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 sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (NIV)
No matter how much a lazy person may want something, he will never get it. A hard worker will get everything he wants. (GNB)
Proverbs 13.4
Today I actually prefer the NIV for the word ‘diligent’, because to me it gives a sense of taking care and responsibility, being a ‘good steward’ (to use Jesus’ phrase) of the things and gifts God has given us – rather than ‘working yourself in to the ground’. That’s a distinction I know I need to learn more and more each day.
OK – so we need to be diligent, great – but what about our desires? Here we enter a slightly murkier part of human life. Letting God transform our desires is one of the hardest things for a disciple to do. They seem so natural to us – because they are! But our natures are twisted and damaged by sin – so ‘natural’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘right’.
Being a disciple of Jesus means asking and allowing him to transform our very desires, so that our will (what we want) matches up with his. Paul puts it like this:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12.2 (NIV)
The good news is: that transformation happens by God’s power. The bad news is: it doesn’t ‘just happen’ – we have to submit ourselves to God. Then – and only then – will we discover true freedom, and that what he wants (and has always wanted) is what’s best for us!
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:
Hazel Lawson, Olive Carter, Julia Pinner
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.