. And let’s do that work together.
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.