Night Prayer
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Inspiration
We seek out wise people in our lives because we want to hear what they have to say. But before the wise can speak what they know, they must first learn. And learning comes not from speaking, but from listening. And while there is indeed a time to speak, we never learn from speaking. And so the wise make time to listen, learn and grow, so that they may have wisdom to share when the time to speak comes.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the wisdom of Your word and Your Spirit. Help me to make time to listen so that I may be continuously learning and always growing. Increase my wisdom so that I may seek to know You better, and so that I may speak with truth and discernment when You lead me to speak. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Night Prayer
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Inspiration
Spiritual leaders must possess specific characteristics as they complete works in the name of the Lord. He calls upon them to lead a lifestyle that reflects His nature. They must be an example to us regarding how we spiritually align our lives with the will of God and remove sin from our hearts. We will be on the lookout for these characteristics in people we choose as leaders or look up to as role models.
Prayer
Dear Lord, You have told us what to expect from a true spiritual leader. Help us remain alert to imposters as we look to them for guidance. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
The Wicked or the Righteous
Frances Taylor
Which would you be? Which would I be? We all would like to think we would be among the righteous, but can we really be sure? You see, we're not the ones doing the judging! That's both a good thing and not so good. It's a good thing because we would probably throw away a lot of good people just because we didn't like them, were envious of their success, thought in a different way, or we considered them part of some enemy group. It's also a good thing because people who don't like us or are afraid of us can't throw us away. It's a bad thing because God knows everything including our thoughts and the opportunities to do good that we ignored. He knows our prejudices, our lack of forgiveness, the times we lied or failed to tell the truth when someone else took the blame for something we did. God knows the real us that lives beneath the surface. Our private face as well as our public face. The reality is that we don't need to wait for the end ...
Morning Prayer
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Inspiration
God is a jealous god. He does not want us to give our affection to anything of the world. As the creator of the universe, He knows all things as He created all things. Therefore, he deserves all our praise. He knows what has passed and what is yet to come.
Prayer
Dear God, forgive me for the times when I have turned away from you and idolized the things of this world. You are the only one who deserves my worship. Forgive me. Thank you for extending your mercy. Thank you for continuing to do new things, O Lord. I place my trust in you. In Jesus' name, amen.
