Proverbs Devotional 10.11.20

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 11

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 11 (Modern English Version)
A false bal­ance is abom­i­na­tion to the Lord,
but a just weight is His de­light.

² When pride comes, then comes shame;
but with the hum­ble is wis­dom.

³ The in­tegrity of the up­right will guide them,
but the per­verse­ness of trans­gres­sors will de­stroy them.

⁴ Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but right­eous­ness de­liv­ers from death.

⁵ The right­eous­ness of the up­right will di­rect his way,
but the wicked will fall by his own wicked­ness.

⁶ The right­eous­ness of the up­right will de­liver them,
but trans­gres­sors will be taken by their schemes.

⁷ When a wicked man dies, his ex­pec­ta­tion will per­ish,
and the hope of un­just men per­ishes.

⁸ The right­eous is de­liv­ered out of trou­ble,
and the wicked comes in his place.

⁹ A hyp­ocrite with his mouth de­stroys his neigh­bor,
but through knowl­edge the just will be de­liv­ered.

¹⁰ When it goes well with the right­eous, the city re­joices;
and when the wicked per­ish, there is shout­ing.

¹¹ By the bless­ing of the up­right the city is ex­alted,
but it is over­thrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹² He who is void of wis­dom de­spises his neigh­bor,
but a man of un­der­stand­ing holds his peace.

¹³ A tale­bearer re­veals se­crets,
but he who is of a faith­ful spirit con­ceals the mat­ter.

¹⁴ Where there is no coun­sel, the peo­ple fall;
but in the mul­ti­tude of coun­selors there is safety.

¹⁵ He who puts up a pledge for a stranger will suf­fer for it,
and he who hates being a pledge is se­cure.

¹⁶ A gra­cious woman re­tains honor,
but ruth­less men re­tain riches.

¹⁷ The mer­ci­ful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel trou­bles his own body.

¹⁸ The wicked works a de­ceit­ful work,
but to him who sows right­eous­ness will be a sure re­ward.

¹⁹ As right­eous­ness tends to life,
so he who pur­sues evil pur­sues it to his own death.

²⁰ Those who are of a per­verse heart are abom­i­na­tion to the Lord,
but such as are up­right in their way are His de­light.

²¹ Though be as­sured, the wicked will not be un­pun­ished,
but the pos­ter­ity of the right­eous will be de­liv­ered.

²² As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout,
so is a fair woman who is with­out dis­cre­tion.

²³ The de­sire of the right­eous is only good,
but the ex­pec­ta­tion of the wicked is wrath.

²⁴ There is one who scat­ters, yet in­creases;
and there is one who with­holds more than is right,
but it leads to poverty.

²⁵ The gen­er­ous soul will be made rich,
and he who wa­ters will be wa­tered also him­self.

²⁶ The peo­ple will curse him who with­holds grain,
but bless­ing will be upon the head of him who sells it.

²⁷ He who dili­gently seeks good pro­cures favor,
but he who seeks mis­chief, it will come to him.

²⁸ He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the right­eous will flour­ish as a branch.

²⁹ He who trou­bles his own house will in­herit the wind,
and the fool will be ser­vant to the wise of heart.

³⁰ The fruit of the right­eous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.

³¹ If the right­eous will be rec­om­pensed in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sin­ner.

Respond:

Father, thank You for the wise counsel of friends and fellow believers You’ve placed in my life to give me guidance and wise instruction. I pray I would always be willing to listen to their advice. Holy Spirit, I pray You guide and direct my path, and that You would speak to me through Your word, the circumstances of my life, and the people You’ve given me the privilege of living in community with. May my response always be a resounding “Yes!” to Your leading and guidance in every area of my life. I ask all of this in Your name, King Jesus. 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 27:1