Prayer and Proverbs - Day 18 of 31

Read Proverbs 18.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10 ESV)

May the words found in Psalm 61:1-4, 8a (ESV) guide your prayers to the Lord, your strong tower, today:

Hear my cry, O God,

    listen to my prayer;

from the end of the earth I call to you

    when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock

    that is higher than I,

for you have been my refuge,

    a strong tower against the enemy.

Let me dwell in your tent forever!

    Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! 

So will I ever sing praises to your name!

Amen.

To whom may you share this prayer with today? Who in your life needs the reminder that the Lord is our strong tower?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 17 of 31

Read Proverbs 17.

“Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.” (Proverbs 17:12 ESV)

You may recall a children's book series called “Choose Your Own Adventure.” Through the course of each book the reader is able to choose next steps for the story's characters. 

So imagine you come to the place in the story where you need to choose from 1) being attacked and ripped open by a bear or 2) meet a fool in his folly. Many would think following choice #2 as being the “safest” course. But God's Word suggests the contrary.

Look at it this way—being attacked by a bear is a single incident (whereas possbily fatal, in Jesus, there would be no eternal consequence). Meeting folly—which I speculate would find itself over a course of many days, weeks, or months—would entail following a destructive path away from God and His ways.

What fool and/or folly have you met or been following? Pray to God for His help in setting your feet back upon His path, avoiding folly, and equipping you by His Word and Spirit to follow Jesus' ways.

Thank also Jesus in prayer for saving us from folly, sin and death, for redeeming us in His work on the cross.

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 16 of 31

Read Proverbs 16.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3 ESV)

David wrote in Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV), “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

With your work (paid or unpaid), are you…

• frustrated?
• anxious?
• nervous?
• overwhelmed?
• losing focus?
• impatient?
• unsatisfied?
• all of the above? 

How may first delighting yourself in the Lord change your perspective? How would/does committing your work to the Lord connect with the desires of your heart being fulfilled (a reminder: that heart of yours transformed by Jesus’ love)? In what ways is God urging you to trust in Him as you wait for Him to act?

In prayer today, commit your work to the Lord.

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 15 of 31

Read Proverbs 15.

“The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. ” (Proverbs 15:33 ESV)

Let's look at Jesus' words on the subject of humility before honor:

“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, 'Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.' And he said to them, 'What do you want me to do for you?' And they said to him, 'Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.' Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?' And they said to him, 'We are able.' And Jesus said to them, 'The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.' And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-46 ESV)

We live in a fairly narcissistic world. Humility is skipped and honor is often sought first. The world has it backwards and even followers of Jesus can get sucked into the allure of being honored by others.

How have you been challenged by seeking honor before humility? What is Jesus saying to you on this matter? 

James and John were self-focused in their request of Jesus to do whatever they asked of Him. How does Proverbs 15:33 and what Jesus teaches shape your prayer requests to God?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 14 of 31

Read Proverbs 14.

“A man of quick temper acts foolishly...” (Proverbs 14:17b ESV)

James added, “...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” (James 1:19b ESV)

Quick temper?

Quick to listen?

Two-sides of the spectrum.

Where do you find yourself? 

What consequences have you experienced from being quick tempered? What are the benefits in your relationships when you are quick to listen? 

How do these two sides of the coin also play out when you are a witness of Jesus in your community?

Ask God in prayer today for His help in slowing down that temper and, at the same time, sharpening your listening skills.

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 13 of 31

Read Proverbs 13.

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (Proverbs 13:3 ESV)

James expanded on this teaching of guarding our mouth, taming our tongue: “...the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” (James 3:5b, 9-12 ESV)

How has it been going with you in guarding your mouth? Have your lips opened wide with ruin—whether for yourself or for the person you were speaking to?

James also wrote, “no human being can tame the tongue.” (James 3:8 ESV) So if we cannot tame our own tongue, how may we pray for the Spirit's help to guard our mouths? How may we seek the Spirit's wisdom in prayer—before and during conversations?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 12 of 31

Read Proverbs 12.

“Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25 ESV)

A good word from Jesus to remove your anxieties:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25-26, 31-32 ESV)

A good word from Jesus to make you glad:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

In prayer, let Jesus' words sink deeply into your heart. May the power of Jesus' good word remove your anxieties. May the power of Jesus' good word bring you gladness through whatever you are experiencing. In prayer, ask God to whom you may bring gladness with a good word, with the Word.

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 11 of 31

Read Proverbs 11.

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” (Proverbs 11:24 ESV)

Giving freely. Growing richer.

Withholding. Suffering.

Growing richer when giving freely may mean growing in wealth. God does bless some people with wealth so that they are able to give even more back to Him for the further spreading of His good news.

But it is certain that growing richer when giving freely will mean growing in your spiritual life, your closeness to God. Giving is our response to the many blessings He has given to us through Jesus. Giving freely is pleasing to God.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)

In Proverbs 11:24, we also see the consequence of not giving. Withholding will only produce suffering. Suffering can come in many forms. We are wired up by God to give as a worship response. So when we withhold, we go against our DNA, our identity in Christ. We experience joy when we do the will of God. Suffering will come as we carry our cross and follow Jesus. But undo suffering, as Solomon describes in this verse, comes when we rebel and choose a different path other than God's.

If you'd like to digger deeper on this subject matter, unpack the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. What is taught about giving freely and withholding in that account?

Where do you find yourself in this? Through prayer, how is God leading you to give freely?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 10 of 31

Read Proverbs 10.

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (Proverbs 10:12 ESV)

Let's also look at Jesus' words:

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:32-36 ESV)

What strife are you experiencing in life? How may love—namely, the love of Jesus given to you and found in your heart—cover the offenses you are either experiencing and/or dishing out to another?

How may you love with no strings attached, expecting nothing in return? How is God calling you to be merciful as Your Father is merciful to you?

How may all of these questions impact your prayer life today and the days to come?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 9 of 31

Read Proverbs 9.

There are two voices we hear.

The first is the wisdom of God:

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

To him who lacks sense she says,

'Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed.

Leave your simple ways, and live,

and walk in the way of insight.'” 

(Proverbs 9:4-6 ESV)

What would it mean to your life to walk in the way of God's wisdom and insight? What would be the consequence and/or benefit to your life and to the lives of those around you?

The second is folly:

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

And to him who lacks sense she says,

'Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'” 

(Proverbs 9:16-17 ESV)

What would it mean to your life to walk in such ways of folly, thievery and secrecy? What would be the consequence and/or benefit to your life and to the lives of those around you?

Towards which voice will you follow today?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 8 of 31

Read Proverbs 8.

“Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.” (Proverbs 8:33 ESV)

To hear instruction so that we may be wise. What does that look like?

First, what are the stumbling blocks that keep one from hearing instruction?

• Pride 
• Self-righteousness 
• A narcissistic “my way or the highway” attitude 

What else would you add?


Second, what are the things that help one hear instruction?

• Humility 
• Patience to actually listen 
• A respect-for-others attitude 

What else would you add?



How may you pray to God today regarding wisdom? What things in your life would you like God to remove which keep you from hearing instruction so as to be wise? What attitudes, attributes, and posture do you need from God so as to better hear instruction, especially the instruction that comes from the Word of God?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 7 of 31

Read Proverbs 7.

“Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call insight your intimate friend.” (Proverbs 7:4 ESV)

What does it mean to equate the wisdom given from God to that of a sibling? What would (does) that relationship look like in your life?

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV)

What does it mean to look upon the insight given from God, the Holy Spirit, as an intimate friend? What would (does) that relationship look like in your life?

“...God's love has been poured into our hearts through the 

Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5b ESV)

How may God's Word and the questions above influence your prayer to God today?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 6 of 31

Read Proverbs 6.

“There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV)

Consider these things in prayer today. Do you fall into any of these sinful traps? If so, how is God calling you to repent and turn back to Him?

As you follow Jesus, in response to His love for you, how may God direct your actions to that of love as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)?

“Love is patient and kind; 

love does not envy or boast; 

it is not arrogant or rude. 

It does not insist on its own way; 

it is not irritable or resentful; 

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, 

but rejoices with the truth. 

Love bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.”

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 5 of 31

Read Proverbs 5.

“And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her [a forbidden woman], and do not go near the door of her house.” (Proverbs 5:7-8 ESV)

Whether it is being tempted by a forbidden woman, a deceptive man, a distructive addiction, a sin only you know about, Proverbs 5 descriptively lists the consequences of our sinful choices in verses 9-14:

Verse 9 - “lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless” - In this sinful choice you no longer honor God, your family, your Christian community, your congregation. In this choice you give of yourself to all others.

Verse 10 - “lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner” - In this sinful choice you give up your strength and everything you've lived for in the faith to things/people other than God.

Verse 11 - “and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed” - Probably not what you were hoping for when you stepped into that sin, but this is the outcome, the consequential truth.

Verse 12-13 - “and you say, 'How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.” - Here your unteachable, prideful, arrogant, defiant heart laments.

Verse 14 - “I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.” Nothing more to say.

Right now you're thinking, “Hey Craig, thanks for the bleak picture!”

There is good news. :)

In Jesus, as you were chosen by Him, Paul wrote, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 ESV)

See Jesus speaking to a woman caught in adultery, “Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'”

Pray today that you will choose well. Pray that you willl make wise choices which honor God and your loved ones. At the same time, thank Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. Praise our Jesus in whom we find no condemnation...but salvation.

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 4 of 31

Read Proverbs 4.

“Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” (Proverbs 4:26-27 NLT)

Jesus said, “Follow me.” (Matthew 4:19) This is the key to walking on a straight and safe path. This is the key for not getting sidetracked. Following Jesus keeps our feet from following evil.

What is good news is that Jesus even provided us with helps for staying on His path!

• In our baptism, we were made His. By Jesus' work on the cross and His gift of faith, He himself placed us on the straight and safe path. 
• In the Lord's Supper, we receive forgiveness of our sins and turn our lives in repentance back to Jesus' path. 
• In the Holy Spirit we were provided a Helper. “...the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV) 
• In the Word, we hear the voice of God redirecting us back to Him.
• In the company of other followers of Jesus, we are given each other to love and help one another in not getting sidetracked and following evil. We remind each other of Jesus and what He did for us. 

Thank God in prayer today for these many gifts. Pray that you and your brothers and sisters in Christ will mark out that straight and safe path for your lives, that you will follow not evil but Jesus alone.

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 3 of 31

Read Proverbs 3.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ” (Proverbs 3:5 ESV)

Things are not always as they seem. We think a door is closed and in truth it is not. We fail to see the big picture.

Sometimes we dream of something, something God-focused, and the dream does not come to fruition...in our timing. Sometimes we need to wait on God's timing. Sometimes the answer is, “Yes, but not now.” This can be frustrating especially in our culture which seeks immediate gratification. We don't like to wait.

Jesus, when sharing the parable of the four soils, stated, “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15 ESV)

Patience is key to trusting in the Lord. Practicing patience encapsulates the whole notion of not leaning on our own understanding. Patience tells us to not focus on what may or may not be happening around us, but to look forward to that which we hope in the Lord.

A few years ago I dreamed of a new ministry start. It was completely Jesus-mission-focused. But only now is it showing legs. God's answer, years back, was, “Yes...but not now.” As I reflect, I can see the wisdom in God's plan and timing. I pray that I will continue to trust in the Lord, even in the other trials and challenges I am facing and will experience of which I do not understand.

How about you? How is God asking you to trust in Him? How is God asking you to be patient?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 2 of 31

Read Proverbs 2.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6 ESV)

Read the verses that follow verse 6 in chapter 2 of Proverbs. What benefits do you find that we receive in the wisdom that comes from God?

And how does God's mouth speak to us but through His readily accessible Word—the Holy Bible!

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)

What is your plan to be in His living and active Word each day?

Prayer and Proverbs - Day 1 of 31

Read Proverbs 1.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7 ESV)

As I pray today, I sit in fear of the Lord.

In fearing, I revere the Lord.

“The Lord...the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.” 

(Isaiah 40:28b ESV)

In fearing, I know He knows it all much more than me.

In fearing, my pride is set aside.

In fearing, I am humbled.

So in this fear of the Lord, as led by Proverbs 1, I pray for: wisdom, discipline, insight, instruction, guidance which come from Him.

By praying for these things, I follow Jesus who in His human nature, “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52b ESV)

What does Proverbs 1 lead you to pray for today?

Starting tomorrow...Prayer and Proverbs

Beginning tomorrow, 5/7/15, you are invited to join me for a 31-day devotional/meditative journey of...

Personally, for the last year, the spiritual discipline of prayer has been a weaker point in my spiritual life. I've completed writing devotions through all of the books of the New Testament and am looking forward to jumping into the Old Testament in this way. 

My hope is to grow in my prayer life, grow in greater awareness of Jesus' ever presence in our lives, and grow in wisdom. I pray this will be accomplished during this 31 day journey for me and for whomever would like to join me. 

inspiration from Revelation - Day 10 of 10

Read Revelation 22:8-21.

“The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17 ESV)

Here in Revelation we have a “Come-to-Jesus Moment.” Most often this phrase is used in the context of a person needing to get their act together and finally making that commitment or recommitment to something important.

This “Come-to-Jesus Moment” is something different. 

Anyone can come to Jesus. 

Anyone who is thirty. 

Anyone who doesn't have his/her act together. 

Anyone with addictions. 

Anyone with hurts. 

Anyone with hang-ups. 

Anyone with a regretful past. 

ANYONE!

May anyone and everyone “take the free gift of the water of life” that is found in Jesus alone!

Will you come to Jesus today? Who are you praying for that they'd come to Jesus?


“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21 ESV)

inspiration from Revelation - Day 9 of 10

Read Revelation 3:20-22.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

As you look all throughout Scripture, it is always God who initiates. He doesn't stand on the other side of the door passively waiting for us to be “enlightened” enough on our own to open that door to Him. We couldn't even open it or know where the door is if not for Him revealing Himself to us.

“I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Right here...this is the readily accessible presence of Jesus, the Sacramental Jesus, who enters our world with His grace, love and forgiveness, of whom we can be with 24/7/365.

What does the Sacramental Jesus mean to you? Will you let Him in?

inspiration from Revelation - Day 8 of 10

Read Revelation 3:14-19.

“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17 ESV)

Is this where you are at? Has your wealth, prosperity and/or social status clouded your need for God?

Even if those identifiers are true in your life, God's Word states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 ESV). Emphasis on “all”!

You are in need of Jesus just as much as the person who begs on the street. Without Jesus, despite whatever “privileges” of life you've received, you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.

We all need Jesus. In what ways have you deceived yourself with lies of self-reliance?

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19 ESV)

How is God calling you to be zealous in your faith in Him and to repent of your pride?

inspiration from Revelation - Day 7 of 10

Read Revelation 3:7-13.

“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8 ESV)

For what they were experiencing, the Church in Philadelphia needed these words of assurance from Jesus. What do these words mean to you? What does it mean to you that Jesus has set an open door for you—one which no one is able to shut?

Jesus also assured the Church in Philadelphia, “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.” (Revelation 3:12a ESV)

More on conquering...

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39 ESV)

How does being even more than a conqueror help you face the challenges of life? How may you assure another's faith today?

inspiration from Revelation - Day 6 of 10

Read Revelation 3:1-6.

“Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.” (Revelation 3:2 ESV)

The words that followed, “Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.” (Revelation 3:3a ESV)

Today is the time to arise! 

Today is the time to repent and turn back to God! 

Do this today as we do not know the time of Jesus' return.

What wake up call is the Spirit giving you today? Or has been giving to you over an extended period of time?

Whether it is this weekend or next, go to the Lord's table. Receive His presence. Receive the forgiveness of your sins, freely given to you, as found through the bread and the wine, the body and the blood of Jesus. What an amazing, tangible, presence-of-Jesus gift He has given to us in this sacrament!