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 1
Reflect:
Proverbs 1:8-9
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
Oh, the value of listening to sound correction and instruction—they’re the virtues the writer wants us to grab ahold of. Throughout the first nine chapters of Proverbs, we’re called to listen.
Listening requires a choice. In the case of this proverb, it’s parents giving correction and instruction to a young child. The child has a choice to make: will they listen or will they think they know best and do what they want to do? You hear people often joke, “Yeah, he’s all of 15, but he’s got life all figured out!” Sadly, it’s not only children who live this way, but adults do it too! Yes, there is a choice to be made and ultimately it’s between pridefulness or humility.
Humility is what’s valued. Why? Because it will keep you from making dumb and foolish mistakes. Many times it’s our stubborn pride that gets us into trouble. Humility can keep us from walking the wrong path. Humility helps us to live life as God intended it to be lived—the good life! And yet, I’ll freely admit, humble pie can be hard to swallow! It’s hard for all of us to admit we need correction or instruction and that we don’t have all the answers. But if we can humbly let go of our pride, there’s great reward for us in the end!
If we choose to allow God and others to speak into our lives—let them shape us into the people God has called us to be—then humility becomes like a beautiful piece of jewelry that adorns our body. That’s right! The choice to humbly listen to instruction and correction enhances one’s attractiveness and produces command and respect. It’s a beautiful thing to see.
Respond:
Is there something the Lord is trying to correct in your life? Are you refusing to listen to His instruction? If so, stop, repent, and humbly listen to His correction and instruction. Decide today to walk the path of wisdom. Let humility adorn you today.
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 16:2
All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.