Morning Prayer for Friday, February 6, 2026

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Praying the Scriptures

Friday Morning Prayer

February 6, 2026

“I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities.” — Psalm 31:7

Lord,

As the pale light of dawn stretches across the Florida Mountains, the high desert air holds the sharp, lingering chill of February. Standing here on this Friday morning, amidst the quiet dust and the vast, open sky of Deming, I feel the stillness of the season resting heavily upon the earth. The world seems dormant, waiting for a warmth that has not yet fully arrived, mirroring the quiet spaces within my own soul where I wait for Your presence to stir.

You know the weariness that can settle in at the end of the week, and You see the fragilities I often try to hide. I confess that I frequently rely on my own limited strength, only to find it insufficient, yet I find deep comfort in knowing that You look upon my struggles not with judgment, but with an abiding and steadfast care. Let Your light break through the shadows of my uncertainty just as the morning sun reclaims these plains, reminding me that Your power is made perfect in my weakness and that I am fully known and held by You.

As I move into the duties of this day, give me the eyes to see the small, subtle ways You are bringing about growth in the barren places. Help me to trust that even the smallest seed of faith is enough to invite Your transformative power into my life, turning my anxieties into a quiet confidence. May I walk through these hours with a heart attuned to Your love, believing that You are cultivating beauty and purpose from the very things I thought were too small to matter.

Amen.

May the steadfast love that knows our struggles embrace us all, transforming our quiet hopes into shared strength and guiding our steps into peace.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Verse of the Day for Friday, February 6, 2026

 

Verse of the Day

Friday, February 6, 2026

Proverbs 21:21

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.

Introduction

In a world that often prioritizes the acquisition of status, security, and accolades, Proverbs 21:21 offers a counter-cultural roadmap to the good life. We are accustomed to "chasing" success directly—networking for honor or working exhaustively for a stable life. However, Biblical Wisdom suggests that the things we want most (life and honor) are actually byproducts of a different pursuit entirely: the pursuit of character.

This proverb captures the heart of Israel’s wisdom tradition: the belief that the moral universe has a grain to it, and that aligning oneself with God’s character is the only sure path to genuine flourishing.

Understanding the Context

To fully appreciate the weight of this verse, we must look at the specific Hebrew vocabulary used. The wisdom of Proverbs often relies on pairing complementary words to create a total picture of virtue.

• The Action: Pursues (Radaph)

The Hebrew word used here is strong; it implies an intense, active chasing. It is often used in the context of hunting or military pursuit. This is not a passive wish for goodness; it is an aggressive, intentional orientation of one's will.

• The Virtues: Tsedaqah and Chesed

  • Righteousness (Tsedaqah): This refers to social justice, equity, and doing what is right according to the standard of God’s law. It is ethical and normative.

  • Kindness (Chesed): Often translated as "steadfast love," "mercy," or "covenant loyalty." This is relational warmth, generosity, and fidelity that goes beyond legal obligation.

• The Genre Note: It is important to remember that Proverbs are principles, not promises. They describe how God designed the world to work generally. While we know that righteous people sometimes suffer (a theme explored in Job and Ecclesiastes), Proverbs asserts that, generally speaking, a life built on virtue tends toward stability and respect, whereas a life of wickedness tends toward destruction.

Commentary

This verse presents a "Character-Consequence" dynamic. It posits that the "Good Life" cannot be found by seeking it directly; it is found only by seeking God’s will.

The Twin Pillars of Virtue

The combination of Righteousness and Kindness is significant.

• Righteousness without Kindness can become cold legalism, judgmentalism, or rigid adherence to rules without concern for people.

• Kindness without Righteousness can become sentimental enabling, lacking the moral backbone to stand up for truth or justice.

Biblical wisdom requires both: the structural integrity of doing what is right (Tsedaqah) and the relational warmth of loving people (Chesed).

The Reward Found

The text promises that the pursuer will "find" two things:

1. Life: In the wisdom tradition, "life" is more than biological respiration. It implies vitality, fullness, community, and peace—what the Hebrews called Shalom.

2. Honor: While the world seeks honor through dominance or wealth, biblical honor is the weight of respect accorded to a person of integrity. It is a reputation that stands the test of time.

Interestingly, the verse implies you find what you didn't chase. You chased virtue, and you stumbled upon a good life.

Application for Today

How do we translate this ancient wisdom into modern practice?

• Reframing Ambition: In our careers and personal planning, we often set goals based on the result: "I want to be a VP by 40" or "I want to be famous." Proverbs 21:21 asks us to set goals based on character: "I want to be the most just and compassionate person in my industry." The text suggests that the influence (honor) we crave will naturally follow that integrity.

• The antidote to "Burnout": Many people burn out chasing "Life" (financial security, health fads, perfect circumstances). There is a restfulness in shifting the focus to pursuing righteousness. We cannot control the outcome of our lives (whether we get the promotion or the recognition), but we can control our pursuit of kindness. Focusing on what we can control reduces anxiety.

• Community Building: Apply this to your local community or church. A community that pursues Chesed (loving-kindness) and Tsedaqah (justice) becomes a place of "Life." It becomes a refuge. If we want our communities to be honored and vibrant, we shouldn't focus on marketing them; we should focus on the moral content of our interactions.

Reflection

The imagery of "pursuit" in Proverbs 21:21 is a convicting mirror. It forces us to ask: What am I actually hunting when I wake up in the morning?

If we are honest, many of us are hunting comfort, validation, or control. We treat righteousness and kindness as things we squeeze in if we have time—optional accessories to our main pursuits. But the Proverb reverses this. It suggests that righteousness and kindness are the prey we should be chasing with the intensity of a hunter.

There is a profound freedom in this. We are released from the burden of manufacturing our own legacy ("Honor") or securing our own existence ("Life"). These are gifts God bestows upon those who are busy doing something else: loving their neighbor and walking uprightly. The paradox is that by giving our lives away to the pursuit of goodness, we are the ones who end up finding life.

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The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Verse of the Day is a daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse, extracted from BibleGateway.com. Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Daily Devotions for Friday, February 6, 2026: A Legacy of Trust: Finishing Well

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The Daily Devotional

Friday, February 6, 2026

A Legacy of Trust: Finishing Well

“For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth... Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent.” — Psalm 71:5,9

Introduction

When we are in our 20s and 30s, we feel invincible. We drive the road of life believing that if we make a wrong turn, there is plenty of time for a mid-course correction. No problem. But then 50 rolls around, and the "roller coaster of life" accelerates. We whip around the curves, dip into the tunnel, and explode out the other side, brakes squealing, sliding haltingly into our 60s.

Suddenly, retirement isn't a distant dream; it is a yawning reality. As we watch the generation before us pass on—parents, uncles, older siblings—in my case, younger siblings—we realize our number in the "pecking order of life" isn't far away. We begin to ruminate on our legacy. We tally the good we’ve done and the good we left undone, wondering how we will be remembered. But the Psalmist suggests that our greatest legacy isn't found in what we achieved, but in Who we held onto when the ride got rough.

Reflection

Think of a classic, vintage automobile. For decades, it roared down the highway, powerful and sleek, turning heads with its speed and performance. But time is undefeated. Eventually, the gears grind, the suspension stiffens, and the engine sputters on steep hills. You can paint the exterior, but you cannot hide the mechanical wear of high mileage.

We are much like that machine. For years, we rely on our own horsepower to get the work done. But eventually, the "check engine" light of old age flickers on, and it refuses to turn off. I know this reality intimately. It isn't just a philosophical concept; it is the sharp, daily reminder of degenerative disk disease when I try to straighten my back. It is the frustration of torn rotator cuff muscles making a simple reach difficult. It is the deep, nagging ache of worn-out hip joints protesting every step I take.

Old age brings a distinct characteristic: weakness. It strips away our physical autonomy. In this season, we face a crossroads. We can spend our days in never-ending grumbling, bitter that our "parts" are wearing out. That is where many end up. Or, we can view these aches—the hips, the back, the shoulders—as the dawn of a glorious new attitude.

When our physical strength ebbs, our spiritual strength has the chance to soar. The greatest legacy we can leave is not a list of professional conquests, but a witness of reliance. It is looking at our broken body and saying, "Lord, I used to trust You with my strength; now I trust You with my weakness." Christ is the main work. From Him flows a legacy that says, "I trusted Him in the sunshine of my youth, and I trust Him still in the storm of my pain."

Application

Pain has a way of turning our focus inward, making our world very small. Today, try to flip that script.

Challenge: The next time you feel a specific twinge of pain—whether in your back, shoulder, or hip—use it as a physical "bell" calling you to prayer. Instead of grumbling, "My back hurts," try praying, "Lord, my back is weak, but You are my Rock. Be my strength right now." Let your physical limitation become a trigger for spiritual reliance.

Conclusion

Old age and the accumulation of physical ailments are not signs of failure; they are the natural course of a life measured out in days of grace. Your legacy will not be written in how well your joints held up, but in how well your faith held on. "Dear Lord, forsake me not in my old age! Let my legacy be that I trusted You until my very last breath."

Prayer

Gracious Father, my Rock and my Fortress, I thank You that You have been my trust from my youth until now. You know the frame of this body; You know the sting of degenerative disks, the ache of worn hips, and the frustration of limited movement. Lord, keep me from the temptation to be bitter. When my body fails me, remind my spirit that You never will. Do not forsake me when my strength is spent. Instead, let my endurance through pain be a testimony to my family and friends that You are enough. May I finish this race trusting You more today than I did when I was strong. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA

The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.