Our church building may be closed, but God’s eyes are open and his ears are attentive to our prayers (2 Chronicles 7.15).

Welcome back to the daily proverb!

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Opening

Speak these words out loud:

The Spirit of God has made us;
the breath of the Almighty gives us life.

from Job 33.4

Today’s Proverb

Read the proverb through three or four times, slowly. Pause in-between, maybe write it out by hand – savour the words, let them speak deeply to you.

Proverbs 12.15

We return to one of the common themes in Proverbs: do we heed wisdom and instruction, or do we ignore it?

It’s so hard to admit we might be wrong. Getting an apology out of a politician is notoriously hard – normally they apologise ‘if anyone has taken offence / been upset’ – making it your fault for being upset at their mistake!

The point is that we all think that the way we do things is right – and by implication, the way everyone else does that thing is wrong (unless they are enlightened and do it like us). If you’ve ever taken part in another family’s Christmas celebration you’ll know what I mean. They don’t do it right!!

That’s a trivial example. But there is a bloody-minded streak in all of us that makes it so hard for us to admit – or even realise – when we are wrong.

This is why – as I’ve said before – it is so important to have trusted friends and family, people we know love us deeply, people who can gently correct us. We need their perspective on our lives, to help us see where we are going wrong… and then we need to listen to them!

Prayers

Pray for Five – pray for your five friends / family from Thy Kingdom Come.

Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form – and local parishes and senior church leaders. Today we are praying for:

Widdas Family (Mandy, Mark, Sam, Sophie)

Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.

Please pray for our leaders and healthcare workers, and all those working to keep us safe, well, and fed. Please pray that people would unselfishly put others before themselves, and buy only what they need.

Church Family Prayer

Come Holy Spirit,
and make us one in heart and action,
so that we can serve God faithfully:
abounding in love,
maturing in holiness,
and seeking out the lost.
Help us grow as disciples of Jesus –
in commitment, in depth, and in number –
that we may be a blessing to Amington;
to the glory and praise of God the Father.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Closing Prayer

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
the only way to the Father.

Psalm 127.1, Hebrews 12.2 & John 14.6

May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
Amen.