If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21,22)
Merciful Father,
This teaching may be the hardest of all. How do we find it in our hearts to be kind and serving to those who are mistreating us? This goes beyond forgiveness. It goes to a willingness to take action in service to those who may despise, disdain or belittle us. But what I do see in this proverb is a recognition of our human need for vindication. But you give us a different path to that vindication. A path that is completely contrary to any natural response we might have. You tell us here that by reaching out in service, we actually vindicate ourselves and embarrass our oppressors.
I pray that these children trust you in this and try it to see what happens. I believe that they will experience a joy and peace that will never happen if they, instead, hold on to anger. I say "I believe" because I freely confess that I am not good at this. And by this prayer I commit to intentionally plan and follow through with blessing some whom I might have forgiven, but that I generally avoid because of their attitude and behavior. I pray for these children and for me that we are able to balance this teaching with the risk of enabling bad behavior. I honestly do not have good wisdom in this regard, but I pray for your guidance. May these children navigate these waters with an abundance of your wisdom and thereby reach people with your love in a way that leads them to you.
Amen
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Plant Your Field First - Proverbs 24:27
Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. (Proverbs 24:27)
Dear Father,
I pray these children develop the wisdom to be patient about their wants. To work and save before they buy things. Certainly a house mortgage is reasonable when purchasing a home, but I pray that they are willing to save for a healthy down payment and that they are willing to purchase a smaller home than their incomes might allow. This will take discipline on their part as others around them will not be so patient. By this patience I pray that they are able to avoid the financial stress that so many experience today and that this frugality and patience will allow them to be generous people by having a low base cost of living. And by that they are then able to be a conduit of your resource distribution system.
Amen
Dear Father,
I pray these children develop the wisdom to be patient about their wants. To work and save before they buy things. Certainly a house mortgage is reasonable when purchasing a home, but I pray that they are willing to save for a healthy down payment and that they are willing to purchase a smaller home than their incomes might allow. This will take discipline on their part as others around them will not be so patient. By this patience I pray that they are able to avoid the financial stress that so many experience today and that this frugality and patience will allow them to be generous people by having a low base cost of living. And by that they are then able to be a conduit of your resource distribution system.
Amen
Do not Gloat - Proverbs 24:17,18
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them. (Proverbs 24:17, 18)
Dear Father,
It is our natural reaction to feel good or justified when those who have wronged us "get what was coming to them". When the arrogant fall, we feel like justice has been done. It is very difficult not to feel this way.
I pray that these children heed the teaching of this proverb and find it in their hearts to feel compassion when people fall. That they are able to see the reality of the meaninglessness of the life of arrogance as compared to a life in you. That they are able to sense the pain that may exist in those who mistreat others, pain in their past that causes them to act unlovingly toward others. With those eyes, I pray that they are truly able to pray for their enemies, for those who mistreat them - particularly when they have fallen. I pray that they reach a point of spiritual maturity that they are able to go beyond prayer for their adversaries such that they are able to reach out in care and compassion for them.
Amen
Dear Father,
It is our natural reaction to feel good or justified when those who have wronged us "get what was coming to them". When the arrogant fall, we feel like justice has been done. It is very difficult not to feel this way.
I pray that these children heed the teaching of this proverb and find it in their hearts to feel compassion when people fall. That they are able to see the reality of the meaninglessness of the life of arrogance as compared to a life in you. That they are able to sense the pain that may exist in those who mistreat others, pain in their past that causes them to act unlovingly toward others. With those eyes, I pray that they are truly able to pray for their enemies, for those who mistreat them - particularly when they have fallen. I pray that they reach a point of spiritual maturity that they are able to go beyond prayer for their adversaries such that they are able to reach out in care and compassion for them.
Amen
Work-Life Balance Proverbs 23:4,5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:4,5)
Dear Father,
Some of these children will pursue business or professional careers. With that, there is always the temptation to become a workaholic. Several factors can lead to that. One is a desire and drive for financial success. Another is the desire for status and recognition. Another is simply competition. Another is actually guilt of not working hard enough. Another is fear of being fired or of the business/practice needing a surplus of work to avoid running out. And another is the meritorious desire to serve customers, patients or clients. This proverb speaks to wealth accumulation but all of these motivations derive from attempts to find our meaning, our identity, our security from our work.
I pray that these children soon come to understand that, though you do want us to work diligently at our job, you do not want our work to define us nor do you want us to look to our work for our security. I pray that they develop as strong sense of identity in you and that they look solely to you for their security. I pray that they understand the need to focus on the priorities you have given them - service to you, relationship with their spouse and involvement with their children - all of which are of a higher priority that their career and business pursuits. Help them to find that balance between the responsibility to earn a living and the responsibility to their higher priorities.
Also, I pray that they are able to find rest so that they do not "wear themselves out" and that they are able to rest without feelings of guilt for having done so.
And as for trust, I pray that they learn not to trust in their own cleverness, their own talent, their own intellect, nor trust in the accumulation of wealth all which can lead them to feelings of self-sufficiency without the need for you. But I pray that they instead deeply understand the need to trust in you, viewing their talents and their accumulation of assets only as blessings you have given them for the purpose of blessing others.
Amen
do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:4,5)
Dear Father,
Some of these children will pursue business or professional careers. With that, there is always the temptation to become a workaholic. Several factors can lead to that. One is a desire and drive for financial success. Another is the desire for status and recognition. Another is simply competition. Another is actually guilt of not working hard enough. Another is fear of being fired or of the business/practice needing a surplus of work to avoid running out. And another is the meritorious desire to serve customers, patients or clients. This proverb speaks to wealth accumulation but all of these motivations derive from attempts to find our meaning, our identity, our security from our work.
I pray that these children soon come to understand that, though you do want us to work diligently at our job, you do not want our work to define us nor do you want us to look to our work for our security. I pray that they develop as strong sense of identity in you and that they look solely to you for their security. I pray that they understand the need to focus on the priorities you have given them - service to you, relationship with their spouse and involvement with their children - all of which are of a higher priority that their career and business pursuits. Help them to find that balance between the responsibility to earn a living and the responsibility to their higher priorities.
Also, I pray that they are able to find rest so that they do not "wear themselves out" and that they are able to rest without feelings of guilt for having done so.
And as for trust, I pray that they learn not to trust in their own cleverness, their own talent, their own intellect, nor trust in the accumulation of wealth all which can lead them to feelings of self-sufficiency without the need for you. But I pray that they instead deeply understand the need to trust in you, viewing their talents and their accumulation of assets only as blessings you have given them for the purpose of blessing others.
Amen
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Prudence - Proverbs 22:3
The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. (Proverbs 22:3)
Dear Father,
One of the most difficult matters to discern is when to continue persevering in a chosen path and when it may be time to change course or reverse ground. Risk taking is part of any endeavor that has significant opportunity, whether in business, in life or in spiritual pursuits. The ten talent servant necessarily took risk to double his money. But in taking risk, there must also be an exercise of wisdom in how long to stay a course that does not appear to be working.
I pray that you give these children a willingness to take risk in worthwhile pursuits. But I also pray that you give them a special ability to determine whether and how long to pursue a course of action. Great wisdom is required for such discernment and I pray that you give them that for assessing their own chosen courses as well as in giving advice to others.
Amen
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. (Proverbs 22:3)
Dear Father,
One of the most difficult matters to discern is when to continue persevering in a chosen path and when it may be time to change course or reverse ground. Risk taking is part of any endeavor that has significant opportunity, whether in business, in life or in spiritual pursuits. The ten talent servant necessarily took risk to double his money. But in taking risk, there must also be an exercise of wisdom in how long to stay a course that does not appear to be working.
I pray that you give these children a willingness to take risk in worthwhile pursuits. But I also pray that you give them a special ability to determine whether and how long to pursue a course of action. Great wisdom is required for such discernment and I pray that you give them that for assessing their own chosen courses as well as in giving advice to others.
Amen
A Good Reputation - Proverbs 22:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)
Dear Father,
In youth, it is difficult to fully comprehend the principles of reputation. It is difficult for them to understand how easily a reputation can be tarnished, but more importantly, it is difficult for them to understand the value of reputation.
I pray that you show these children, through observation of the world and events around them and in ways that they can understand and internalize, the value of a good reputation and the difficulties a bad reputation causes. I also pray that you give them the strength to choose paths that build good reputations, even when peers attempt to tug them in another direction. This is a life long pursuit and as the grow older I pray that they continue to grow in good reputation and in their understanding of its value as they develop a strong sense of ethics and integrity..
Amen
Dear Father,
In youth, it is difficult to fully comprehend the principles of reputation. It is difficult for them to understand how easily a reputation can be tarnished, but more importantly, it is difficult for them to understand the value of reputation.
I pray that you show these children, through observation of the world and events around them and in ways that they can understand and internalize, the value of a good reputation and the difficulties a bad reputation causes. I also pray that you give them the strength to choose paths that build good reputations, even when peers attempt to tug them in another direction. This is a life long pursuit and as the grow older I pray that they continue to grow in good reputation and in their understanding of its value as they develop a strong sense of ethics and integrity..
Amen
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Victory Rests with the LORD - Proverbs 21:31
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord (Proverbs 21:31)
Dear Father,
This proverbs speaks to the balance between our job and your role. You do expect us to take prudent steps to prepare for the issues and challenges of life. That is our part. But we should not, thereby, think that we are determining the outcome of those issues and challenges. The victory is yours to bring, not ours.
I pray that these children strike that balance between preparedness and reliance. That they do prepare for life but that they rely on you for their victory. May they be diligent in their preparations - in school, on the job, in financial planning and in seeking wisdom for life lessons. But may that never lead them to think that they are self-sufficient without need for you.
Amen
but victory rests with the Lord (Proverbs 21:31)
Dear Father,
This proverbs speaks to the balance between our job and your role. You do expect us to take prudent steps to prepare for the issues and challenges of life. That is our part. But we should not, thereby, think that we are determining the outcome of those issues and challenges. The victory is yours to bring, not ours.
I pray that these children strike that balance between preparedness and reliance. That they do prepare for life but that they rely on you for their victory. May they be diligent in their preparations - in school, on the job, in financial planning and in seeking wisdom for life lessons. But may that never lead them to think that they are self-sufficient without need for you.
Amen
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