Proverbs Devotional 7.21.20

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 21

Reflect:

Proverbs 21:4

⁴ The lamp that guides the wicked—
haughty eyes and an arrogant heart—is sin.

This proverb gets right to the point. The lamp in this proverb is not the lamp that God wants us to use to guide our paths. This lamp guides the wicked, those who are filled with pride and arrogance.

Let’s define these terms:

The phrase “haughty eyes” refers to overbearing pride by taking a superior attitude toward others.
An “arrogant heart” refers to a sense of unwarranted importance. And here’s the kicker: it flows out of “haughty eyes!”

God views both of these as sin. He hates it, He can’t tolerate it, and it’s all detestable to Him. (See Psalms 101:5; Proverbs 6:16–17; 30:13) Yet to the wicked, pride is a lamp that guides them. Pride becomes their very life. In their pride they’re blinded, and rather than walk the path that leads to life, they walk a path that leads to their own destruction without even realizing it. They have placed their ladder on the wrong wall!

There is a better way: God’s way! He has revealed Himself to us in His written word and in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, for the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ! (See Colossians 2:2-10)

Jesus, as revealed in the scriptures, is the light of the world, He’s the Word made flesh. Whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness, but instead, will have the light of life. (See John 8:12) God’s Word to us is a lamp for our feet, and a light for our path. (See Psalm 119:105) God’s word is a light that shows us the way to live so we won’t stumble as we walk. It reveals what’s truly important in life and what matters the most—and that’s a relationship with God and a relationship with others. Listen, we cannot reach our destination without walking in the light of Christ. The Bible—God’s Word to us—is the light that guides us and keeps us on the right path.

Respond:

Take time and think about your own life right now. Are there areas where pride’s lamp is guiding you down the wrong path? Thank God for revealing it to you today! One way we can turn off pride’s lamp is by repenting and turning to walk in the light 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 18:24