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 13.6

There are very few places that I feel truly safe. What about you? When or with whom do you feel safe?

Perhaps it is easy for a king – kept safe by an army of bodyguards – to talk about ‘righteousness’ like this. But then Paul, who was certainly not protected by bodyguards (except when he was imprisoned, which isn’t quite the same thing) said it too: ‘[stand firm] with the breastplate of righteousness in place’ (Ephesians 6.14).

Righteousness is a tricky word to define. It is a mix of justice, things being set straight and in order, doing the right thing – we might think of it as ‘holiness’, or simply ‘God’s way’. And it’s really important we have it: Jesus said, ‘For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5.20).

Now, I’m not feeling particularly ‘holy’ today. As I write, frankly I’ve had enough. Hopefully by the time you read this in two weeks I’ll be feeling better! But thankfully my ‘righteousness’ doesn’t depend on how I feel, or on anything I do. Which is a Very Good Thing!

My breastplate of righteousness is not of my own making: Jesus earned it, he made it, and he gives it to all who ask. It keeps us safe from all the accusations the Enemy throws at us – because in God’s eyes we are as perfect as Jesus – and it means we can be bold enough to talk to God as a close friend, parent, brother, partner.

How do you get this gift? You ask. You turn – away from your self, and towards God (sometimes it’s helpful to turn physically as a sign of this). You say sorry to God, and swap all your guilt and shame, for Jesus’ perfect righteousness. And then you live that new life with all your strength.

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:

Taylor Family (Alex, Chris, Holly, John, Ruby)

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.