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 19
Reflect:
Proverbs 19:11
11 A person’s insight gives him patience,
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Patience is a mark of wisdom, while impatience reveals a person of folly. Think about the contrast between a volatile person and a patient person. You probably have a mental picture in your head right now. For me, “road rage” is what comes to mind; it combines impatience with a hot temper. Now think of a person of insight. Insight is the trait of judging wisely and objectively. A person of insight (understanding) takes time to think through situations. The more a person operates with insight, the more they will grow in wisdom, which causes them to grow in patience.
Wisdom and patience are wonderful virtues we all should desire to grow in. “The virtue which is indicated here is more than a forgiving temper; it includes also the ability to shrug off insults and the absence of a brooding hypersensitivity. It is the ability to deny to an adversary the pleasure of hearing a yelp of pain even when his words have inflicted a wound, of making large allowances for human frailties and keeping the lines of communication open. It contains elements of toughness and self-discipline; it is the capacity to stifle a hot, emotional rejoinder and to sleep on an insult.” (McKane, EBC, comments on verse 11)
Respond:
Here’s a test to see if you live with the virtue produced by insight and patience. It’s a simple question: are you able to overlook an offense? Really examine yourself and be honest. The answer to this question reveals a lot.
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 13:15
Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.