Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us (Psalm 96.2, GNB).

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Opening

Speak these words out loud:

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.

Jeremiah 17.7 (NIV)

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 20.15

Solomon was extremely wealthy – one website reckons he could have been worth £1.42 trillion in today’s money. It’s a bit silly to try and work out stuff like that. The biblical writers sometimes exaggerated for effect – for example, ‘Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days’ (1 Kings 10.21). However much he had though, it was a lot.

I don’t know what that’s like. Jess and I own one ruby – in her engagement ring – and have a little bit of gold – in our wedding rings – but that’s it. I imagine it’s similar for you – so we have to trust Solomon on this one.

Compared to gold and rubies, he says, wisdom is worth more. Knowing what you are talking about – that is a ‘rare jewel’.

It’s worth pondering on that, given how many of us act as though we know what we’re talking about. I hear a lot of gumph, some of it coming out of my own mouth, about the NHS, politics, and so on.

Perhaps this Proverb suggests two things: 1) we need to learn to speak less and listen more, 2) we need to learn true wisdom, which comes from God.

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:

Wayne, Claire & Jude Pinner-Rosenbach

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

We also pray for: Church Musicians

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.

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.