Prayer

Heavenly Father, I give all glory and thanks to you this new day. I praise you, for you are holy and exalted over all the earth. No shadow has touched you, nor is there any darkness in you at all. Glory be to you, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Lord, in this vale of tears, where sin so easily entangles me, and where I so readily set my eyes on the things of this world, help me to lift up my eyes to the hills from where my help comes – my help comes from you, Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Please help me to set my mind on things above, not on things that are on earth. Feed me now from your holy word I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reading

Prov 1:10 - “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.”

Meditation.

We must heed the warning of Proverbs 1:10 . When sinners entice us, we must not consent. One of the most important aspects of heeding this warning is to be aware of the state of our own hearts, and to be protective over what we allow to influence our hearts. We must guard our hearts. If someone entices us to sin, we haven’t done the wrong thing. It’s only when we consent that we are entering in to that temptation sinfully. For this reason – again – we must guard our hearts: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov 4:23 ). The biggest danger is not in the temptation of the world or the words of the sinner, they can’t force us to sin. One of the biggest dangers comes when we entertain the temptation in our hearts.

Let me put it this way: there’s a door in your heart and mind, and you must keep careful watch on that door. You must see to it that only good things come in, and see to it that bad things stay out. When some enticement presents itself to us, and we ask the question in our minds: “What if I did that…?” At that point we are opening that door to entertain temptation in our hearts. If we’re imagining what it would be like to give in to some sin, the temptation is now already walking in and wiping its muddy shoes on the carpet of our hearts. We must guard our hearts, refuse even to entertain the “What if?”.

Be ye doers of the word…

When you hear that knock in your heart, look through the peep-hole of the door, notice who it is that’s standing there, and put an extra padlock on. Don’t even entertain the sinful ideas that the world lays before you. Instead, open the door of your heart to Christ alone. Let his words take up residence and abide in your heart and mind. As we read in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” If we’re musing upon and considering what it might look like to enact our temptations, by definition we’ve just failed that test. Lust subsists firstly in lustful thoughts (for example). I believe John Owen once said that the imagination is the gateway for temptation. Guard your heart, especially when sinners entice you. What enticements is the world laying on your door at the moment? Where and when have you been tempted to open and let them in? Fortify yourself against these occasions in prayer, and arm yourself to engage your enemy with the sword of the Spirit. SDG.

Prayer of Confession & Consecration.

Lord I thank you for refreshing my soul with your word. I thank you for a fresh draught of life to renew and invigorate me this morning. Lord, I long to be one who has my mind always set on Christ, who is seated at your right hand in heaven. I confess that often times I have rather set my thoughts and desires on the things of earth – please pardon me for my sin, it is very great. Please protect your people from worldly enticements, help us to abide in your word, and help us always and increasingly to have our minds occupied with heavenly glories, that we might turn all earthly moments into occasions for praise and joy in Jesus. Strengthen us, Lord, build up and strengthen your church. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray that my church would be full of and increasing in holy zeal toward you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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