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 7
Reflect:
Proverbs 7:21-23 (NLT)
21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech
and enticed him with her flattery.
22 He followed her at once,
like an ox going to the slaughter.
He was like a stag caught in a trap,
23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare,
little knowing it would cost him his life.
Sexual temptation is one of the most devastating sins. We live in a time when sexual mores have loosened substantially. Adultery is glamorized in the movies and TV shows. Pornography is easily accessible. In short, we’re bombarded with sex.
Here the young man has been entranced with the woman’s smooth talk and he begins to melt like butter. The chemicals released in his body cloud his thinking, and he begins to yield to her seduction. He’s like the buck who’s caught the scent of a doe in heat, and he’s blind to everything around him. The buck, so captured by the doe’s scent, is oblivious to the cars zooming down the highway. He’s got to have her! So, across the road he bounds, only to be struck and killed by a passing vehicle. In the same way, many marriages have been wrecked because of sexual sins. It’s not worth it!
When tempted, we should flee like Joseph did when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. Yet sadly, many don’t do this. Instead, little by little, they begin to give their hearts to the other person until it’s too late!
As a first sergeant and as a pastor, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating effects of adultery. I could tell you story after story of lives that have been torn apart. Proverbs 7 makes it clear we’re to flee from sexual sin. Even though it was written long ago, I could use it today to describe the people I know who have fallen into the enemy’s trap.
Respond:
Flee from sexual sin. Don’t think you’re strong enough to even flirt with it because you’re not. In the end, it will pierce not only your heart but the hearts of those you care about as well.
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 29:18
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.