Integrity

Proverbs 20:7 The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him

Day by day walking in integrity takes maximum effort.  Lying, cheating, stealing and getting-over is all so easy and so easily justified.  Ill gotten gain is indeed sweet at first but I want the blessed end.  I strive so that my children and children’s children will know and love you God.  I strive so my children will choose to follow my footsteps on the difficult path of integrity; one foot infront of the other, step by step, day by day; making the right choice, no matter how difficult. 

The payoff of integrity may not always be cashed by me, but I pray that my children will always reap the benefit.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

In you

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe

Searching for some where to hide. To safely and in rest abide.  To change the evil found inside. No where to hide, no where to hide. No rest elsewhere have I found. Only pains sorrows and frowns.  I search and search the world around. No where to hide, no where to hide. The shame I felt, relief unreal. like eating crackers for a meal. like hoping four sides make a wheel, unsatisfied, unsatisfied.  But then you found me, said come in, In spirit and in truth began. You cleansed me made me new inside. In you I hide, In you I hide.

 

Just so angry

Proverbs 16:32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

The greatest war that I have ever fought is the war within me.  Its challenging not to let anger rage and words of flames incinerate those who offend me.  It’s easy to fell offended when its time for promotion and my name is not called.  I so easily feel taken advantage of by others, but its anger that tries to manipulate me.  Anger shouts and fills my head with noise so I can not hear reason.  Anger floods my veins with fire and so consumes my compassion.  Anger’s proud voice tries to mimic my own and says you have a right and they have none.  But who am I but ash and dust?

Father, I thank you for the gift of anger and the understanding that anger is for danger; not for me to become a danger to those undeserving.  Help me to become mighty in self-control and great in perseverance.  May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be ever filtered by your great grace and your mighty mercy towards me.  Amen

 

Just as I am

Proverbs 12: 9 Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

It’s vital for us to look in the mirror and accept what we see.  Instead we often walk away and pretend that the mirror has become a trick mirror suddenly.  We are people of pretense, but God requires, He seeks for worshippers who present themselves to him without disguise or arrogance.  Pride prevents prudence and arrogance agitates anger. 

Lord, help me to be humble; to serve on my road, to work my land, to be content and diligent with all you have given me and where you have placed me.  Help me to be wise; to use my words with the measurement of a baker, to conceal knowledge and wisdom and not squander them like an undisciplined youth who received an inheritance.  Let the words of my mouth, the places I rest my mind, the things I pursue and the people in whom I confide always be pleasing to you, just and wise.  Amen

 

No Shame

Proverbs 10:5  He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

Just the idea of being your son God, plucks at the strings of my heart.  My biological father never treated me like a son should be treated.  Growing up fatherless did a couple of things for me.  First it made me want to be a great dad, secondly it made me want to be a great son.  I never want to bring shame to you.  Lead me in your ways.  I never want to be sleeping when I should be shining.  Help me to be prudent, to do the work that is so needed to bring others into your kingdom. 

Keep my eyes open with compassion and my feet moving with love.  May my eye’s never grow weary, heavy with selfishness and greed.  May my limbs never go limp from a lack of concern for the fatherless and widows, for the lost and hurting.

Father, I want to move when it’s time to more, I want to cry when its time to cry and give all that you’ve called me to give. 

Bless me to be a son that never brings you shame.  In Jesus name, amen.