Author Archives: Grayson Pope

Reading: Proverbs 19-22; Psalm 4

Father, be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Answer me like you have before. When I’m angry, keep me from sinning. Give me the strength to bite my tongue and to work through it in silence. Help me to keep my trust in you. You have given me more joy than anything or anyone in this world. May you give me peace and sleep, knowing that my security and trust are in you. Forgive me for the times I have been angry at you for stupid decisions I have made. Give me the good sense that will make me slow to anger, then it will be my glory to overlook and offense. O Lord, deliver me from this acedia, this sloth that casts my soul into a deep sleep and leaves me in a state of exhaustion. Bring me back to a place of vitality and joy. I go on and on making my plans, but yours are the only ones that stand. Father, give me insight to draw out the purposes of people’s hearts that I might guide them towards you. But let me see that my wisdom, my counsel, and my understanding will never exceed yours. 

Reading: Proverbs 16-18; Psalm 3

Father, so many around us say there is no salvation in you. They mock your people and their genuine faith until our heads are held low. But you lift them up. When we cry aloud to you, you answer. They cannot say that about their gods. When we lay down and wake up, it is because you sustained us through he night. O Lord, bless your people today! I make plans, but what happens is up to you. I can plan my life, but you establish my steps. Nothing is outside your plans or control. Lead me to discover good things when I think over your Word. Fill me with gracious words that bring sweetness to the souls of my friends and family. Give me self-control that I might be slow to anger. Test and refine my heart that it might look more like yours. Change my heart not to take pleasure in expressing my own opinion, but in gaining understanding of your ways. My tongue can bring life or death into this world. May mine bring life today. 

Reading: Proberbs 13-15; Psalm 2

Father, why do we always try to separate ourselves from you? Why do we want to be our own gods and make our own plans? The kingdoms of the earth think they set their own destinies, but you laugh at their foolishness, knowing that you’ve established your everlasting Kingdom and installed Christ as its King. You have made the nations his heritage and are making the ends of the earth his possession. On that Day when your gospel has reached the corners of the earth your judgment will rain down on those kingdoms who plotted against you, and great will be their destruction. We should serve you in fear and rejoice with trembling at your power and authority. Father, guard my tongue, for if I continually use it I will sin against you. Encourage my spirit and my wife’s to discipline our children with diligence. It is exhausting at times, but if we love them we will persevere and you will give us the strength. Let me not live according to what seems right to me or any other human, but according to what is right to you. This is the path of life. Increase my fear and my wife’s fear of you that our children may see the confidence and hope we have in you. Make me slow to anger just like you, Father. Open my eyes continually to the plight of the poor so I do not overlook them. May I always remember that you delight in obedience, not sacrifice. 

Reading: Proverbs 10-12; Psalm 1

Father, may my delight be in your Word. I meditate on it night and day, seeking understanding. Make me like the tree planted by streams of water. Then regardless of the season I will thrive, yielding fruit when it is time. I want to be firmly planted in your Word so that I will stand on the day of your judgment and be counted among the righteous. You know my ways, Lord. Test me and know that I long to do what is right. Help me to be a diligent worker, for sloth does not lead to prosperity. May I receive instructions thoughtfully instead of babbling on about knowing better. Let me see that the more I talk, the more I sin. Make my words few and life-giving. Let my mouth bring forth wisdom and draw out understanding. Keep me from pride, which comes before the fall. Give me humility instead, which comes from wisdom. Let me not forget that money and possessions do nothing for me the moment I die, but treasures stored up in heaven pay back eternally. Father, keep me silent about the shortcomings and missteps of others. Fools are always right in their own eyes, but the wise receive instruction and consider it. Let me not be counted among the foolish who are like gravel in the mouths of others.