The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. (Proverbs 18:10, 11)
Mighty God, our Creator and our Father,
The constant spiritual battle as we live in this society is on what or whom are we going to rely. In what or whom are we going to place our trust. On what or whom are we going to base our security. Fundamentally, what or who is going to be our god.
Verse 11 in this proverb is so true. A sense of well being exists in us if we have sufficient money saved up for retirement or our kid's education or to handle emergencies. And to the contrary, a sense of angst exists in us when we do not have these things. Neither of these feelings is correct. Though it is prudent to plan financially, having done so should not make us feel secure and having not yet done so should not make us feel angst.
I pray that these children come to fully understand the uncertainty of wealth and savings and how unreliable is that god. Instead I pray that they run to you and you only as their fortified tower. That they view their savings as only the dwelling outside the fortress walls - fine to live in, but no help when the armies attack. That their eyes are always on the fortress into which they run for their security and sense of well being.
You are our fortress, our mighty tower. No amount of money or wealth can compare or replace you.
Amen
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Be Friendly - Proverbs 18:1
An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. (Proverbs 18:1)
Dear Father,
Certainly we know and have known basically unfriendly people but we don't ever fully know what has caused them to be so. It may be painful life experiences. It may be physical pain. It may depression. Or it may be that they are simply selfish. But your wisdom in this proverb tells us that all unfriendliness comes from a self centered attitude. With some of the life experiences people have suffered through or the physical pain they are enduring, I can understand the self centeredness to some degree. But this proverb tells us that fundamentally unfriendliness is just not ok as it tends to stir up strife.
I pray that you give each of these children a friendly spirit, one that allows them to see the needs of others, even if they themselves are hurting. May a smile and a laugh be their natural responses to circumstances and may they have the kind of spirit that brings joy and uplifts those around them.
Amen
Dear Father,
Certainly we know and have known basically unfriendly people but we don't ever fully know what has caused them to be so. It may be painful life experiences. It may be physical pain. It may depression. Or it may be that they are simply selfish. But your wisdom in this proverb tells us that all unfriendliness comes from a self centered attitude. With some of the life experiences people have suffered through or the physical pain they are enduring, I can understand the self centeredness to some degree. But this proverb tells us that fundamentally unfriendliness is just not ok as it tends to stir up strife.
I pray that you give each of these children a friendly spirit, one that allows them to see the needs of others, even if they themselves are hurting. May a smile and a laugh be their natural responses to circumstances and may they have the kind of spirit that brings joy and uplifts those around them.
Amen
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
A True Friend - Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)
Father,
I pray that these children quickly come to understand loyalty. I pray they become the kind of people others will count on in difficult times. That they will stick by friends' sides even when the popular thing or the politically astute thing to do would be to abandon and maintain distance.
Certainly it is right and good to hold friends accountable who are struggling with sin and it may be appropriate to exercise tough love. There may be times in which the nature of a friends behavior may require keeping a distance. But even in those cases, I pray that these children do not give up on their friends that struggle.
Give these children not only the courage to defend their friends and siblings, but also the words to say in those times - both the words to effectively defend, but also to comfort them in the midst of such adversity. Give them also, though, the wisdom to discern when to defend their friends and when to confront them in their behavior.
Amen
Father,
I pray that these children quickly come to understand loyalty. I pray they become the kind of people others will count on in difficult times. That they will stick by friends' sides even when the popular thing or the politically astute thing to do would be to abandon and maintain distance.
Certainly it is right and good to hold friends accountable who are struggling with sin and it may be appropriate to exercise tough love. There may be times in which the nature of a friends behavior may require keeping a distance. But even in those cases, I pray that these children do not give up on their friends that struggle.
Give these children not only the courage to defend their friends and siblings, but also the words to say in those times - both the words to effectively defend, but also to comfort them in the midst of such adversity. Give them also, though, the wisdom to discern when to defend their friends and when to confront them in their behavior.
Amen
Monday, April 8, 2013
Respecting and Honoring Age - Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained in the way of righteousness. (Proverbs 16:31)
Dear Father,
It is not popular now in our western culture to respect and honor age and wisdom. Youth is worshipped and older people are considered washed up, out of touch and irrelevant.
I pray that these children go against that trend and choose to honor those who are older. I pray that they do so not only out of courtesy, but out of a sincere belief that those who have many years actually have something to offer them. I pray that they find time out of their busy schedules to spend time with the older generation, to honor them and to learn from them.
I also pray that they view their own aging as an honorable process, one to be embraced, not feared. And that as they age, they take the initiative to reach out to the younger generation to embrace them, love them and share their wisdom with them.
Amen
it is attained in the way of righteousness. (Proverbs 16:31)
Dear Father,
It is not popular now in our western culture to respect and honor age and wisdom. Youth is worshipped and older people are considered washed up, out of touch and irrelevant.
I pray that these children go against that trend and choose to honor those who are older. I pray that they do so not only out of courtesy, but out of a sincere belief that those who have many years actually have something to offer them. I pray that they find time out of their busy schedules to spend time with the older generation, to honor them and to learn from them.
I also pray that they view their own aging as an honorable process, one to be embraced, not feared. And that as they age, they take the initiative to reach out to the younger generation to embrace them, love them and share their wisdom with them.
Amen
Gossip and Dissension - Proverbs 16:28
A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28)
Dear Father,
Power is the motivator behind intentionally stirring up conflict and in gossip. When a person stirs up conflict, they are exercising their ability to use words and actions to create unstable circumstances for the ability to use that instability to undermine others and/or to gain position. Gossip is also a form of power exercise by using knowledge to be viewed as important or to manipulate others.
I pray that these children fully understand that the most important power comes by being aligned to your will. And that the most powerful impact on the world will come as they seek to touch others with your love by the power you place in them. I pray that they see know need to manipulate others to gain earthly position and power and that they fully recognize the harm they would cause by doing so. May the be peacemakers.
Amen
and a gossip separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28)
Dear Father,
Power is the motivator behind intentionally stirring up conflict and in gossip. When a person stirs up conflict, they are exercising their ability to use words and actions to create unstable circumstances for the ability to use that instability to undermine others and/or to gain position. Gossip is also a form of power exercise by using knowledge to be viewed as important or to manipulate others.
I pray that these children fully understand that the most important power comes by being aligned to your will. And that the most powerful impact on the world will come as they seek to touch others with your love by the power you place in them. I pray that they see know need to manipulate others to gain earthly position and power and that they fully recognize the harm they would cause by doing so. May the be peacemakers.
Amen
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Pride Comes Before the Fall - Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
Dear Father,
I pray that these children have their eyes open to learn from the mistakes of others. I see every day the truth of this proverb as the proud are brought down in shame. They somehow decide that the rules do not apply to them and they fall trap to their own arrogance. They somehow conclude that they won't get caught or that others are too simple to see through their actions. They somehow conclude that they are able to play temptation close to the edge and avoiding falling into it. Even those who may be not overtly arrogant, conclude or assume that they will not fall into temptation and let their guard down.
I pray that these children have the wisdom to analyze what went wrong when they see people fall and that they determine to keep their pride in check and their guard up at all times. Save them from the trap of pride by learning from others, but if they do not choose to so learn, I pray that you teach them humility in small ways so as to avoid having to learn the lesson with a larger failure, a failure that would have far reaching implications.
Amen
Dear Father,
I pray that these children have their eyes open to learn from the mistakes of others. I see every day the truth of this proverb as the proud are brought down in shame. They somehow decide that the rules do not apply to them and they fall trap to their own arrogance. They somehow conclude that they won't get caught or that others are too simple to see through their actions. They somehow conclude that they are able to play temptation close to the edge and avoiding falling into it. Even those who may be not overtly arrogant, conclude or assume that they will not fall into temptation and let their guard down.
I pray that these children have the wisdom to analyze what went wrong when they see people fall and that they determine to keep their pride in check and their guard up at all times. Save them from the trap of pride by learning from others, but if they do not choose to so learn, I pray that you teach them humility in small ways so as to avoid having to learn the lesson with a larger failure, a failure that would have far reaching implications.
Amen
The Lord Determines their Steps - Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
Dear Father,
I believe that wisdom tells us that we should plan. That absence of planning leads to a lack of focus and a wasting of the resources you have given us. That said, planning also can lead us to the mistaken impression that we are in charge and in control of our destiny. It can also cause us to be anxious and frustrated when things do not go according to plan.
I pray that these children develop a keen perspective that, although they should make plans, you are always in the picture and that deviations from plan are very likely to be you choosing a different course for them. Help them to embrace your involvement in their lives and embrace your deviations from the plans such that they are neither anxious nor frustrated by your actions. Help them to see the wisdom of the path you are choosing for them as you are choosing it, but also to be able to see clearly in hindsight why your way was best.
Amen
Dear Father,
I believe that wisdom tells us that we should plan. That absence of planning leads to a lack of focus and a wasting of the resources you have given us. That said, planning also can lead us to the mistaken impression that we are in charge and in control of our destiny. It can also cause us to be anxious and frustrated when things do not go according to plan.
I pray that these children develop a keen perspective that, although they should make plans, you are always in the picture and that deviations from plan are very likely to be you choosing a different course for them. Help them to embrace your involvement in their lives and embrace your deviations from the plans such that they are neither anxious nor frustrated by your actions. Help them to see the wisdom of the path you are choosing for them as you are choosing it, but also to be able to see clearly in hindsight why your way was best.
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)