Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25
Words matter. In anxious and fretful times, we do well to pay attention to our speech. Do our words spread our fears, our dread, and our angst? Or do our words guard our hearts and the hearts of others? In a culture that glorifies free speech and the right to say whatever we feel, whenever we want, this ancient wisdom should cause us to pause and consider our motives before we speak. We are not always called to cheerful speech, but weighing down the hearts of others just because we are anxious is never right.
Prayer - Loving God, guard my tongue today, and if possible allow me to stop the spread of anxiety in the ways I speak. Amen.
Written by Stacy Ikard, Senior Associate Pastor at WHPC
The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out. Proverbs 13:09
The proverb describes two distinctly different types of light. First, there’s “the light of the righteous.” The word for “light” in this case is the Hebrew “owr.” “Owr” always means a big light. It’s the word you use for sunlight and moonlight, for starlight and lightning, and for the brilliant light of God’s glory. The “lamp of the wicked” is different. In Hebrew, the word is “niyr.” This is a smaller and more ordinary light—it’s just a lamp. There’s nothing wrong with lamps; golden lamps were among the most precious items in the ancient temple in Jerusalem, and they can help us see in the dark. But a “niyr” is nothing compared to an “owr.”
The light of righteousness—or of justice, it’s the same word in Hebrew—always puts lesser lights to shame. The glitter of our idols is dull and cold compared with the glory of God.
Prayer - Mighty God of Justice, guide us by the glorious light of your love and truth. Help us to turn away from lesser lights—from the idols we have worshipped with our lives—idols of self and wealth, of image and success, of our own strength and perfection, which keep us from relying wholly on you, our God. Amen.
Written by Claire Berry, Associate Pastor at WHPC
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
Do you ever wonder if God cares if we are happy? I have heard many times that God gives the believer joy, not necessarily happiness. This proverb is one of many in scripture that makes it clear that God does indeed want us to delight in life and to be happy. The Hebrew word used for “desire” means just that—desiring for something in one’s heart. When a desire of our heart is fulfilled, consider all that it brings to our life: delight, satisfaction, contentment, joy, smiles, generosity. God wants God’s people to experience delight, but not just for the individual who has the desire fulfilled. God knows that delight is contagious. When one person’s desire is fulfilled, all who are around that person celebrate as well. When one person’s dreams are achieved, all who hear of his or her story are given hope. This proverb is a challenge for us to share with our community when our desires are fulfilled. The world needs to hear about God’s work in our lives—it is a tree of life.
Prayer - God of delight, joy, and happiness, whether I awoke today feeling these or am longing for them, may I be reminded that you care for me so deeply. Remind me that you have my best interests in mind. Remind me that in all things you are working out your purposes in love. May I experience your work in the world today and may it bring life to those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Written by Emily Wright, Senior Pastor at WHPC
Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the end of joy is grief. Proverbs 14:13
Our cities are burning;
Injustice is heaped upon injustice.
People have turned against each other;
The sins of the past and present rage among us.
You created us as equals. In your image.
Yet we insist that some have lesser value;
Turned your creation upside down. Made ourselves as gods.
Prayer - Awaken your people, O Lord;
Overthrow injustice. Strike down hatred.
Awaken your people, O Lord;
Rekindle hearts of love, compassion, courage.
Awaken the voices of the righteous, O Lord.
Bring your mighty Spirit to bear.
Return us to the right path, for your name’s sake.
Amen.
Written by Drew Beckley, Elder at WHPC
A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones. Proverbs 14:30
We know that stress is bad for our bodies. The author/collector of Proverbs tells us that envy, jealousy, and runaway emotions harm us down to our very bones. But we can give those things up to God. When we can be at peace with our life, and not envious of anyone else’s, we give health and life to our bodies—no matter what shape we are in.
Prayer - Giver of life, give me peace. Calm my mind. Help me let go of every thought of jealousy and unrest that ties me up in knots. Give me strength to enjoy what you have put into my life. Amen.
Written by Bill Allaway, Deacon at WHPC