Morning Prayer: 10 Jun – Proverbs 10:19 ~ put a lid on it

Peanut Gallery: During the month of June we are reading through the Book of Proverbs, one chapter per day. “Growing in Character” is the theme; each day we will look for practical advice on living a wise and godly life in this present age.

I recommend that you begin by reading through the entire chapter for the day yourself (a link will be included, see below.) There is something for everyone in the Book of Proverbs. I will focus on what speaks to me in the chapter and follow that theme for the day. But the verse that speaks to me, on any particular day, may be different from the wisdom God has for you… and you don’t want to miss out.

Growing in Character: Proverbs 10

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence and prayer

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
_____

Open my eyes, Lord, to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18 (NLT)
__________

A reading from Proverbs: Proverbs 9:19 (NLT)

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

A reading from the Letters: James 1:19-21 (NLT)

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
__________

Reflection:

Put a lid on it / What’s that you say?
Put a lid on it / Oh man no way
Put a lid down on it and everything will be all right.
Put a lid on it / Don’t hand me that
Put a lid on it / I’m all right Jack
Put a lid down on it before somebody starts a fight.

Say every time I turn it loose you cats
Come down and cook my goose
When I start I just can’t stop
But if you keep this up you’re gonna blow your top!
Put a lid on it / Too late this time
Put a lid on it / I’ve got to get what’s mine
Put a lid down on it, and everything will be all right.

Well, grab your drink and clear a space
I think it’s time to torch this place
Now the girl’s in overdrive
But some of your pals want to stay alive!
I’ll put a lid on it
I’ll put a lid down on it
Save it for another night
__________

Prayer:

Lord, enable me to guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue, and to guard my mouth, as if with a muzzle, that it may not be hasty to utter a word. Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips, that I may not stumble in what I say.

Let my speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, and enable me always, out of the good treasure of my heart, to bring forth good. Let my mouth utter wisdom, and my tongue speak justice; and let not your words depart out of my mouth, or out of the mouth of my offspring, or my children’s offspring, from this time forth and forevermore.

Enable me always to open my mouth with wisdom, and let the teaching of kindness be on my tongue. Give me to know what is acceptable, that my tongue may be as choice silver, and my lips may feed many.

(Matthew Henry at prayer)
__________

Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 09 Jun – Proverbs 9:10-12 ~ add years to your life

Growing in Character: Proverbs 9

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence and prayer

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
_____

Open my eyes, Lord, to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18 (NLT)
__________

A reading from Proverbs: Proverbs 9:10-12 (NLT)

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
__________

A reading from the Gospels: John 1:4-5(NLT)

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
__________

Reflection:

“There is a danger there – a very real danger to humanity. Consider, Watson, that the material, the sensual, the worldly would all prolong their worthless lives. The spiritual would not avoid the call to something higher. It would be the survival of the least fit. What sort of cesspool may not our poor world become?”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
_____

People do not usually live or die because of only one decision. They develop a pattern of life that ends in either death or life…. If a person is open to God and teachable he will become wise, but if he does not accept this instruction and closes his mind he becomes a fool….

“Verse 12 reminds us that the Lord wants to build godly character into our lives, and we can’t borrow character from others or give our character to them. This is an individual matter that involves individual decisions. Belonging to a fine family, attending a faithful church, or studying in an excellent school can’t guarantee the building of our character. Character is built on decisions, and bad decisions will create bad character.”
– Constable’s Notes
__________

__________

Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 08 Jun – Proverbs 8:12 ~ hidden treasure

Growing in Character: Proverbs 8

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence and prayer

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
_____

Open my eyes, Lord, to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18 (NLT)
__________

A reading from Proverbs: Proverbs 8:12, (NLT)

“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.”
__________

A reading from the Letters: Colossians 2:3 (GW)

God has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ.
__________

Reflection:

Wisdom here is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word and Christ in the heart, not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. It is the word of God, the whole compass of divine revelation; it is God the Word, in whom all divine revelation centers; it is the soul formed by the word; it is Christ formed in the soul; it is religion in the purity and power of it. Glorious things are here spoken of this excellent person, this excellent thing.
(Matthew Henry’s Commentary)
__________

Prayer:

__________

Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 07 Jun – Proverbs 7:4-5, 24-27 ~ the road to ruin

Growing in Character: Proverbs 7

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence and prayer

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
_____

Open my eyes, Lord, to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18 (NLT)
__________

A reading from Proverbs: Proverbs 7:4-5, 24-27 (NLT)

U.S. Public Health Service, United States, 1940s.

Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.
_____

So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.
__________

__________

A reading from the Gospels: Matthew 5:27-28 (NLT)

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
__________

Reflection:

Excerpted from “Flames of Desire” by Chip Bell (see full message here)

It is not amazing that men and women get involved in sexual sin. What is amazing is how much they are willing to pay for it….

What would make someone do that—risk so much to gain so little? Three things.

First, you usually don’t realize how much sexual sin is going to cost. It rarely comes with a visible price tag attached. The cost is hidden, and besides that, it’s pleasure purchased on credit, with unmentioned payments due for the rest of your life.

Second, sex is a powerful force. It compels people to voluntarily do things that they would never think themselves capable of doing under normal circumstances. The combination of sexual and emotional attraction is an undertow that captures people who are merely wading by the beach, sweeps them out to sea and does everything possible to drown them. Sex is powerful, but also deceptive, because those who are being swept out to sea are willing and excited about going on this adventure into deep water.

Third, sexual sin doesn’t begin with glaring and blatant transgressions. It starts with something very small and innocent—something that looks so harmless, it’s easy to allow. It starts with a desire.
__________

Prayer:

Almighty God, who alone gave us the breath of life, and alone can keep our hearts filled with Your holy desires: I ask You, trusting in Your infinite compassion, to sanctify my thoughts and endeavors; that I may neither begin an action without a pure intention nor continue it without Your blessing. And grant that, having the eyes of my mind opened to behold things invisible and unseen, my heart may be inspired by Your wisdom, and my work upheld by Your strength, and in the end, that I may be accepted by You as Your faithful servant; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
__________

Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 06 Jun – Proverbs 6:16-19 ~ seven things God hates

Growing in Character: Proverbs 6

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence and prayer

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
_____

Open my eyes, Lord, to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18 (NLT)
__________

A reading from Proverbs: Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)

There are six things the Lord hates — no, seven things he detests:
+ haughty eyes,
+ a lying tongue,
+ hands that kill the innocent,
+ a heart that plots evil,
+ feet that race to do wrong,
+ a false witness who pours out lies,
+ a person who sows discord in a family.
__________

A reading from the Epistles: Galatians 5:16, 24-25 (NLT)

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
_____

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
__________

A reading from the Gospels: John 16:8-11 (NLT)

When the Holy Spirit comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
__________

Reflection:

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: Proverbs 6:16-19 – Here is a list of things hateful to God. Those sins are in a special manner provoking to God, which are hurtful to the comfort of human life. These things which God hates, we must hate in ourselves; it is nothing to hate them in others. Let us shun all such practices, and watch and pray against them; and avoid, with marked disapproval, all who are guilty of them, whatever may be their rank.

Haughtiness, conceitedness of ourselves, and contempt of others — a proud look. Pride is at the bottom of much sin and gives rise to it… they overvalue themselves and undervalue all about them.
Falsehood, and fraud, and dissimulation. Nothing more sacred than truth, nor more necessary to conversation than speaking truth.
Cruelty and blood-thirstiness. The devil was, from the beginning, a liar and a murderer… so hands that shed innocent blood are hateful to God, because they have in them the devil’s image and do him service.
Subtlety in the contrivance of sin, wisdom to do evil, a heart that… and knows how to carry on a covetous, envious, revengeful plot, most effectually. The more there is of craft and management in sin the more it is an abomination to God.
Vigor and diligence in the prosecution of sin — feet that are swift in running to mischief, as if they were afraid of losing time or were impatient of delay in a thing they are so greedy of.
False-witness bearing is one of the greatest mischiefs… and against which there is least defence. There cannot be a greater affront to God (to whom in an oath appeal is made) nor a greater injury to our neighbor (all whose interests in this world, even the dearest, lie open to an attack of this kind) than knowingly to give a false testimony.
Making mischief between relations and neighbors, and using all wicked means possible, not only to alienate their affections one from another, but to irritate their passions one against another. The God of love and peace hates him that sows discord among brethren, for he delights in concord. Those that by tale-bearing and slandering, by carrying ill-natured stories, aggravating every thing that is said and done, and suggesting jealousies and evil surmises, blow the coals of contention, are but preparing for themselves a fire of the same nature.

__________

Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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