Morning Prayer
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Inspiration
There is in the Bible a "fear of God" that is holy reverence and a desire to avoid offending him or suffering his judgment or discipline. That kind of fear is compatible with love and helps us depart from iniquity. But faithless fear, of man, of life events, or of God based on false ideas, is incompatible with love of God.
Prayer
O giver of true love in our hearts, it is your purpose to cast out all ungodly fear that our love for you may be made perfect. When we love you perfectly, we will also serve you perfectly. And that service will not be a burden but a joy. Extinguish false fears in us, Lord, we pray, and strengthen a true love for you in our hearts. 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.
