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
Proverbs 11:23-27
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 People curse the man who hoards grain,
but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.
27 He who seeks good finds goodwill,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
This passage is “framed” by verses 23 and 27. Those verses indicate that information regarding a “good” life is being offered.
How would you personally define a “good life”? What would it look like? What would it not look like?
In the Hebrew verse 27 uses words translated “seeks” and “searches” that describe someone who is eagerly and actively hunting for something of value. Everyone is seeking a “good” life. Why do so many not find it? Is a “good” life largely “good luck”? Is it largely circumstantial rather than an internal decision we make?
How much of experiencing a “good” life depends on what happens to you and how much depends on how much you correctly frame what happens to you?
Look at your hands. Close them in a fist. Now open them, palms up to heaven. What are you holding in your closed fist, believing it is essential to a good life?
Open your hands to heaven, as you do…ask God to help you live open hand/open heart to him.
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 31:8
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.