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“She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.”
- Proverbs 31:16-19 NIV
I pray Your light would shine so brightly in and around our house that no evil would dare approach it. I pray that as a family we would arm ourselves with the promises in Your Word that assure us of protection…
PROTECTIVE
SHE PERCEIVETH THAT HER MERCHANDISE IS GOOD: HER CANDLE GOETH NOT OUT BY NIGHT. –Proverbs 31:18
Lord,
I’m thankful that You understand the tendency we have as humans to fear. You know how I struggled much of my life with fear of the dark and being alone.
When it’s dark, our minds can really play tricks on us. A piece of clothing visible through open closet doors, sheathed in darkness, can become a veritable boogey-man in the mind of a child. A branch of a bush brushing against a window of the house must certainly be a dreaded invader…
Help me to recognize potential situations that could cause alarm and deal with them before they become a problem. Give me a keen awareness of what my children see on television or in a book, that could open a door to fear.
I pray our home would be so full of You that there would be no room left for fear. I pray Your Spirit would fill our house from wall to wall and ceiling to floor--and that every nook and cranny would also be filled. I pray Your light would shine so brightly in and around our house that no evil would dare approach it. I pray that as a family we would arm ourselves with the promises in Your Word that assure us of protection.
God, I know there are limits as to what I can do to guard my children. There will always be “spooky stories” told at overnight outings that I won’t be able to monitor and other situations I can’t control.
Help me to do all I can to make our home feel secure, but more than anything, help me to build a shield around my children with Your Word. Help me to train them to know You as their everlasting and constant companion. Let me feed them Your Word everyday. Make me as dedicated to their spiritual feeding as I am to their physical.
I pray that throughout their lives they would be so secure in You that even when they may find themselves in the dark—Your light would shine so brilliantly in their hearts that they would always be able to find their way.
__________________________________
Psalm 18:28 – For Thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
Psalm 4:8 – I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
Hebrews 13:5-6 – Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Luke 11:36 – If thy whole body therefore be full of light having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light; as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 – Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1 Peter 2:9 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 John 1:5 – This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
You’re My Light
There’s something more than I ever dreamed was possible
There’s something more than I ever dreamed there could be
You came into my life—and You made the darkness bright
You are my light
It was too dark to see
Nothing made any sense to me
Now You’re my light
You’re my light
The Bible says You are the light of the world
And with You in me—that’s all the light that I need
There was a time when I had to fight—just to make it through the night
Now You’re my light—You’re my light
There’s something more than I ever dreamed was possible
There’s something more than I ever dreamed there could be
You came into my life—and You made the darkness bright
You are my light
It was too dark to see
Nothing made any sense to me
Now You’re my light
You’re my light
Copyright Christina Cook Lee 1978
It doesn't matter how experienced or qualified I am in any area of endeavor. If I am doing all I can with what I know and am working to improve--then I need not be ashamed...
CONFIDENT IN HER GOD GIVEN ABILITIES
SHE PERCEIVETH THAT HER MERCHANDISE IS GOOD: HER CANDLE GOETH NOT OUT BY NIGHT. --Proverbs 31:18
Lord,
Thank You for the abilities You have given me. I confess I lack confidence in some areas and tend to still see myself as a child in some ways.
In my younger life I always looked up to people who were adults and assumed that most everyone was my superior. Now that I am older, I find myself still doing the same thing...even though I have a lot of experience. Help me to walk in the maturity I have acquired.
Don't let me apologize for the quality of things I make. Whenever someone compliments me, it seems like I begin to point out the flaws of the subject of their admiration. I guess I feel like they're just trying to be nice and don't really mean what they're saying. Help me to see that what I am saying is a direct insult to their taste. When I'm complimented and I refuse to accept the praise, I'm saying that the person is ignorant, uninformed, or that they just don't know what they're talking about.
If I say, "Thank you", in a polite and receptive manner, the person giving the compliment feels complimented in return. Part of being confident is believing in your own ability. If I have done something the best way I know how, what difference should it make to me if someone else could have done it better? I did my best. To compare myself to others isn't having confidence in my abilities. It doesn't matter how experienced or qualified I am in any area of endeavor. If I am doing all I can with what I know--and am working to improve, then I need not be ashamed.
Help me to remember one more thing about this, Lord. If I have prayed before doing something--that You would help me do it right and well, then when I reject a compliment, I've not only insulted the person who gave it, but I've also insulted You. Let my confidence be in You and let me receive praise and give You glory.
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2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Corinthians 1:31 - That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
When unexpected things occur in my schedule, as they do almost all of the time, I'm forced to regroup. I admit, it's tempting just to eliminate or procrastinate. Help me when I find myself in that position not to let things slide...
PERSISTENT
SHE PERCEIVETH THAT HER MERCHANDISE IS GOOD: HER CANDLE GOETH NOT OUT BY NIGHT --Proverbs 31:18
Lord,
In my quest for virtue, I am finding the demands are very high. There are so many areas of my life that need improvement. Sometimes it seems impossible there could be enough hours in a day in which to accomplish all I need to do. If I weren't very serious, it would be easy to throw in the towel and say, "I guess I'll just never be that great".
This proverbial lady is so determined she stays up late if she has to, in order to finish her daily goals.
When unexpected things occur in my schedule, as they do almost all of the time, I'm forced to regroup. I admit, it's tempting just to eliminate or procrastinate. Help me when I find myself in that position not to let things slide. Encourage me instead to cheerfully crucify my flesh and stretch a little further.
Make me willing to repeat my attempts over and over until I succeed. Don't let me be wishy-washy...one day determined, the next day blase'. Give me a consistent dedication to virtue in every area of my life. Help me to desire perfection more than sleep.
Let me remember that You often stayed up late to pray and that Your work continued into the night when you were here on earth. The Bible says You were in all points tempted as I am, yet without sin. Sleep can be a delicious escape from reality. At different times of my life when pressures were heavy, it seemed as though no amount of sleep was enough. I know my body will always tell me it needs more. Help me to be in authority over my body and bring it into subjection.
Proverbs 20:13 says, "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty". Keep me in control, Lord. Make me willing to keep my candle lit.
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Matthew 26:36-44 - Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me.
And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt.
And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.
And He came and found them asleep again; for their eyes were heavy.
And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Matthew 14:25 - And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Luke 6:12 - And it came to pass in those days, that He went out to a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
John 3:2 - The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.
Hebrews 4:15 - For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
1 Corinthians 9:27 - But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
I hardly gain any fulfillment when my attempts have been half-hearted. But, the feeling I get when I have done my best is like nothing else...
FULFILLED
SHE PERCEIVETH THAT HER MERCHANDISE IS GOOD: HER CANDLE GOETH NOT OUT BY NIGHT --Proverbs 31:18
Lord,
Thank You that one way we receive joy is as a gift from You when we are doing well in our work. Working is a fact of life for most of us, whether we work outside the home or choose to concentrate all of our efforts on domesticity.
With everything I undertake, I make decisions. I determine how important tasks are by my thoroughness. I can breeze through my duties hitting the high spots, or I can spend a little more time and do them right.
The woman of Proverbs, obviously cares about the quality of her work, as I have already seen. She is aware of her competitors in the marketplace and knows what kind of merchandise they have to offer. She takes herself and her labor seriously and derives great pleasure from a job well done.
I hardly gain any fulfillment when my attempts have been half-hearted. But, the feeling I get when I have done my best is like nothing else.
Lord, help me to improve my attitude as I work by concentrating on happy thoughts and meditating on Philippians 4:8..."Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things".
I'm sure that as I direct my attention to those kind of things, the time will pass more quickly when I'm doing unpleasant chores--better yet, maybe I won't notice if something is unpleasant, when my mind is in the right place.
Please help me to always do my best, so that I can hold my head high. Let me approach every responsibility with the attitude that You will be inspecting it personally. Help me to desire nothing more than to hear You say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:23).
