Dave's Diary

Prayer

Almighty God, You are my Lord and my God. Show me how to be more pleasing to You today. Show me how my daily life can be an offering of worship. Amen.

Reading

Read Proverbs 27 slowly and prayerfully. Notice which verse particularly jumps out at you. Re-read that verse a few times, slowly. Write it down in your journal. Try to memorise it so that you can reflect on it without having to read from the page.

Prayerful Reflection

Now take that Proverb and think about your life at the moment. Is there a situation in your life to which that Proverb applies. Ask the Lord how this verse from His Word is telling you to live out His wisdom in that situation. Make notes in your journal.

A Devotional Thought

Proverbs 27: 
¹ Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring. (NIVUK)

The future is always a matter of some uncertainty, so while we often feel like we know what to expect of the coming day, we also know how easily those pesky, unpredictable events can arise to upend our plans. In a section of his letter clearly based on this Proverb, the apostle James reminds us that we ought only ever to say: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:15)

Today it strikes me that the principle of this Proverb is actually very positive for Christ-followers . Acknowledging our uncertainty about tomorrow and our dependence on God is less about being conscious of the unpredictability of events that are outside of our control, and more about being conscious of the unpredictability of God’s call. While it is always wise to be fully aware of our absolute dependence on God in the face of unpredictable events, it is also our calling to live in absolute surrender to His will. Every day of our lives we should therefore be open to the possibility of being led by the Holy Spirit in a new and different direction to the one we might have expected. So rather than being completely certain that this is what I will do today or tomorrow, we ought always to be open to the Spirit leading or calling us in a slightly different direction.

Prayer

Lord, I surrender to Your sovereignty and to Your Lordship over my life. I surrender to Your beautiful will and commit myself to staying in step with the Holy Spirit’s prompting and guiding today. Amen.