Morning Prayer
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Inspiration
From the ancient world to the present day, how many philosophers have come and gone? How many ideas became little more than passing trends or failed experiments? Only the wisdom that comes from God is durable and eternal. And His wisdom always proves itself superior to even the best human thinking.
Prayer
Lord, as I take in the voices and ideas around me, I am swept up in a whirlwind of information. Help me to hear Your voice over the clamor. Give me the wisdom to recognize hollow and vain philosophies that are not of You. Instead, teach me to rely on Your truth, even if the world around me sways in another direction. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.