praying effectively: Watch Yourself (Pv.4:20-27)

(Psalm 4:20-27)

20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we do not lie (4:24)
- that we do not speak manipulatively (4:24)
- that we are careful not to stray (4:26)
- that we avoid and turn away from evil (4:27)
- that we stay on the straight and narrow path (4:27)
- that we keep focused on God (4:25)
- that we hear and pay attention to biblical teaching (4:20)
- that we keep studying biblical teaching (4:21)
- that we keep biblical teaching in our hearts (4:21)
- that we diligently watch over our hearts (4:23)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, protect me from evil.  Protect me from myself, and from straying away from You.  Help me not to focus selfishly on myself, but help me stay focused on You and Your word.  Give me a great memory when it comes to Your biblical teaching to guard my heart and my path's direction!  Amen.

praying effectively: Avoid Bad Company (Pv.4:10-19)

(Proverbs 4:10-19)

10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many.
11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; and they are robbed of sleep unless they make some one stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we avoid the path of evil and bad company (4:14-15)
- that we hear and accept God's words (4:10)
- that we accept, keep and guard instruction (4:13)

Today's prayer:

Our Christ our Lord, protect us from evil.  Keep us from the temptation of even hanging out with those who practice evil.  Help us remember that their "fun" is deceptive and destructive, and does not have our best interest at heart.

Keep us walking in Your light.  Keep us focused on You as our perfect example and our loving heavenly Father.  Help us find and make good friends who will be encouraging, edifying and steadfast in Your word.  Help us realize and remember that Your ways and Your instructions have our best interest at heart.  Amen.

praying effectively: Acquire Wisdom (Pv.4:1-9)

(Proverbs 4:1-9)

 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding,
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live;
5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 “She will place on your head a garland of grace; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we hear wise instructions, and pay attention to gain understanding (4:1)
- that we acquire wisdom and understanding (4:5, 7)
- that we love wisdom (4:6, 8)
- that we do not abandon sound, biblical instructions (4:2)
- that we do not forget or turn away from God's word (4:5)
- that we do not forsake wisdom (4:6)

Today's prayer:

Lord!  Continue giving me wisdom!!!  The older I get, the more I realize I love and need Your wisdom!  Everyday - for everything!  The more results I see from putting Your wisdom into practice - the more understanding I gain - to realize that I never want to be without Your wisdom!!!

Thank You for sharing Your wisdom - through Your word, and through the godly people around me.  Give me discernment to know when people are not being godly wise.  Give me discernment to know how to react to those circumstances.  And give me wisdom and understanding to know how to impart wisdom to others, through what I say, as well as how I live.  Amen.

praying effectively: Live in Peace (Pv.3:27-35)

(Proverbs 3:27-35)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.
29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor, while he lives securely beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; but He is intimate with the upright.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we do not withhold payments due when it is within our ability to pay (3:27)
- that we live in peace with our neighbors (3:29)
- that we do not raise needless concerns (3:30)
- that we do not envy or follow after violent people (3:31)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, help us to live in peace with our neighbors and with anyone whom we come in contact.  Help us to see the folly of being contentious or violent, or aligning ourselves with those who are contentious or violent.  Help us to be fair and just in all our actions.  Thank You for being our perfect example to follow.  Amen.

praying effectively: Do Not Be Afraid (Pv.3:21-26)

(Proverbs 3:21-26)

21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we follow sound wisdom and discretion (3:21)
- that we are not afraid of evil or terrors (3:25)
- that we allow the Lord to be our confidence (3:26)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your guidance in sound wisdom.  Help me to trust in Your word.  Help me to only fear You, and put all my confidence in You - so that I will not have to fear anything or anyone else - including my own stupidity.  Protect us from evil.  Keep us from stumbling.  And help me to sleep well!  (Pleeeeaassse help me to sleep well!!!)  Amen.

praying effectively: Trust and Honor God (Pv.3:1-20)

(Proverbs 3:1-20)

 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we do not forget biblical teaching (3:1)
- that our hearts remember to obey God's commandments (3:1)
- that we establish kindness and truth as part of our essence (3:3)
- that we do not rely on our own understanding (3:5)
- that we do not think we ourselves are wise (3:7)
- that we trust in the Lord for everything (3:5)
- that we acknowledge God all the time (3:6)
- that we fear the Lord (3:7)
- that we honor the Lord with our income (3:9)
- that we do not forget to tithe (3:9)
- that we turn away from evil (3:7)
- that we do not hate or reject the Lord's discipline and reproof (3:11)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, how You love us so much that You do not withhold discipline and correction - because You understand that we will still sin, and You understand exactly what we do need - because You want the best for us.

Help me recognize it when I do sin so that I can turn away from doing evil and turn away from evil influences - and embrace Your truth and Your ways of wisdom and understanding.

Help me honor and glorify You with everything that I am, and with everything that I do, and with everything You have given me.  Thank You so much that You bless us when we tithe and remain obedient in all things - in ways that I do not or should not expect.  Even if it is not financial blessings, You have always faithfully provided for our needs.  And Your blessings go beyond what the world considers valuable.  You are such a loving and generous Father, and I love, respect and appreciate everything that You are.  Amen.

praying effectively: Desire Understanding (Pv.2)

(Proverbs 2:1-22)

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things;
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15 Whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways;
16 To deliver you from the strange woman, from the adulteress who flatters with her words;
17 That leaves the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 For her house sinks down to death and her tracks lead to the dead;
19 None who go to her return again, nor do they reach the paths of life.
20 So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land and the blameless will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land and the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we listen for wisdom (2:2)
- that we desire understanding (2:2)
- that we speak up to gain understanding (2:3)
- that we walk and stay on the path of righteousness with other righteous people (2:20)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that we can totally depend on You for all wisdom and understanding.  Surround me with godly people who will also help equip me, in order to stay on the path of righteousness which leads us to Your steadfast strength, protection, peace and contentment.