MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL FOR 17th JULY
July 17, 2024
TODAY’S GOSPEL READING – 17 JULY
July 17, 2024
17 July, 2024
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. – Proverbs 31:30
Heavenly Father, we come before You in awe of Your wisdom and love, for You have created us in Your likeness, having the beauty of Your attributes, which we aspire to project, to grow in perfection. We recognize that the external attributes of charm and beauty, while not inherently wrong, are fleeting and ultimately do not define our worth or our identity in You. Lord, we confess that we sometimes fall into the trap of valuing ourselves and others based on outward appearances or the ability to charm and impress. Forgive us for these moments of misplaced priorities.
Teach us to see beyond the surface, to recognize and cherish the deeper, enduring qualities that reflect Your character. Grant us the grace to cultivate a reverent fear of You, O Lord. May our hearts be aligned with Your will, our lives marked by Your wisdom, and our actions rooted in Your love. Help us to embody the true beauty that comes from a heart fully devoted to You. Let our inner beauty, shaped by the fruit of the Spirit, shine brightly in a world often distracted by superficiality.
We pray specifically for the women in our lives—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and ourselves. May each woman find her true value and identity in You, rather than in the transient standards of the world. Empower us to encourage and uplift one another, celebrating the godly qualities that bring praise and honor to Your Name. Lord, we also ask for the men in our lives to appreciate and honor the women around them for their fear of the Lord and their inner beauty. May we all learn to value what You value and to seek what pleases You above all else. We offer this prayer in the precious name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen
