Morning Prayer
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Inspiration
We all begin life as newborns. As we grow, we gain knowledge and wisdom that prepare us to live as adults. So too, we begin our spiritual lives as infants. God, by His love, grows us in our knowledge of Him. As we mature, we cast off the selfish ambitions, pride, and lies that we once knew as God perfects us by His grace.
Prayer
Father, thank You for making me Your child. Please walk with me so that I may know Your love and learn Your truth. Grow me in Your grace and wisdom, and teach me to put away my childish pride and pursuits. As You empty me of these things, fill me anew with Your Spirit so that as I grow in faith, I may resemble You more each day. 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.
