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 15
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 15 (Contemporary English Version)
A kind answer soothes angry feelings,
but harsh words stir them up.
2 Words of wisdom come from the wise,
but fools speak foolishness.
3 The Lord sees everything, whether good or bad.
4 Kind words are good medicine,
but deceitful words can really hurt.
5 Don’t be a fool and disobey your parents.
Be smart! Accept correction.
6 Good people become wealthy,
but those who are evil will lose what they have.
7 Words of wisdom make good sense;
the thoughts of a fool make no sense at all.
8 The Lord is disgusted by gifts from the wicked,
but it makes him happy when his people pray.
9 The Lord is disgusted with all who do wrong,
but he loves everyone who does right.
10 If you turn from the right way, you will be punished;
if you refuse correction, you will die.
11 If the Lord can see everything in the world of the dead,
he can see in our hearts.
12 Those who sneer at others don’t like to be corrected,
and they won’t ask help from someone with sense.
13 Happiness makes you smile; sorrow can crush you.
14 Anyone with good sense is eager to learn more,
but fools are hungry for foolishness.
15 The poor have a hard life,
but being content is as good as an endless feast.
16 It’s better to obey the Lord and have only a little,
than to be very rich and terribly confused.
17 A simple meal with love is better than a feast where there is hatred.
18 Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble,
but staying calm settles arguments.
19 Being lazy is like walking in a thorn patch,
but everyone who does right walks on a smooth road.
20 Children with good sense make their parents happy,
but foolish children are hateful to them.
21 Stupidity brings happiness to senseless fools,
but everyone with good sense follows the straight path.
22 Without good advice everything goes wrong—
it takes careful planning for things to go right.
23 Giving the right answer at the right time makes everyone happy.
24 All who are wise follow a road that leads upward to life and away from death.
25 The Lord destroys the homes of those who are proud,
but he protects the property of widows.
26 The Lord hates evil thoughts, but kind words please him.
27 Being greedy causes trouble for your family,
but you protect yourself by refusing bribes.
28 Good people think before they answer,
but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking.
29 The Lord never even hears the prayers of the wicked,
but he answers the prayers of all who obey him.
30 A friendly smile makes you happy,
and good news makes you feel strong.
31 Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it, you will be wise.
32 You hurt only yourself by rejecting instruction,
but it makes good sense to accept it.
33 Showing respect to the Lord will make you wise,
and being humble will bring honor to you.
Respond:
Father, help me walk in wisdom today. I want You to hear my prayers and answer me. I know that to walk the path of folly and determine what is right on my own is foolishness. I only hurt myself and those around me when I act in such ways. Forgive me for my folly. Strengthen me to walk wisdom’s path. I humbly come before You; I want to bring honor to Your name. I pray this in Jesus’ name. 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
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.