TRUTH: The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord ; be assured, he will not go unpunished. – Proverbs 16:4-5 ESV [LORD, forgive our pride and our arrogance at times. Forgive our choosing our own foolish ways instead of your wise way. Forgive us for examining others instead of ourselves and for comparing ourselves with others instead of with your perfect example that we are given to take up our cross and follow. Amen.]
HOPE: By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. – Proverbs 16:6 ESV
[LORD, it is your steadfast love and faithfulness that has saved us, not any works of our own that we could take credit for – only that you have shown us our sin and the wages of death that we deserve for our rebellion and wickedness. You have revealed through your awesome, holy, and righteous perfection how far away our lives have stayed incomparison so that through godly fear we understand our desperate need for forgiveness, salvation, renewal, and guidance to live in a new way. This is our HOPE, that you will come and live in us and change us and guide us in a new way. Help us turn away from evil and turn to you – as an abiding perspective of repentance in our lives. Amen.]
FAITH: When a man’s ways please the Lord , he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord . – Proverbs 16:7-8, 17, 20 ESV
[LORD, instruct us and guide our desires, our thoughts, our words, and our actions to be led by your Holy Spirit as we are instructed in walking in your spirit of righteousness and love. Convict us against sin so that we might resist the wiles of the enemy, and the temptations of the world, and the desires of our eyes and flesh, and the pride that waits in the shadows for an opportunity to rise up. Teach us to be at peace with, and to forgive, and to even pray for those who would make themselves our enemies. Teach us to be content in whatever we have and wherever you have us, as we learn to trust in you for our everything. Teach us to discern the difference between good, acceptable, and perfect and help us to find, enter, and walk the narrow path to the end, preserving our life and our joy from being stolen away by that hidden enemy whose fingerprints and stench are heavy upon the darkness of this fallen world. Show us your will, and lead us in it, so that our trust in you bears witness in our lives of our blessed assurance, of our being born again, of our being alive in Christ. Amen]
LOVE: Commit your work to the Lord , and your plans will be established. Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. – Proverbs 16:3, 13-13, 16 ESV
[LORD, you have taught us. Your Word is written upon our hearts. You will not let it be stolen away, but you have planted a seed in our hearts that you are watering and shining your light upon to bring the increase. Let everything we do be committed to the LORD. Set our eyes firmly upon you and establish our steps. Refine our lives so that the fruit of your Holy Spirit is found on our branch. Tie your colt to your choice branch, those who know, who believe, who trust, who understand that you do not just call us slave or servant or friend, but beloved. Let this understanding permeate into every area and every moment of our lives. Amen.]
Harold J. Ballinger 