Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture today is Proverbs 19:11 (NIV).

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

I sometimes think to myself “it is good that the wise are patient with those of us who are neither patient or wise”. I know it is easy to become angry and my rationale is always to point out what caused it. Wisdom says that’s not the point. God gave us the gift of free will to think, not just react. In order to do that we must pause and ask “does this require an angry response?” And sometimes “does this require any response at all?” Evil loves to provoke us, but we can defeat it by not taking the bait. Someone wise once said “you don’t have to participate in every argument to which you’re invited.” We don’t get to blame others for starting it when we have the chance to overlook the situation as the proverb says. Jesus knew this and lived it; He calls us to do the same.

Loving Lord, You teach us to be patient with each other as You have been patient with us. May we offer all our brothers and sisters a patient ear and a loving heart. Amen.

Our scripture today is Proverbs 18:10 (NIV).

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary titles this proverb and the one following “true and false security”. Counting on money, connections or earthly control is very definitely false security. None of this can save us. We know that only God’s mercy and forgiveness lead to the security of eternal life. When we put our trust in the name of the Lord, we are truly protected.

Gracious God, even when we turned away, You kept Your promise. Forgive us and bless us to be the disciples of today, sharing the the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Proverbs 15:1 (NIV).

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

I need to put this proverb at the top of my list, along with prayers for patience. I’d like to think I don’t say harsh things online or in person, but I’m also certain I have been less than gentle with my responses at some time. This should remind us of how Jesus answered people – while He wasn’t above calling the Pharisees and scribes “fools” when they deserved it, He embodied the love and care God sends to all of us. If we can answer a harsh word with gentle truth it can go a long way. I realize this has never been the way of the world, but we can counter that by speaking with God’s love, instead of responding in anger.

Gracious God, You sent Your Son to love and save and free us. Forgive us for the times we speak roughly to one another. Give us hearts for love alone and may we go to share the Gospel everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV).

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

While all proverbs have a lesson for us, this one is fairly specific in its guidance: Trust God! He has given us curiosity and intellect to help us understand creation and our relationship to it, but it doesn’t mean to just do whatever we think is right. We must remember our connection to God and the responsibility to use what He has given us well. We need to ask prayerfully and consider what we know about the Father, and then proceed according to His word.

Gracious God, You made all things for our good. Bless us to be the stewards You intend, sharing Your gifts and Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Proverbs 1:7 (NIV).

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs is a collection of guidance for a healthy relationship with God and each other. Here we find more logic and less emotion. While the psalms speak to our hearts and then our heads, proverbs make us think and then feel, and then hopefully, act. Unlike the “laws” of the Pharisees and scribes of Jesus’ time, these verses make us think and choose our actions based on God’s goodness rather than fear of punishment. Throughout the book there are comparisons of wisdom and foolishness, such as in today’s passage. The Filament Bible Commentary says “there is no true wisdom apart from a living relationship with God.” 

Heavenly Father, we want to live in Your love and wisdom. Help us to seek true understanding, not worldly superficial opinion, and to share Your love with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture today is Psalms 150:6 (NIV).

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

The opening of Psalms reminds us that God’s people are those “whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:2). While we have read psalms that express sadness and cries for mercy, virtually every psalm offers praise and thanks to God. This is what God intended as our natural state, loving Him and sharing that love everywhere. When we used our free will to choose something else, things changed. God still loves us but we must decide to choose Him over anything the world would use to distract us from our mission of discipleship.

Gracious God, You have called us to share the joy we know in You with everyone. Bless us to go in Your name to tell the world the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 148:13 (NIV).

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

This psalm describes the entirety of creation offering praise to God for their very being. Jesus alludes to this in Luke 19:40 saying if the people were silent “the stones would cry out”. Everything that is owes its existence and thanks to the Lord who made us all. Nature and other creatures offer God their praise by being what they were created to be. We however, are made in God’s image and charged with a higher purpose: to care for the rest of creation.

Loving Lord, You made everything with a purpose. Help us to see our purpose and place in Your plan, and do what You have for us eagerly. Amen.

Our scripture today is Psalms 105:8 (NIV).

He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations

In  Genesis 12:2 we read God’s covenant with Abraham: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.” The Lord made a promise, and regardless of our failures, God remains constant in His word. He continues to reach out in love, wanting only the best for His children. The problem is we forget that a covenant works both ways – we have a responsibility to God and each other to use what we have been given wisely. 

Gracious God, we are so grateful for all Your blessings sent in love for our benefit. Help us to continue to grow in faith and share the Good News with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Psalms 100:1-2 (NKJV).

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

Scripture presents a variety of different psalm styles and purposes. In most translations, today’s psalm carries a heading of thanksgiving, offering the Lord our praise and worship. We are called to be in connection with God and be aware of what He has done for us. God created the Sabbath for us to rest and reflect, as He did after creation. When we come together in worship we see each other as God’s children, all loved and blessed by Him. We need to carry our worship mindset into the world, sharing His love and care with everyone.

Heavenly Father, You created us with a purpose – to love You, love each other and bring people to Your love. May we worship You in spirit and truth. Amen.

Our scripture today is Psalms 51:10 (NKJV).

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51 is one of seven penitential psalms, those that acknowledge our wrongdoing and ask God’s forgiveness. Psalm 6, 32, 38, 102, 130 and 143 are the others. They are traditionally used during Lent, but they speak to our need to be forgiven and reconnected with God. Today’s verse is a plea from the psalmist of Israel, King David himself. David has admitted his sin and asks God to give him “a clean heart”. This is how God repairs us and reclaims us as His own.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for our willful disobedience and lack of love for one another. Forgive us and bless us to go in Your name to share Your love. Amen.