Our heavenly father, thank you for the wisdom of Proverbs. In response to our reading, we ask you to strengthen our character so that we would never be guilty of living as righteous in our own eyes, blind or indifferent to negative, unproductive attitudes that we might carelessly allow to creep into our conduct. To save us from serving self, give us wisdom and discernment to see our witness as others might, and convict us of faults and shortcomings.
Teach us to also to act unto others as ambassadors to your kingdom: teach us to give, not take; to be generous, not stingy; to be humble, not proud; to act with discipline, not with mindless abandon; to show patience with others, not impatience; to be known as sowers of peace, not sowers of discord; to be found gracious in speech, not with a wagging, gossipy, or grumbling tongue; to be considerate of all, not rude or selfish. May we, by the power of your Holy Spirit, be recognized as people of character, living lives fit for your kingdom and bearing witness to your truth. For we know that you have promised victory to the humble and the sincere (not the religious!), those in whose hearts praise leaps up for grace, free to the human race. Amen!