Night Prayer
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Inspiration
Paul instructs early church leaders to sustain themselves and their flock. Our teachers have been called by the Holy Spirit to educate us about our commitment to God. They are commissioned to nurture our spiritual growth. We must encourage our teachers to also take time for themselves so they may be renewed and strengthened by the Spirit as well. Our leaders are special gifts, and we will lift them up with prayer and reassuring conversation.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we are thankful for our teachers and will continue to lift them up in prayer and encouragement. 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.