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:
For October, I’d like you to simply read slowly through the entire proverb each day. Think about the verses that have stood out to you over this year, the things God has spoken to you about, and the wisdom that was revealed to you. Use this time as a summary review of our time together over the last nine months.
As you read the Proverbs, you’ll notice that they are comprised of different translations. My hope is that doing this will help you to read Proverbs afresh. Following the reading is a short prayer that sums up the proverb. God Bless!
Proverbs 7 (The Passion Translation)
Wisdom, Your True Love
Stick close to my instruction, my son,
and follow all my advice.
2 If you do what I say you will live well.
Guard your life with my revelation-truth,
for my teaching is as precious as your eye sight.
3 Treasure my instructions, and cherish them within your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “I love you,”
and to understanding, “You’re my sweetheart.”
5 “May the two of you protect me, and may we never be apart!”
For they will keep you from the adulteress,
with her smooth words meant to seduce your heart.
6 Looking out the window of my house one day
7 I noticed among the mindless crowd
a simple, naïve young man who was about to go astray.
8 There he was, walking down the street.
Then he turned the corner,
going on his way as he hurried on to the house of the harlot—
the woman he had planned to meet.
9 There he was in the twilight as darkness fell,
convinced no one was watching
as he entered the black shadows of hell.
10 That’s when their rendezvous began.
A woman of the night appeared,
dressed to kill the strength of any man.
She was decked out as a harlot, pursuing her amorous plan.
11 Her voice was seductive, rebellious, and boisterous
as she wandered far from what’s right.
12 Her type can be found soliciting on street corners
on just about any night.
13 She wrapped her arms around the senseless young man
and held him tight—
she enticed him with kisses that seemed so right.
Then, with insolence, she whispered in his ear,
14 “Come with me. It’ll be all right.
I’ve got everything we need for a feast.
I’ll cook you a wonderful dinner.
So here I am—I’m all yours!
15 You’re the very one I’ve looked for,
the one I knew I wanted from the moment I saw you.
That’s why I’ve come out here tonight,
so I could meet a man just like you.
16 I’ve spread my canopy bed with coverings,
lovely multicolored Egyptian linens spread
and ready for you to lie down on.
17 I’ve sprinkled the sheets with intoxicating perfume
made from myrrh, aloes, and sweet cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s get comfortable and take pleasure in each other
and make love all night!
19 There’s no one home, for my husband’s away on business.
20 He left home loaded with money to spend,
so don’t worry.
He won’t be back until another month ends.”
21–22 He was swayed by her sophistication,
enticed by her longing embrace.
She led him down the wayward path right into sin and disgrace.
Quickly he went astray, with no clue
where he was truly headed,
taken like a dumb ox alongside of the butcher.
She was like a venomous snake coiled to strike,
so she set her fangs into him!
23 He’s like a man about to be executed with an arrow
right through his heart—
like a bird that flies into the net,
unaware of what’s about to happen.
24 So listen to me, you young men.
You’d better take my words seriously!
25 Control your sexual urges and guard your hearts from lust.
Don’t let your passions get out of hand
and don’t lock your eyes onto a beautiful woman.
Why would you want to even get close
to temptation and seduction,
to have an affair with her?
26 She has pierced the souls of multitudes of men—
many mighty ones have fallen
and have been brought down by her.
27 If you’re looking for the road to hell,
just go looking for her house!
Respond:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the love and mercy You’ve shown me over the years. I’m grateful for Your protection, even the ways You protected me that I’m not even aware of. Thank You for this story of seduction. It reminds me of how easy it is to be enticed by sin. Help me to see it for what it is and to flee from it. I want to be like Joseph fleeing the embrace of Potiphar’s wife. I want to run from sin which, in all of its shapes and forms, does nothing but separate us from Your love found in Christ Jesus. I choose today to embrace You and to run to You with all of my being. Amen.
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 24:10
If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!