Last night, at RBC Board meeting, I handed out this prayer guide to all the men before we broke into our prayer groups for the evening.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness [kindness and truth] forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success [repute] in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,
for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs Three
Prayer requests from this passage:
That we would remember God’s teaching by keeping it in our hearts. We forget teaching so quickly. Our minds and hearts are feeble. We are so easily distracted.
Only the Lord can place kindness and truth together fully and perfectly. Each one of us misses the mark by being too soft (sacrificing truth) or too harsh (sacrificing kindness). As board members, we must be men of good repute. This good repute (and success/favor with God and man) comes when steadfast love and faithfulness are always present in our hearts.
We need wisdom. But the biggest barrier is the so-called-wisdom of our self-centered thinking. We need the Lord’s help to stop leaning on our own understanding.
Seven words make all the difference here: Be not wise in your own eyes. Ask the Spirit of God for the grace-gifts of repentance, humility, and a teachable heart. Confess our need to turn away from evil. Pray that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction to those in our flock who are playing with evil.
Ask for wisdom and courage to honor the Lord with our wealth – both individually (your own households) and corporately (as stewards of the church’s resources).
Thank the Lord for His correction, discipline and reproof. Ask Him for humility to receive it with thanksgiving. Ask Him for courage to deliver His Word to others.