Friday - The Letter of James (James 5:12)

Welcome to Daily Prayer. We're coming to the end of our study on James.

He's focused a lot on words in this letter, and today we're looking at his warning against oaths.

As we begin our time together, let's quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord.

Lord, thank you for this day.

We know you love the truth.

Your Word is truth.

Keep falsehood and lies far from us.

Let us live in the peace and joy of a clear conscience.

we give all our worries and cares to you.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

A Scripture reading from James 5:12:

"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath,

but let your yes be yes and your no be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation."

A prayer of confession:

Lord, forgive us for taking our words and promises so lightly when you take them so seriously.

Forgive us for thinking that we have the right to decide when we'll be faithful and keep our word

and when we can take advantage of others or avoid the difficulty that our words may cause.

Forgive us for eroding trust and causing instability in our families and community through careless

and unfaithful words.

Forgive us for being flippant about our yes and no, based on what works better for us.

You've given us the gift of words to encourage, to strengthen, to build up, but we've used them to

tear down and manipulate, to fracture, and we've caused harm.

Lord, forgive us for dishonoring you with our words, and even more so,

forgive us for the times that we've attached your Name and reputation to our inconsistency and

deception.

Good Lord, have mercy.

Forgive us and renew a right spirit within us.

Prayers of gratitude and intercession:

Jesus, thank you that you are the Righteous One who has made a way for us to draw near.

Without you, no one could dwell in the house of the Lord.

But you have made us your dwelling place.

You have set us apart and given us your Holy Spirit so that we could become who you've declared us

to be. We are your holy people. You call us saints.

Lord Jesus, we receive your righteousness as a gift and embrace it as a way of life.

You call us to do what's right and speak the truth from our hearts. Help us to be quick to listen

and slow to speak, to guard our hearts.

Lord, your people are called to keep their word even when it hurts.

May we be so radically honest that any yes or no from your people is as good as done.

Protect us from the schemes of the enemy. Keep us from partnering in any way with the deceiver.

May the words of your people bring light and life and be a tree of life to all who eat them.

A moment of reflection:

Lord, is there any way I'm currently making commitments or communicating with others that's not in

line with how you want me to use words?

Let's listen to the passage again:

"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth, or by any other oath but

let your yes be yes and your no be no so that you may not fall under condemnation"

let's say our memory verse together one more time and let's live this way together

James 5:8,

"you too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near.

a closing prayer:

Lord keep falsehood and lies far from us.

May we speak the truth in love and always with hope.

May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to you

and may integrity and uprightness guard us, because we trust in you.

In the name of Jesus,

amen.