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.
A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. (NIV)
Wise children pay attention when their parents correct them, but arrogant people never admit they are wrong. (GNB)
Proverbs 13.1
I hope by now you are starting to spot some of the common themes in Proverbs. One of – if not the – main theme is about listening. If the ‘fear of the Lord’ is the beginning of wisdom, listening must surely come second.
Why? Because when we listen to someone else… (not simply hear their words: Jess has learned that I can hear words and make appropriate – even detailed! – responses without actually listening)… when we really listen we train our all-too-weak humility muscles. When we really listen we demonstrate that a) someone else is worth listening to and b) they might have something we need to hear.
This is particularly important when we might be wrong, which is one of the main reasons why listening is wise. When was the last time you admitted you were wrong? I mean actually admitted it, rather than say the words in a slightly ironic / aggressive manner that shows you don’t really think you’re wrong?
This proverb has in mind a parent / child relationship: if your parents are still living, do you listen to them? If you have children, do you speak to them in a way that might encourage them to listen to you?
But ultimately this is about our relationship to God, the perfect parent, our heavenly Father. Do you listen – I mean really listen – to him?
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:
Young Family (Blithe, Mo, Quincy, Richard)
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.