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Proverbs Devotional 7.26.20

By July 26, 2020July 28th, 2020Daily Devotional

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 26

Reflect:

Proverbs 26:14

14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns over in bed.

The idea of a door swinging back and forth on its hinges reminds me of one of the old westerns. The cowboy rides down the dusty old street, dismounts and secures his horse to the hitching post, walks up to the saloon, pushes the saloon doors open as he slowly walks in, then lets go of the doors. They squeak as they swing back and forth, the distance of the swing gradually decreasing until finally, the doors are back to their original aligned position. My bedroom door does the same thing. I can walk into the room and push it closed, and within a few seconds, the door as swung back open. If you’ve ever had a door like this, you know how frustrating it can be! As the house has settled, the door has shifted and it’s not plumb anymore. It’s as though it’s gotten used to being open, and inertia simply pulls it back to its original position.

The sluggard—the lazy person—is just like the door; they don’t like to get out of bed. Oh, they may move around and stir about, but it’s as if they are hinged to the bed. They’re bound to go back to their original starting place. Their minimal movement isn’t enough to inspire them to get out of bed and get busy.

Respond:

Don’t let your life be described as a door that swings back and forth on its hinges. Embrace all the opportunities God has given you today. Remember: one only receives the prize if they run to win, and so run with purpose in every step you take. Don’t just lay there in bed shadow boxing. No. Discipline yourself like an athlete. (See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

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 16:13

Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.

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