“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

Proverbs 9:9-12 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.9.9-12.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. I never knew Coach John Wooden, but it seems he had a great balance of fear and love as a coach. Did his players fear him? Did they respect him? Were they humble even with all the championships? Please pray that we and our friends “walk humbly” with God today and abide in Him. Please pray for a Spiritual Awakening.

“”I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”

Proverbs 8:12-17 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.8.12-17.esv

All,

This stands out because Wisdom says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” Do you search for the wisdom of the world of the Wisdom of God. The wisdom of the world is constantly changing and shifting, whereas the Wisdom of God is eternal and never changes. Please pray that we and our friends search for God’s Wisdom diligently today. Please pray for Jack Sullivan.

“My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Proverbs 7:1-3 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.7.1-3.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “write them on the tablet of your heart.” Do you still have your favorite verses memorized? Does the Holy Spirit nudge you at times or convict you at times with the Word that is on your heart? Please pray that we and our friends abide in Christ today. Please pray for Hunter and David’s group.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”

Proverbs 3:13-15, 21-26 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.3.13-15,21-26.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” How important to you is rest? It’s seems so subtle when we have it, yet so draining when we don’t. Only God can give us true rest. Do we believe Him? Please pray that we and our friends seek His wisdom. Please pray for all those with heavy burdens on their hearts.

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;”

Proverbs 2:1-6 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.2.1-6.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures”. Do we seek God’s Word like we seek silver? We live in a tangible world where silver goes a long way, but do we think about what is going on that is unseen? Do we remember that God has seen tomorrow like it was yesterday? He knows what’s in everyone’s minds. Please pray that we and our friends “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”(Matt 6:33). Please pray for Hunter and David as their group begins.

“If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.”

Proverbs 1:23 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.1.23.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you”. Do we ever think doing something outside of God’s purpose will give us joy? It is the opposite. However, we can repent and He will give us His Spirit and we get to enjoy the Fruit of the Spirit(Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control Gal 5:22-23). Please pray that we and our friends seek a deep relationship with Christ today. Please pray for the unspoken prayers that are in people hearts today.

“And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?””

Jonah 4:2-4 ESV

http://bible.com/59/jon.4.2-4.esv

All,

This stands out because Jonah says, “I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love”. Is there anyone that God doesn’t love? Is there anyone for which Jesus didn’t die on the cross? Do we see everyone as a immortal being with whom God wants to spend eternity? Please pray that we and our friends love the sinner and hate the sin. Please pray for Danielle as she recovers from a stroke.

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.”

Jonah 1:1-3 ESV

http://bible.com/59/jon.1.1-3.esv

All,

This stands out because the writer of Jonah says, “So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah didn’t want to follow the “nudge” God gave him to say the least. When it became so intense he tried to leave the presence of the Lord. Do we ever just try to ignore God’s nudges? Do they get more intense? When we look back at our best moments, are they born out of adverse conditions that we didn’t want to deal with? Please pray that we and our friends “obey God and leave all the consequences to Him”(Charles Stanley). Please pray for Joe’s group as it’s forming.

“Thus says the Lord God: “Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. He who is far off shall die of pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who is left and is preserved shall die of famine. Thus I will spend my fury upon them. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols. And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah. Then they will know that I am the Lord.””

Ezekiel 6:11-14 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ezk.6.11-14.esv

All,

This stands out because Ezekiel says, “Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.” Does God wink at us when we put other things above Him or trust other things more than Him? He knows these things are tempting, but He also knows they will ultimately lead us astray and hurt us, therefore He takes it VERY seriously because of His love for us. It’s a cancer that he doesn’t want to spread. Please pray that we and our friends ask God to expose the idols in our lives and get rid of them. Please pray for the Gregory family as Scott’s dad is with Jesus.

“When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.”

Isaiah 10:12-13 ESV

http://bible.com/59/isa.10.12-13.esv

All,

This stands out because the king of Assyria says, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding;”. Does God give us success in this world or do we earn it? Is there a fine line between the two? Did we decide to which parents to be born? Did we decide what time in history to be born? Are you being a good steward of the gifts and opportunities He has given you? Are you using those gifts to build His kingdom or yours? Please pray that we and our friends be about God’s purpose today. Please pray for Jack Sullivan and the whole Sully family.