Morning Prayer
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Inspiration
When the word of God falls on your ears, how do you receive it? That’s the question that the parable of the sower wants us to consider. It takes a heart tilled by Jesus to receive the word in a way that it will grow. Evidence of God’s word in us will be seen not just in our understanding and knowledge of the word, but in our application and doing of the word.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your word and for all of the truth and wisdom that it contains. Please prepare my heart to receive your word. Remove the stones from the soil of my heart and the weeds from my life so that I may be ready to hear Your word, understand Your word, and live Your word for the glory of Your name. 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.
