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 12.26

What kind of company do you keep? When I was at primary school there was one particular boy that was popular, so I really wanted to be friends with him. But my mum didn’t like him coming round because of the effect he had on me: I became rude and even more showy off than normal.

People tend to mirror (subconsciously or deliberately) the behaviour of the people they are with. Why? Because no-one likes being an outsider. We like to feel accepted, part of a group.

That is why it is important to pay attention to the kind of company we keep.

Now what I’m not saying is that Christians should be part of what is sometimes called a ‘holy huddle’, never interacting with others for fear of being ‘polluted’. That won’t do at all. Jesus sent his first disciples – and now he sends us – out into the world to be salt and light.

But we do need to be careful about who we spend time with – that friend that we love to be with, but they lead us down a wrong path? Maybe we need to spend a bit less time with them. It might seem ‘fun’ at the time – but is it healthy?

Instead, we all need to make sure that we spend the majority of our time with people who have a positive impact on us. Spend some time in prayer asking God to help you see who those people are – thank him for giving them to you.

The question is: are you going to do anything about this?

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:

Robins Family (Daniel, Joanna, Rachel, Steve)

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.