T.G.I.M. ( I'm a bit late this week )

"Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God." ( Proverbs 30:7-9 ) 

Whenever we feel at a loss as how to pray, we can be greatly encouraged because God's Word is so satisfying and complete that he has even provided for us the prayers to pray to Him. We can pray his Word right back to him. ( And sing it too! ) 

We can turn any Scripture into a prayer, but the Bible is full of prayers already formed: The Lord's Prayer, the Book of Psalms, Paul's epistles to the churches, and the Lord Jesus Christ's prayers. 

The Book of Proverbs contains only one prayer. And the pray(er) asks for two things in that one prayer: 

"Remove me from falsehood and lying." We live in a day when more than ever we need the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us discernment to navigate the voices all around us claiming to be from him while keeping our own lips holy and pure, speaking truth. I think of Isaiah 6 when the prophet realized only after witnessing the holiness of God how unclean his speech really was. 

"give me neither poverty nor riches" 

"feed me with the food that is needful for me"

I love this so much because my Mighty, Sovereign God knows exactly what I need before I even ask him. Our Lord Jesus reminded us of this in his Sermon on the Mount. And I know what I want, but I in no way know what I truly need. 

So we can pray this prayer each morning and trust Him: 

"Our Father in heaven, I need you to lead me and to feed me."

"He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." ( Psalm 23:3 ) 

"Give us this day our daily bread." ( Matthew 6:11 ) 

I think of this as we enter into the Thanksgiving holiday season and how grateful I am to pray these two prayers and know that no matter what comes my way, He is sovereign over it all. He has ordered my steps. Nothing comes into my life that he hasn't allowed because I am needful of it as he leads me always in the Truth. 

💜