Proverbs 21-24

Proverbs 21-24 offers us so much wisdom and advice for faithful living.

The truth that keeps coming out again and again is that God is full of wisdom and His ways lead to life, true love, unshakeable joy, and the blessings that come from His grace that is at work in us.  All of that is available to us right now, every single day.

God's grace is more amazing than I even realize...

A person may think their own ways are right,

    but the Lord weighs the heart.

Proverbs 21:2

We search.  We try again and again, in our own artificial and exhausting ways, to create and give ourselves the good life we so desperately want and need.

But, even our best efforts and highest moments are temporary, superficial, and dull in comparison to the power of God's grace that is already in us.

God has my heart in His hands.  I am thankful that He weighs my heart because that's the beginnings of His life-giving work in me...work that leads to eternal life, real love, and pure joy.  All of us need that.  We need God.

As believers, we are all made new in Christ.  

So, I say, "Lord, weigh my heart and make me new."

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for giving me life, for helping me know true love, for giving me unshakeable joy, and for blessing me with Your grace through Jesus, my Savior.

My heart is in Your hands, Lord.

Weigh my heart today, and fill me with Your wisdom.  Change me.  Shape me.  Lead me in the places You need me to go.  I am the clay and You are the potter.

I have so many things on my heart right now... 

[Spend some time talking about things on your heart.]

 Show me what to do.  I want to follow You.  Hear my prayers, Lord, and use me.  Grab me by the hand, please Lord, and empower me.  Keep me from standing still and staying the same when I need to be moving and changing and helping others for You.

I pray for Your love, Your joy, and the blessings of Your grace to fill the lives of _________________ today and always.  

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,

Amen

Blessings,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.

1 Chronicles 26-29

David continues to set his son, Solomon, up for success as he takes over as King of Israel.  We finish up the book of 1 Chronicles as we read chapters 26-29.  David seems like a faithful leader who is really good at helping God's people find their purposes in His Kingdom.  He's delegated and organized things through out Israel in such a way that helps people walk in their faith.  And yet, David is intentional about giving all the credit for his accomplishments to God.  

Relying wholeheartedly on God is the secret to David's success, and he does his best to pass that on to his son.

9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you...

1 Chronicles 28:9

Like Solomon, we are all sons and daughters, and our Father in Heaven searches our hearts and understands our every desire and our every thought.  There's nothing He doesn't know about us.  

And you know what?  As He knows us, He has an unconditional and everlasting love for us.  And with His knowing us, He has great and perfect purposes for us.  When we look for Him, we will find Him and more than we could ever ask or imagine.  

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for Your everlasting and powerful love.  Thank you for searching my heart and opening it up to the Holy Spirit so that I am transformed through Christ, my Savior.

You know me, Lord, every desire and thought.  Help me to be wholeheartedly devoted to You with a willing mind.  I pray for eyes that always see You and ears that always hear You wherever I go.

Use my weaknesses and my strengths for Your great and perfect purposes.  Show me how to bring Your love to those You need me to reach for You.

I pray for all those whose hearts are struggling and heavy today.  I lift up __________________ (name those on your heart).  You know each one them and exactly what they need.  Fill them with Your love.  Hold their hands, Lord, and give them peace and strength.

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen

Blessings,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.