Tuesday, March 12th

“Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”  Proverbs 18:3

Dear Heavenly Father, Give me the desire to gain understanding that is so strong that I don’t even form an opinion about matters until I’ve heard every possible angle.  I want to be done with quick judgments and strong early opinions.  I want to let you teach me through your word and through the people around me.  I want to fully understand what is going on in the lives of the people I love.  Open my ears and my heart to compassionately listen and respond.  Shut my mouth until I am totally sure that what I am going to say will bless people and not hurt them.  Amen.

It takes great strength and love to listen to another with an open heart. 

Monday, March 11th

“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.  From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.  Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”  Proverbs 13:1-3

Lord God, I pray that you would help me to crucify my sinful nature this morning.  It wants to control me.  It wants to kill me.  It wants to lead me astray.  It wants to lead me to lose control of my tongue, to lose control of my thoughts, to lose control of my actions so that I serve sin and not you.  God, this would kill me.  So I pray this morning, Father, crucify my sinful nature in me by the blood of your son Jesus, and raise up in me a new man, a new person who is eager and willing to serve you.  Holy Spirit, control me, live inside me and work powerfully by the resurrection of Jesus so that I might live for you all day long.  Lord, I’m yours.  Lead me, guide me, and control me so that everything I think, say and do is moved and worked by you.  Amen.

Who is ruling you?  Today is a new day to wake up and crucify the sinful nature that lives in you.  To kill the sinful desires that rule in your heart.  To repent.  And then to rise up in the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus.  I am ruled by Christ.  I am powered by the Holy Spirit. 

Saturday, March 9th

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.  Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.  No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.”  Proverbs 12:1-3

Lord God, As I live my life in this world there are times when I feel an abundance of pressure on my shoulders.  I feel pressure to measure up in your side.  I have a deep desire to avoid pain and suffering.  I worry and am concerned about many things in my life.  I even carry the weight of my sin in my heart, even trying to cover it up and hide it from people and from you.  But, Lord, you do not want me to carry any of this weight.  You sent your Son to bear away the guilt of all my sin.  You always promise to forgive me.  In addition, you also promise to handle all the things that I am worried about.  I am worried, but God I know that you are not.  You not only know how it will all work out in the end, but you are also actively in charge of everything in my life.  When pain enters my life, you are actively working to shape, mold and model me after your likeness.  It’s all good for me!  So, Lord, help me to live freely, unburdened, and untethered from all that would weigh me down today.  Help me to rise up and live freely in your grace and mercy.  You Lord are good and your love for me endures forever.  Amen.

The wicked are constantly conniving, scheming, etc. to accomplish what they desire on their own.  There is no diligence.  There is no integrity.  There is blustery, destructive, lying and deceptive speech.  When discipline comes they seek to escape it.  There is so much more pressure here because the wicked are trying to accomplish what they want apart from God and apart from what is wise and good.  There is no foundation for the stupid.  They will be uprooted.  The righteous, on the other hand, will be more deeply rooted and will never be uprooted. 

Friday, March 8th

“Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.”  Proverbs 14:9

Dear Heavenly Father, How difficult it must be for you to sit up in heaven and watch as we sinners hurt one another, fail to recognize needs and treat each other with disrespect-and then refuse to make amends by apologizing.  Apology and forgiveness create so much goodwill all the time.  Help us to plant its seeds at our every turn.  Help us to value the relationships we have more than our own feelings and hurt.  Give us the ability to let things go, to apologize and to freely forgive.  Help us to imitate what you did for us on the cross.  We want the same kind of grace-filled amnesia that you have.  It makes relationships with sinners possible.  As I ponder this verse today, give me courage to admit to myself and you that I need to apologize to certain people.  Then, give me the ability to actually go to them and ask for forgiveness without excuse.  Amen.

Under grace even our sinful mistakes are an opportunity to spread good will around God’s world. 

Thursday, March 7th

“The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.  The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.”  Proverbs 10:20-21

Lord, Make my heart new and pure.  Of my own power, I cannot make my heart new.  I cannot control my tongue.  I am too weak.  My sinful nature is too corrupt and too powerful.  So, I pray, dear Savior, send your Holy Spirit to make my heart new.  I pray, dear Savior, kill my sinful heart and make it dead.  Then, raise up a new heart in me.  Create a new heart in me!  Then, Lord, give me power from your Spirit to control my tongue.  Give me wisdom from our Word to speak what is true and loving and helpful and encouraging.  Give me words which build up, which instruct, and lead many to righteousness.  Amen.

When Jesus changes our hearts and makes us new through faith and by the work of the Holy Spirit, then tongue is new.  Then we can speak words that are a blessing to others.  Then we can speak words that bring life and nourishment to the hearts of others.  Then we learn and are more able to hold our tongues and listen more.  Then we are able to think clearly about the conversation so that we can bring a wise word from God to it.  Then we gain discernment from the Spirit so that we know when to speak, what to say, and even if to speak up. 

Wednesday, March 6th

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.  If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”  Proverbs 9:10-12

Lord God, There are many voices in this world calling out to me and offering up their invitation.  They call me to come and then they promise to satisfy and give me what they say is good.  It seems and sounds a lot like wisdom.  It even looks to be good.  That’s what Eve saw too when she looked at the fruit.  She saw a fruit that was pleasing to the eye.  She desired to have the knowledge that was promised her.  It seemed good, but death was in the fruit.  Lord, the voices of folly have multiplied.  I pray, as I step into this day, help me to tune my hearing and my ears to the truth of your Word and to the voice of my Shepherd.  Help me to know the difference between his Voice and the voice of those who seek to kill and destroy me.  Grant me wisdom to know the difference.  Grant me strength to stay away.  Satisfy me this morning with your unfailing love that I may be glad and serve you all of my days.  Amen.

It all starts here:  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  Without faith none of God’s things will make sense because they are spiritually discerned.  In this, as we get to know God better, as we gain deeper and better knowledge of the Holy One then we will gain understanding about who we are and how we are to live our lives in this world.  When we know God better, then we understand life and our place in it better.  This makes us more godly and keeps us from “folly”. 

Tuesday, March 5th

 “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.  People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.”  Proverbs 11:24-26

Dear Heavenly Father, You and people recognize the supreme value of a generous person.  When I share, everyone is blessed including you and me.  Rescue me from stingy attitudes that make me fearful that you aren’t watching to see my faith driven sharing.  Pry my selfish fingers from money and things as if they give me life.  Help me find joy in putting them to work for others and not just myself.  Make me a happy go lucky servant of others in the way I freely let them share in my borrowed wealth from you.  Make me like your Son who freely shared the greatest treasure with me at the greatest price.  Amen.

Generosity is easy to see from a distance because it reaches way beyond ourselves. 

Monday, March 4th

“With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.  My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.  I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.  For those who find me, find life and receive favor from the Lord.”  Proverbs 8:18-21

Lord Jesus, I need you.  I realize more and more how weak and frail I am.  I am helpless against sin.  I daily make poor decisions because of my own limitations and my sinful nature inside of me.  I need you!  I need the salvation that you won on your cross.  I need the intervention of your great power that you put to work when you created the world with the Father.  I need the life that you give.  I need the forgiveness that flows from your blood.  I need resurrection in spirit and, later, in my body.  I need you and all of the gifts that you give.  With you are truly all riches!  Come to me this day, dear Jesus, and pour out your gifts on me.  Amen.

He gives us forgiveness.  He gives us grace.  He gives us resurrection.  He gives us an eternal inheritance.  He gives us true life.  And more!  “Those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 8:35).

Saturday, March 2nd

“My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.  Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and to insight, ‘You are my relative.’” Proverbs 7:1-4

Lord God, Wake up in my heart and desire to pursue you and a relationship with you.  I’ll be honest.  Sometimes I get tired and don’t want to pursue.  Sometimes I get complacent and even apathetic when it comes to your Word and a relationship with you.  But, Lord, keep me from this and light a fire in my soul that longs to pursue you.  I am not where I want to be in my knowledge of you and in my relationship with you.  Bring me, by your Spirit, into a deeper and more intimate relationship with you, Jesus.  Teach me and spur me on to pursue you in my whole life.  Amen.

Pursue wisdom because it is the most important relationship you will have.  And it is a relationship.  A relationship with wisdom is a relationship with Jesus, who is the embodiment of wisdom.  

Friday, March 1st

“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.  He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”  Proverbs 10:4-5

Dear Lord, I want to be a hard-working, productive saint.  Help me to have two virtues: 1) a desire to accomplish tasks with the limited but useful talents you have given me, and 2) a discerning heart to know what tasks are more worthy of my attention because they produce more results.  I want to work hard and smart so together the hard work and smart choices pay dividends for my family and many other people.  Drive laziness from my heart so I fill the day you have gifted me with accomplishments that I can build on tomorrow.  Amen.

Bees are among the most productive animals on the planet for their small size.  Not a day goes by that they are not making honey for themselves and others.   

Thursday, February 29th

“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.  For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life, keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.”  Proverbs 6:20-24

Lord God, So much in our lives would distract us and pull us away from you.  Bad pledges.  False promises.  All kinds of things would pull us away from living a life that is centered on you.  We pray, Lord God, keep us from those things.  And help us in all things to let our lives revolve around you.  You have loved us with the love that sees us as if we were the only person in this world.  So Lord, help us to center our lives around you so that everything that we do, everything that we think, everything that we say, even everything that we feel and everything that we believe revolves around you and your word.  You Father are good and you love us.  Your love endures forever.  Help us to live our lives loving you with all our heart with all our soul and with all our strength.  Amen.

Our dear Father, let nothing keep us from him.  He didn’t spare his own Son.  He arranged world history throughout all of time to save you and me and all.  In love for each one of us and because of his great love for us God has centered his world on saving us.  Lord, help us center our hearts and lives in you. 

Wednesday, February 28th

“Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.  Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house.”  Proverbs 5:7-8

Lord, Keep my heart pure and guard me against going down paths that lead to adultery and a great many other sins.  Satisfy my heart and my life with your unfailing love that I may be faithful to you and to my spouse all the days of my life.  Amen.

Following Jesus means drinking from him alone as the source of our life and joy (“drink from your own cistern”).  Following Jesus means staying on the right path which his Word lays out for us as a lamp; he is after all “the way” and “the life.” 

Tuesday, February 27th

“My son, pay attention to what I say: turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  Proverbs 4:20-23

Lord God, Your Son gives light to my path and life to my heart.  By your gospel, by your Spirit, you have raised my dead heart to life and have set me free to run in the path of your commands.  Yet, so much in my heart is still dead.  My sinful heart is still opposed to you and seeks after other things.  This world I live in would lure my heart into deep and deadly sins; it would kill me.  So, Lord, come to my darkened and sinful heart and guard my heart by the truth of your Word.  Guard my heart by the Life that comes from your Spirit.  Keep me from a heart that seeks things that are sinful and are opposed to you.  Guard my heart and give me life by your Word.  Amen.

“Guard your heart” means to kill, crucify and drown the old man heart so that daily, by the work of the Holy Spirit through one baptism, a new man arises.  “Guard your heart” is daily contrition, sorrow, and repentance.  “Guard your heart” is to seek, to hold, and to store up treasure in heaven.  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).  This is the “whatever it takes” to get, keep, hold and treasure wisdom.  It is discipline to be in the Word and to seek the Wisdom that is from on high. 

Monday, February 26th

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!  It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”  Proverbs 6:6-8

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for using one of the smallest creatures in nature to teach me one of the biggest lessons in life.  You want me to use the present to save for the future.  You want me to recognize the value of hard work.  You want me to have a self-motivated work ethic within my soul.  You don’t want me to be dependent on the pressure of others.  You want me to use the life you have given, to provide for myself and my family.  I want what you want, because you are my Creator, Provider and Savior.  Help me to get out of this day the best that it can give for blessings tomorrow.  Make me a productive ant on your anthill.  Amen.

We don’t work for vacations.  We work for the joy that comes from benevolent productivity. 

Saturday, February 24th

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”  Proverbs 3:1-2

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.”  Proverbs 3:13-18

Lord God, There is so much in my life that challenges and worries me.  It frustrates me and gives me an anxious heart.  I find myself praying “if only” prayers to you.  “If only” this were different.  “If only” I had done this or that.  I live with so much fear in my heart and questions in my mind:  What if I get sick?  What if I lose my job?  What if I make a poor decision?  What if this happens or that does instead?  What if?  But Lord Jesus you remove the “if” from my life.  You give me life simply because you love me.  There was nothing I did, could do, or will do that will get life for me.  You simply give it to me only because you love me.  You give me life without the threat of taking it away.  You give me life and protection no matter what.  You promise me a life full of every spiritual blessing that comes from your cross.  You promise me a life full of good things from your fatherly hands and out of your Father’s heart for me.  You lay out for a sure and certain hope of things to come.  Help me to seek and then to find my truest and fullest life in you, dear Jesus.  Grant me faith to hold tightly to you.  Amen.

What does lady wisdom promise?  She promises us life, full life, true life.  She urges us to put our God at the very center of our life, to trust in him with all our heart and to lean not on our own understanding.  She promises life without the “if”.  Can you hear Jesus speaking to you here?  “I am come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Friday, February 23rd

“Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.  Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?  Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.  May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.  A loving doe, a graceful deer-may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.  Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?  Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?  For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.”  Proverbs 5:15-21

Dear Heavenly Father, Help all married men to value the wives you have granted so that out of deep feelings of reverence and appreciation, we remain faithful and encouraging to them.  Help them feel safe in their relationships with us and protect the sanctity of our marriages.  Also, help us to find our voices with our children so we talk clearly and positively about the purity you designed for them as a blessing for generations to come. 

Marriage is God’s thing that he created to become one of the biggest blessings in our lives.  Hold is sacred and show it be the way you protect all marriages. 

Thursday, February 22nd

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding-indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”  Proverbs 2:1-6

Lord God, Help me to see that true wisdom is found in Christ.  Many times I look for wisdom for daily actions, daily steps, next steps, and the way to make good and godly decisions.  I look for wisdom to help me get through the day and to get through life in as godly a way as possible.  And certainly I know that you give wisdom for this.  But wisdom is so much more than that.  Help me to see that true wisdom is found in Christ.  He is the One who calls me from darkness to light.  He is the One who calls me from death to life.  He is the One who calls me from this world to an eternity in heaven.  He is the One who warns me to stay away from sin so that I might stay close to him and on the right path.  He is the one who gives me heavenly blessings and earthly ones too.  True wisdom is found only in Christ.  Help me to see the gift that Christ is to me.  Amen.

Christ is the wisdom of God and he saves us.   He doesn’t just guide us to a better and more godly life on earth, he guides us toward heaven.  Look for Christ here, there, and everywhere in wisdom of Proverbs.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Wednesday, February 21st

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”          Proverbs 1:7

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”  Proverbs 1:8

“Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”  Proverbs 1:32

Lord God, You promise that you will give wisdom to those who ask.  You hold it out to me like a treasure through your Son, Jesus, and on the pages of Scripture.  I pray, Lord, pour out wisdom on me through your Spirit and make known to me your teachings.  Keep me from refusing your teaching or pushing them to the side.  Soften my heart to your Word and make me an eager hearer of it.  Then, let your word drip down into my spirit that it might guide everything about my life.  Give me wisdom, God, so that I might have true life.  Give me your wisdom, Father, so that I might live for you.  You have saved me and I am yours.  Guide and govern my life by the wisdom you give. 

True safety is safety found in Christ.  He has become for us wisdom from God. 

Tuesday, February 20th

“As for you, go your way till the end.  You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”  Daniel 12:13

Lord God, help me to find and create a healthy balance in my life.  You have given me your Word that I might grow in my knowledge of you so that I might grow in your grace.  You pour out your Spirit on me through that Word so that I might be strengthened in my inner being and so that I might know how long and wide and deep and high your love for me is.  You have given me your Word so that I might be aware of the dangers and threats that I daily face in this earthly realm and the spiritual realm.  Help me to grow in this so that your Word is a daily part of my life.  And, at the same time, dear Lord, help me to keep my eyes wide open to see the people around me who need my love and my service.  Make a servant here and now.  Make me a tremendous earthly good to the people around me not just so that they can get through life, but so that they might have life forever.  Help me to get on with my life today as your servant in this world.  Amen.

There is a balance that we must walk.  It is not an either/or.  It is a both/and.  We both need to be in God’s Word AND we need to get on with life and serve the people around us  We both need to meditate on God’s Word AND we need to love the neighbor whom God puts in our path. 

Monday, February 19th

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.  Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”  Daniel 12:2-3

Lord, Thank you for this vision of the last day.  It will not be a dismal day of defeat and despair for me.  It will be a day of victory and life and eternity.  You will take me up, together with all of your holy people, into the glories of heaven.  You will transform me in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye.  You will make me glorious and holy and eternal.  I can’t wait, Lord.  I long for your coming.  I long for your deliverance.  But, Lord, while I wait for you make me an eternal and earthly good to all those around me.  Make me a servant to them.  Make me a leader for them.  Make me one who leads them to the righteousness and salvation that comes from you alone.  Help me to bring as many people to heaven as possible.  You have given me this time so that I can bring people with me to heaven.  Help me to do this, dear Father in heaven.  Amen. 

Let’s do all that we can with the time that we have to bring as many people as we can with us to heaven!