Romans 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read Romans 1.

Meditate on verse 16.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel,


for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,

 to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Gospel means good message, specifically the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul examined the Gospel of Jesus Christ from every angle in order to prove salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel because he knew it was the power of God for salvation to everybody who believes it.

In the Gospel, God’s righteousness is revealed. God also reveals His wrath against everyone who suppresses the truth of the Gospel by living in unrighteousness.

A person who refuses to honor God and exchanges the truth of God for a lie is in a horrific place. God tells you in Romans 1 that every human knows God, yet some will become fools and deny God. The punishment for such a deadly decision is that God gives fools over to their lusts, degrading passions, and depraved minds (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).

Pray Romans 1:16 and 21 over those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let not be ashamed of the Gospel.

Let them believe, so they can have Your power for salvation.

 Let them know You, honor You, and give thanks to You.

 Do not let them become futile in their thinking


or let their hearts be darkened and foolish.


In Your name, Jesus~”

For the next four months, you will read and pray the 21 letters of the New Testament. The LORD wrote these letters to teach you the truth about who He is and how you as a Christian are to live in relationship with Him and others.

The WATCHMAN on the WALL  by Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 31 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 31.

Meditate on verses 10-11 and 30.

An excellent wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Just as the virtues in Titus 1:6-9 make a good list for a man to be or for a woman to look for in a husband, Proverbs 31:10-31 is a list of virtues to aspire to as a woman and characteristics to look for in a wife. This woman can inspire us all!

It can be a difficult passage of Scripture for many women because it lays out a woman of such high standards they feel defeated by it. The characteristics of a Godly, hard working wife and mother are displayed with a climactic ending that summarizes the book of Proverbs and explains why this woman was a success.

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

—Proverbs 31:30b

Proverbs ends with the truth God used to start the book, the truth He wanted you to learn as you prayed this book: 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

—Proverbs 1:7a

Fear of Almighty God is the only way to gain true wisdom and success in this life.

This woman’s fear of God even brought her praise in the gates of the city (Proverbs 31:31).

The city gate was where the elders, nobles, judges, and leaders would sit and do the business of the city or region. It was the official gathering place. It was here that her Godly behaviors were being upheld and praised. Throughout Proverbs men have been valued for wisdom, discretion, and righteousness. It is fitting that Proverbs ends with the woman of virtue being praised.

Two final thoughts:

Ø  Husband, let your wife be all God wants her to be, and do not envy her praise, for it is yours as well. 

Ø  See the value of Godly behavior as a public witness to God’s work in your life. May God be praised in the city gates!

Pray Proverbs 31:10-11 and 30-31 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make _______ an excellent wife, whose worth is far above jewels. 

Let her husband trust her.  May this couple have no lack of gain. 

LORD, charm is deceitful and beauty is vain; may we be people who fear You.

 May what we do bring You praise in the gates.

For the sake of Your Kingdom, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 30 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 30.

Meditate on verses 3-4.

Neither have I learned wisdom,
nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
 Who has ascended into Heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the Earth?
What is His name or His son’s name?
Surely you know!

Here is Agur, who described himself as the stupidest man on earth.  Despite being inspired by God to write down his brilliant observations, he sees himself as not very smart.; so stupid in fact, he is less than a man in his understanding (Proverbs 30:2).

However, he asks some important questions. 

Ø  Who has ascended into heaven and descended?

Ø  Who can gather the wind in His fists or wrap the waters in His garment? 

Ø  Who has established all the ends of the earth? 

Ø  What is His name? 

Ø  What is His son’s name?  “Surely you know!” 

Maybe Agur is not so stupid after all.

Well, as a result of your privileged place in history, you know the answer to Agur’s questions. His name is Jesus!

Paul asked similar questions in 1 Corinthians 2:11 and 16:

Who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man

 which is in him? And who has known the mind of the LORD, that he will instruct Him?

Paul concluded that the Holy Spirit knows. And, as a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit; therefore, you know because you have the mind of Christ!

With your New Testament understanding of the LORD, who has revealed Himself to you through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, pray with confidence Proverbs 30:3-4 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, thank You for giving ________ and me

wisdom and knowledge of You, the Holy One.

You have ascended into heaven and descended.
You have gathered the wind in Your fists.
You have wrapped the waters into Your garment.
You have established all the ends of the earth.
It is You, YAHWEH, and Your Son’s name is Jesus!
Surely we know!”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 29 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 29.

Meditate on verses 18.

Where there is no vision, the people go unrestrained,

but happy is he who keeps the law.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Perish and unrestrained are the words used to describe what happens to people without a vision. Without purpose, direction, and focus, people are undisciplined and unruly.

But, when people know God’s truth and His vision, they stop wandering aimlessly; they stop trying to figure out life on their own.

Herb Hodges describes the importance of churches having vision for the direction they are to go in his book, Tally Ho, the Fox! He used the foxhunt illustration for understanding. At the start of the hunt, the dogs are meeting each other; some of the riders are talking; some are dismounted and working with their gear. Then the horn blows, and the fox is released. “Tally ho! The fox!” Everyone, every horse, and every dog is now focused on the common goal of chasing the fox.

In the same way, congregations need to have a common focus in following the LORD’s will for their church. Individual families should have vision from the LORD on why they exist and what their purpose is.

Pray Proverbs 29:18a over your family, your church, and others for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, give _______ and me Your vision.

Help us stay focused on it,

so we are not unrestrained

 and so we will not perish.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 28 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 28.

Meditate on verses 7a and 9.

He who keeps the law is a discerning son,

He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

Prayer warriors, this is an important passage of Scripture for you. Your effectiveness in praying and discernment in praying are directly connected to your walk with the LORD.

In 1 Peter 3:7, husbands are told to treat their wives correctly so their prayers are not hindered. In Isaiah, it is not the LORD’s capabilities that affect prayers but human sins (Isaiah 59:1-2).

In Proverbs 28, the discerning son is one who keeps the law. But the one who turns his ears from hearing the law will have the consequence of prayers that are an abomination to God.

Pray for divine sensitivity to discern areas of your life where the LORD needs to forgive you for sin, so your prayers will not be hampered.

Pray Proverbs 28:7 and 9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make _______ and me discerning.

Help us keep Your law.

Let us not humiliate You or our earthly fathers.

Do not let us turn our ears from listening to Your law,

so our prayers will not be an abomination.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 27 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 27.

Meditate on verses 1, 2, 6, and 17.

Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

a stranger, and not your own lips.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

Iron sharpens iron,

 so one man sharpens another.

The Bible has many verses about not being invested in the cares of tomorrow since you are not in control of that day nor much of the one you are in currently. This understanding leads to a humble, constant trust in the LORD throughout each day. Applying that wisdom in unceasing prayer brings blessings to your day with the LORD (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Note Proverbs 27:2: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” This is a hard one for most people. Often people are insecure and brag so much they appear arrogant. A man from the college we attended asked his date one night, after many dates together, why she never bragged about him. She stated she would start when he stopped bragging about himself.

True friends, described in Proverbs 27:6 as faithful friends, are going to say things to you that are hurtful, but in your best interest. Verse 17 illustrates verse 6: “Iron sharpens iron like one man can sharpens another.”

This process of disciplining one another is sometimes hard, but when done among Godly believers, it develops character and increases wisdom and righteousness. Do you have friends in your life who tell you the truth about yourself and love you all the more for letting them help you be the man or woman of God He desires you to be?

Pray Proverbs 27:1-2, and 17 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let ________ and me not boast in tomorrow.

Thank You that You know what the day will bring forth.

We trust You!

Keep us from praising ourselves, LORD.

Give us friends that will sharpen us and who will let us sharpen them.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 26 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 26.

Meditate on verses 1, 14, and 26.

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

As a door turns on its hinges,

so does the sluggard on his bed.

Though his hatred covers itself with guile,

his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

As there are three heroes in Proverbs, there are also three villains: the Fool, the Sluggard, and the Wicked. These three are all present in the parade of sayings found in chapter 26.

The Fool

It is wrong, even hurtful, to honor a foolish person. From the perspective of the whole of Proverbs, the fool cannot change.

The Sluggard

The sluggard is so selfish and lazy that he does not contribute to society. He is only concerned about himself. He does not care about his name or working to take care of others. He is a user of others for the sake of his own laziness. The book of Proverbs does not hold hope for the sluggard to change.

The Wicked

The wicked man is not so lazy. He is actively selfish in furthering his evil agenda. He has a plan to counter all that is good. He hates God and goodness. In the book of Proverbs redemption for the wicked is not discussed. Thankfully, we have the New Testament perspective where God changes all who believe in Jesus as their LORD and Savior. In 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, God revealed His plan to elevate the lesser things. In verse 27 and following it says, “... but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong ... that no man should boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”

Jesus is the hero! He makes the foolish wise. He makes the wicked righteous. He makes the sluggard into a hardworking servant.

As a faithful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), pray Proverbs 26:1, 14, and 26 with confidence for those you know God can change.

“LORD, make _______ fitting of honor.

LORD, make _______ get out of bed.

LORD, make _______ cease from wickedness.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 25 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 25.

Meditate on verses 26-28.

Like a trampled spring and a polluted well

is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

It is not good to eat much honey,

 nor is it good to search out one’s own glory.

Like a city that is broken into and without walls

is a man who has no control over his spirit

In the three meditation verses, the heroes of Proverbs (Righteousness, Discipline, and Wisdom) are missing.

The righteous man who falls away is like a polluted well or a trampled spring. The one who was a source of life for others has lost his integrity.

Without discipline, situations in one’s life quickly deteriorate to being sickening. Lack of control will rob a person of their virtue and good reputation as if they were an unprotected city.

A person seeking their own glory is recognized as small and selfish. There is no wisdom in such behavior. As a child of the King, seek for Christ to be glorified in your life. As Christ increases and you decrease, your need for compliments and recognition will decrease. There is freedom in performing only for the sake of God and His Kingdom.

A wise person will learn from these scenarios. Your righteous behavior is a well of encouragement to others. Do not pollute it for momentary sinful pleasure. You control what goes into your mouth. You should be hungrier for God’s Word than for physically driven desires. As a Christian, you have the fruit of the Spirit which includes self-control. Ask God to help you keep your defenses up, so you will be a well-fortified city.

Ask God to make Righteousness, Discipline, and Wisdom governors in your life and the lives of others.

Pray Proverbs 25:26-28 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let ________ and me not be like a trampled spring and a polluted well;

do not let us give way before the wicked.

Let us enjoy the gifts You give and eat the right amount of honey.

Do not let us search out our own glory,

nor be like a city that is broken into and without walls.

Let us be people who have control over our own spirits.

 For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 24 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 24.

Meditate on verses 3-4.

By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

and by knowledge the rooms are filled,

with all precious and pleasant riches.

There are instructions in Proverbs 24 about applying wisdom. Applied wisdom is behavior that comes as a result of seeing things the way God does. For example, God cares about those in need; rescue the helpless and don’t make excuses not to help (vs. 11-12). It is displeasing to God when you rejoice in your heart over others stumbling; do not rejoice when your enemy falls (vs. 17-18). God loves justice; judge righteously, so the world can rejoice in proper decisions (vs. 23-24). Reflect on things you observe; you will acquire even more of God’s wisdom and be able to apply it (vs. 30-32).

A house is built and established when it is constructed using God’s plans. Do you apply the wisdom of God in such a way that His Son, Spirit, and Word are the foundation of your life and the governing current of your life’s flow. When people look at your life, do they see a wavering person or do they see granite? It does not matter where you live physically, if your spiritual house is established in God, you are occupying incredibly valuable spiritual real estate, purchased with the blood of Christ and built up in Him.

Pray Proverbs 24:3-4 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let _______ and me build our house by Your wisdom.

Establish it by Your understanding.

By Your knowledge, fill the rooms with all precious and pleasant riches.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 23 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 23.

Meditate on verses 10-11.

Do not move the ancient boundary

or go into the fields of the fatherless,

for their Redeemer is strong;

He will plead their case against you.

In this passage of Scripture, there are real estate laws that go back to Leviticus 25. In the land of Israel, the ancient boundary markers were similar to survey markers, today. Where you build your fence should be on your own property.

Add to the complexity that in Israel, tribes and clans within the tribes determined these properties. Israeli family land had been marked for 400 years at the time these proverbs were written. It was the inheritance.

In Proverbs 23:10-11, God is the one looking out for the orphan and those being cheated. He opposes cheaters and people so selfish they would take advantage of an orphan.

Do you know people who are being cheated by others seeking their own interests? The LORD knows this is happening. Do you know someone who takes advantage of others? Pray for them to repent and return what they have stolen.

Pray Proverbs 23:10-11 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7) for those who are victims and for those who are selfish.

“LORD, please stop _________ from moving the ancient boundary.

Stop them from going into the fields of _________.

You are their strong Redeemer.

Plead their case, LORD!

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 22 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 22.

Meditate on verses 1 and 6.

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth;

favor is better than silver and gold.

Train up a child in the way he should go,

even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

In today’s society, being honorable is often not as important as getting ahead at any cost. In Proverbs 22, God emphasizes the importance of creating and defending a good name for yourself and your family.

Ron’s father was an Infantry and Aviation Officer in the U.S. Army. He would say, “Son, it takes a lifetime to make a good name. It only takes a moment to lose it.”

Do you desire being honorable more than you desire great riches? Is God’s favor on your life more important than silver or gold? Or is your character for sale? How are your choices affecting your children?

“Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6a). Train your children! This requires work. Parenting is constant. Children will follow in the footsteps of their mother and father. You may be a grandparent; your adult children and grandchildren are learning from you how to behave when they are your age. If you are struggling with a sin, stop it! You can break that sin cycle. For the sake of your children and their children, live righteous, honorable lives. Be a model of Godliness for them. Then the blessings of the fathers will be upon your children to the thousandth generation (Exodus 20:6).

Pray Proverbs 22:1 and 6 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ________ and I desire a good name more than great wealth.

Let us want Your favor more than silver and gold.

Help me train up __________ in the way they should go.

When they are old, do not let them depart from it.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 21 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 21.

Meditate on verses 1 and 31.

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;

He turns it wherever He wishes.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but victory belongs to the LORD.

Good governance is an important goal for countries. It benefits the population if the laws are fair and justly applied, if trade is allowed to flourish, and if there are human freedoms for people to direct their own lives.

In 1 Timothy 2:2, Paul called believers to pray for their leaders. Pray “for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all Godliness and dignity.“

Christians need to be praying for the LORD’s intervention in so many places around the world. He is more powerful than any country or any ruler. Ask Him to make the hearts of the rulers of your nation like His heart. Ask His blessings on rulers who are just and trying to serve the people under their care or authority.

One may have the most powerful military in the region, but victory is for the LORD to decide.

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), pray Proverbs 21:1, 31, and 1 Timothy 2:2 over your leaders.

“LORD, the heart of _________ is like a channel of water in Your hand.

Turn their heart the way You wish. 

Their horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to You.

Let us lead a tranquil and quiet life in all Godliness and dignity.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 20 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 20.

Meditate on verses 5, 7, 24, and 27.

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,

but a man of understanding draws it out.

A righteous man who walks in his integrity—

how blessed are his sons after him.

Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD.

How then can man understand his way?

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,

searching all the innermost parts of his being.

How do you orient your life as a person of God and understand His plans for your life? If you are a Christian, your spirit is resurrected, and the LORD lives in you as His new temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). You live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). You can set your mind on the Spirit and have the desires of the Spirit. The Spirit Himself testifies with your spirit that you are God’s children, and you can cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:14- 17, 26-27). God reveals Himself and His ways through the Holy Spirit and the Word.

The verses in Proverbs 20 are great foundation stones for you to build upon.

1.  Your spirit is in communion with the LORD searching out the depths of your life (v. 27).

2.  God is the one who orchestrates the steps of your life and wants you to understand the way He has planned for you (v. 24).

3.  The plans deep within you, if Godly, can be realized with God’s understanding and drawn out like a person at a well bringing up water (v. 5).

4.  Walking with God in integrity has generational blessings (v. 7).

Pray Proverbs 20:5, 7, and 24 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, give _______ and me the understanding

to draw out the deep plans You have placed in our hearts. 

Let us walk in integrity, so our children will be blessed. 

Ordain our steps, LORD.  Let us understand Your way.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 19 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 19

Meditate on verses 1, 17, and 22

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,

and He will repay him for his good deed.

What is desirable in a man is his kindness,

and it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

Poor people, management of wealth, and holiness are issues you deal with. You may know people who are destitute and also people who are relatively wealthy in the eyes of the world. Some are thankful for a job that pays the equivalent of a U.S. dollar a day. Some leave their homes and move to other countries where they can make a little more. Millions are displaced by war and natural disasters every year. Many of you are serving them—thank you! You may be in a refugee camp with this book and nothing else but the clothes on your back and God on Your side. He is your hope.

God looks at your heart and establishes a higher standard of life than wealth. It is Godliness. Being poor or rich is not the measure of favor; it is integrity, kindness, truth, compassion, and generosity. There is no difference in the eyes of God between a poor person and a wealthy person. Each will be held accountable for how they live and use their sphere of influence to do good and follow His will for their life. When God calls you to change your community for righteousness, no matter where it is, do it.

If you have relative abundance, there are growth areas for you. If you have extra shoes, what does God want you to do with them? If you have money, use it for missions. Sell things you do not use and support a homeless shelter. If you have breath left in you, serve others!

Pray Proverbs 19:1, 17, and 22 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help ______ and me to be people of integrity.

Do not let us be fools with perverse speech.

Let us be gracious to the poor remembering we are really giving to You, LORD.

Thank You, for telling us You will repay us for our good deeds.

You desire kindness; help us, LORD.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell