7 day plan

Prayer – our passport to God

Day 7 of 7

CSB

Proverbs 4:23

23Guard your heart above all else,

for it is the source of life.

Reflection:  Over this week we have considered some simple guidelines for prayer, the discipline of prayer and a culture of prayer.

Today, our last in this seven-day series on prayer we will look at six things that prayer impacts:

  1. Prayer keeps us close to the Holy Spirit. To become like Caleb, we want to become utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit, as we can’t do God’s work without him.
  2. Prayer is the primary way the Christ is formed in us. See Galatians 4.19 “until Christ is formed in you”
  3. Prayer re-orientates toward the Light. We live in a complex world with many distractions and strident voices. How do we guard our heart and keep focused on God’s light? By constantly realigning our lives to God through prayer.
  4. Prayer is spiritually potent. See James 5.17 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours and he prayed fervently…”
  5. Prayer breaks chains. Chains of regret, pain, sin, addiction, brokenness.
  6. Prayer keeps God in the right perspective. We don’t get to a clear perspective on life and the world by trying to re position God in our worldview.

Prayer is something which, as people of the Risen Lord, we just have to keep practicing! Just do it!

Prayer:  Father God, I want to be oriented towards the Light. I do not want to be crushed by chains of past sins and hurt. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Heal me of my sins. Let me come to you each day, ready to live for you and in you. Amen.

© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

Days

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Suggested Plans

14

The Discipline of Suffering: Redeeming Our Stories

14

Heroes of the Faith. Examples to Follow

Proverbs 4:1-27

A Father’s Example

1Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline,

and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

2for I am giving you good instruction.

Don’t abandon my teaching.

3When I was a son with my father,

tender and precious to my mother,

4he taught me and said,

“Your heart must hold on to my words.

Keep my commands and live.

5Get wisdom, get understanding;

don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.

6Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;

love her, and she will guard you.

7Wisdom is supreme — so get wisdom.

And whatever else you get, get understanding.

8Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9She will place a garland of favor on your head;

she will give you a crown of beauty.”

Two Ways of Life

10Listen, my son. Accept my words,

and you will live many years.

11I am teaching you the way of wisdom;

I am guiding you on straight paths.

12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

13Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.

Guard it, for it is your life.

14Keep off the path of the wicked;

don’t proceed on the way of evil ones.

15Avoid it; don’t travel on it.

Turn away from it, and pass it by.

16For they can’t sleep

unless they have done what is evil;

they are robbed of sleep

unless they make someone stumble.

17They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

shining brighter and brighter until midday.

19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;

they don’t know what makes them stumble.

The Straight Path

20My son, pay attention to my words;

listen closely to my sayings.

21Don’t lose sight of them;

keep them within your heart.

22For they are life to those who find them,

and health to one’s whole body.

23Guard your heart above all else,

for it is the source of life.

24Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,

and don’t let your lips talk deviously.

25Let your eyes look forward;

fix your gaze straight ahead.

26Carefully consider the path for your feet,

and all your ways will be established.

27Don’t turn to the right or to the left;

keep your feet away from evil.

© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers