I find it difficult to discern what is true and false in the news... difficult to distinguish between those who are telling the truth, those who are twisting the truth, and those who are lying.
I have my own positions on world events and politics and I acknowledge that my own biases and prejudices influence my discernment and opinions. I also acknowledge that those I side with cannot possibly always be right - and that those with whom I disagree cannot possibly always be wrong. Perhaps you find yourself in the same place...
Tonight I'm offering some advice from the Book of Proverbs, which I'll follow with a shorter prayer based on those verses. This Night Prayer will ask a little more of your time than usual - I pray that we'll all find that time profitable.
My child,
if you accept my words
and treasure up my commandments within you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
if you indeed cry 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;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,
guarding the paths of justice
and preserving the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
prudence will watch over you;
and understanding will guard you.
It will save you from the way of evil,
from those who speak perversely,
who forsake the paths of uprightness,
who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil;
those whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways...
Therefore walk in the way of the good,
and keep to the paths of the just...
Lord,
open my mind to your words,
my will to your commandments
and my heart to your wisdom...
Give me a hunger for wisdom
and a thirst for understanding
that I might seek and find
the knowledge of God…
Give me insight to find
what is fair and just;
let your wisdom enlighten
my mind and soul
and show me the path of prudence...
Deliver me, Lord, from evil
and from those who speak perversely,
whose hearts are selfish,
whose ways are devious,
whose paths are misleading and crooked…
But rather, Lord, help me discern
what is fair and good,
impartial and blameless,
honorable, pure and straightforward...
Guide me, Lord, in the ways of wisdom
that lead to your perfect justice
and give me the grace to walk this path
earnestly, humbly, sincerely...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep rest in your peace...
Amen.
And if that wasn't long enough - here are three songs to choose from! They're very different and I couldn't make up my mind, so...
Compelled by the gospel, outraged by injustice
and stirred by the wisdom of God
Seek truth, make peace reverence life.
Seek truth, make peace reverence life.
Seek truth, make peace reverence life
oh, reverence life.
Give us the courage to name and resist
the forces of hatred and greed.
May we walk as one with the poor and oppressed
'gainst the powers that keep them in need.
When evil within or without us divides
by gender, by class or by race
We will work for a circle of love open wide
where all will be welcomed and graced.
Let this be the vision we claim for the earth,
a day when all warfare shall cease
May the seeds that we nurture of justice and love
yield a life-giving harvest of peace
You can climb the highest mountain
Search the deepest sea
Go wherever you want to
For the truth about you and me
You can read a thousand books
Ask a million questions
But you'll never find the answers
In what the world can offer you
You can buy a dozen mansions
Own a hundred cars
Fly your own aeroplane
But none will satisfy
You can have a small fortune
Own a dozen stores
But you'll never find the answers
In the riches of the world
Seek the truth in your Redeemer
Seek the truth in His Word
Seek in Him all the answers
To your questions about life
And you and me
Seek the truth in Christ Jesus
Seek the truth in His Word
Seek in Him all the answers
For Jesus is the Way the Truth the Life
And the Truth you'll find
Will set you free
Are We Teaching the Truth in Love
by Acappella
Are we teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is (like it is)
Are we holding pure motives
Showing that we care
Are we teaching the truth in love
A man came to my Jesus
Telling all that he had done
To fulfill the good commandments
He knew every single one
But Jesus said there's something
that indeed he did lack
The savior told the truth
He didn't hold the message back
He was teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is
While holding pure motives
And showing that He cared
He was teaching the truth in love
A woman caught in evil and without an alibi
The truth so very obvious,
made no attempt to lie
With all the foes against her
how she felt so all alone
Till Jesus asked the people
who would throw the first stone
He was teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is
While holding pure motives
And showing that He cared
He was teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is
While holding pure motives
And showing that He cared
He was teaching the truth in love
Sometimes it's hard to know exactly
how we are to share
With the Master's words of confidence
Directly do we dare
Shouldn't we water down the message?
Should we tell them only parts?
Will they see Him in our message?
Will they see Him in our heart?
Are we teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is
Are we holding pure motives
Showing that we care
Are we teaching the truth
Are we teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is
Are we holding pure motives
Showing that we care
Are we teaching the truth
Are we teaching the truth
Are we teaching the truth
In love
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