The Examined Life

Plato said that the life not examined is not worth living. Let us continually analyze our own lives and ask the Holy Spirit to examine us as well. In our prayer this week, we will consider areas of rebellion, of grumbling, and of lack of submission to Gods will and His way with us.

The thoughts for our Scriptural Prayers below are taken from the following passages in the Bible:

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, ‘THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.’ Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the age have come.”

1 Corinthians 10:1-10

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:1

“Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not rule over me; then I will be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression.”

Psalm 19:12-13

ADULT PRAYER: O God, how easy it is for sin to creep in and take me over, for often it comes softly and quietly and I scarcely notice it. For example, do I murmur and complain? Are there parts of my life that I resent? Is that because I want my way more than I want Your way? INCREASE MY AWARENESS, Father. Set a watch before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. Order my steps, and don’t let willful sins rule over me. Help me now, O Lord my Savior!

PRAYER FOR CHILDREN: Dear God, please help me not to grumble or complain. Please help me to be cheerful and cooperative so that You can be proud of me! I love You, God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.