Finding a Freedom that Fulfills
Proverbs 14
14 The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
3 A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
5 An honest witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.
6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Stay away from a fool,
for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.
9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.
14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good rewarded for theirs.
15 The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,
but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
23 All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
but the folly of fools yields folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is deceitful.
26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,
and for their children it will be a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning a person from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s glory,
but without subjects a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
and even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin condemns any people.
35 A king delights in a wise servant,
but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
Finding a Freedom that Fulfills
30 Day Prayer Challenge
Every matter in the Christian life grows out of our personal walk with the Lord each day. John Bunyan said, “We can do more than pray after we have prayed, but we cannot do more than pray until we have prayed.” Prayer is the first work. Prayer is the great work.
We have been looking at where God might be leading us as a congregation to meet each week for worship and ministry. We are in conversations with various churches, places, and ministries in our city. Our goal is to find where we might best collaborate to succeed in our mission, vision, and values. We are so grateful to the Taco Jed staff and are including this place in our prayerful evaluation. Let us join together in prayer over the next 30 days in pursuing His will for us!
Would you take the challenge? Would you make a commitment to spend some time in earnest prayer every day for the next 30 days? Not only will you enjoy God’s presence and begin to see answers to prayer, but you will begin a pattern that you can continue for the rest of your life. In prayer, there is no place to stop, but there is a place to start.
A 30 Day Prayer Guide
Each day of this 30-day prayer calendar provides a specific prayer emphasis. The daily prayer assignment is meant to serve as a reminder to pray specifically. There are many things and people for which we should pray every day. Write down additional needs that are personal to you and keep a record of answers to prayer.
(Let me start you off with this and then click on the link below for the prayer guide)
Start (every day!) with these personal requests of God:
- Jesus, increase my faith.
- Fill me with your Spirit.
- Lead me to pray according to your will, discerning the mind of Christ.
- Enlarge my heart to love others like you love me.
- Cause me to delight in you and to be a delight to you.
Day 1, July 2 – Pray that God would help you to live consciously in His presence today. Psalm 5:3, 55:17
Day 2, July 3 - Asking God to bring provision and direction to our NewDay staff and leaders that we might discern how God wants most for us to serve in this community. Romans 15:30, 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Day 3, July 4 – ray for our nation’s leaders that God would give them wisdom and learn to trust Him for guidance. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Grateful to be on this journey with you,
Pastor John