Daily Prayer: 07/20

Proverbs 17:1-3 “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.”Your Holy Word teaches us, Our Father, that a home that has less in this world’s goods and has a richness of spiritual relationships is better than a home that has all of the things they want – but is filled with strife. Even a servant in the home of the wealthy will fare better than a son who acts shamefully. Goodness always triumphs over unrestrained prosperity.

When we are placed in the crucible of refinement true values rise to the surface. The furnace of life burns away the dross and we become stronger in character than we have ever been. Finally, we know that we know. We praise you, O Lord, that you test us not primarily to show our weaknesses, but to bring out the best within us.

If this person who now prays is going through a time of furnace heat, remind this one that this is the way that golden lives are formed. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we worship.

Amen.