May 1, 2020
My thoughts on Proverbs 1:
Verses 8 & 9, really speak to my heart today. Here’s the way the New Living Translation Bible records them: 8My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
I probably didn’t appreciate my parents as much as I should have growing up. But, God did bless me with great parents that set an example of what it means to be a Christian, a husband and a parent. I must admit I have often failed to emulate the example they gave me and those failures have resulted in heartbreak.
In Hebrew the word grace refers to those qualities that make us acceptable. So when my dad corrected me for smacking my brother and my mother instructed me on why it’s unacceptable to hit my brother, I learned not only not to hit my brother, but to get along with him and others.
From the moment we are born to the moment that they die, our parents teach how to live life. If we heed their instruction I think our lives would be less chaotic and more peaceful. Thank you God, for my parents and the example they have set for me.
My Prayer:
Holy Heavenly Father,
As we begin a new month “sheltering-in-place.” Many are feeling isolated, frustrated, and afraid. Lord, I ask that you just end this pandemic, not just in my community, not just in my state and not just in my country, but globally. I’m not asking Lord for our sakes, but for Yours. Lord, I ask that You end the pandemic in a supernatural way that You may glorified, that all the nations will see and know that you are God, the great I AM.
Lord, as I read verse 7: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. I ask that our leaders, local, state, and national, would seek You during this time of crisis and that they abandon foolish petty political posturing at this time.
Today, Lord, I pray for the most vulnerable population. I just pray that you protect the senior citizens of my community and church form Covid-19.
I pray for revival in my church. I pray that we would be a lighthouse on the prairie. Lord, I pray for unchristian friends, that you would soften their hearts and open their ears to gospel. And Lord, give me an opportunity to have a gospel conversation with them today.
I pray all these things in Jesus name, AMEN.
Marcia Brandt says
Proverbs 1 Prayers
(1) the end of the pandemic
Show us where we are being foolish. Lead us in wisdom.
(2) local/state/national leaders
Praying for leaders who fear the Lord.
(3) protection for home and church
That we would discern wise advice and listen.
(4) renewal of God’s Spirit in us
That I/we would turn to our Bible, always, for wisdom, discipline, understanding, instruction, experience, knowledge, discretion, learning (continued learning), guidance, understanding wise words, skillful communication; that we would fear the Lord and hear Him.
(5) that unchristian friends become followers of Jesus.
Prayers that he will (vs 23) pour out His spirit. That He will cry out to us all above the commotion and people will hear and respond.
Teach me to pray, Lord
Question: Is prayer an action or a focus?
Rob Cleeton says
What a great question.
For me, it is focused activity. I let the Word guide my prayer. For example, verse 8 advises a child to heed the correction of his father and the instruction of his mother. Then when I’m praying (3) protection for my family, I ask God to forgive me for not honoring my father & mother by heeding their correction and instruction. I ask God to give me wisdom to advise my children during this time of crisis.
I hope this makes sense and answered your question.