Day 16 Repeat

Just the other day, we discussed Proverb 14:12:

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Guess what verse I found in today's Proverb...

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverb 16:25

I don't know about you, but I know I don't always "get" things the first time. I often need to be told or taught something over and over and then over again before it actually begins to sink in.

But God is patient. I've noticed throughout the Bible, He repeats Himself and His lessons to us over and over and over again.

I know in the first chapter of Joshua, He repeatedly tells Joshua to "be strong and of good courage."

Today, I'm thankful for God's patience with me. I know it can be annoying to have to repeat yourself over and over when trying to explain something to someone but God is so gracious with me.

Day 15

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Proverb 15:3

When I was a kid, I think I was about 7 years old, I remember being mad. I don't remember what I was mad about but I was mad. I remember being in my room, which was in the basement, and I remember pacing back and forth, just steaming mad about something. I paced back and forth and back and forth and finally I went up to the wall that separated my room and my brother's room and I kicked it.

I kicked it hard enough that it made a whole in the wall.

Yikes.

All of the sudden my anger turned to fear. Oh no. If Mom and Dad see that they are going to be mad! Oh how can I cover it up? How can I make it go away?

Well, I wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, but I did find something that would fit over the hole and I managed to convince myself that that would be okay and that nobody would notice it. I mean, it wasn't a great, big huge hole and it was down by the floorboard anyway.

Well, I was wrong. It didn't take my brother too long to see it and poke his fingers through it. "Hey! Look!"

I couldn't keep my parents from finding out about that hole and the same goes for my actions before God.

Honestly, I often forget this fact, or it's at least not something that I am always aware of. I forget sometimes that God is watching and can see what I am doing. I think a lot of people forget this aspect of God.

I couldn't hide that hole for very long and I surely can't hide my sin from God either.

I know how it is. We can learn very quickly how to hide things from other people. When someone asks me how I am doing I can very easily say, "I'm doing great." and then continue to chat about work or weather or whatever. I don't go into the fact that I may have had a horrible attitude all day, that I struggled with if I should go to church or not, or that God told me to give a tract to the gal at the gas station but I ignored Him and disobeyed.

Could you imagine the reaction I would get if that was my response?

What I'm trying to say is that it is not difficult to put on a front for people. You can hide all your sin, you disobedience, your impure thoughts and words, your struggles, you can hide them all behind a smile and a "I'm great".

But that doesn't flow with God.

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

You can't fool God. He sees all. As our verse in Proverbs says, His eyes are in every place.

But it's not all bad that God sees everything. Our verse says God is beholding the evil and the good.

When I am struggling...God sees it.
When I am down and need encouragement...God sees it.
When I do right...God sees it.
When I take a stand for Him...God sees it.
When I worry...God sees it.

"Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? "
Proverb 15:11

That's a comforting thought: God always knows my heart. He cares. He doesn't have to but He cares. He can cheer me when I am sad. He can celebrate my victories with me. He can know what I need, when words fail.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Proverb 15:3

Day 14

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverb 14:12

"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits." Proverbs 16:2

These verses seem to sum up the book of Proverbs quite well. The book we are studying this month is written in such a way that clearly distinguishes right from wrong, the foolish from the wise, man's way and God's way.

Each day we are presented with a choice. We are given 2 options: we can follow our own way, our own desires, our own intentions or we can surrender ourselves to follow God and His way.

Which one sounds better to you?

Man's way:

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverb 14:12

"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits." Proverbs 16:2

"Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard." Proverb 13:15

God's way:

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried; he is a buckler to all them that trust in him."
2 Samuel 22:31

"He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." Deuteronomy 32:4

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."
John 14:6

The Bible tells us in Isaiah 55 that God's ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts, for His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. I'd rather follow after the ways of the One who created all, the One who encompasses all time, all at once. For if I follow myself and my own ways, I am following the way of a sinner, the way of a transgressor, the way of a fallen, faulted, imperfect, stumbling human.

Why would I choose that over God? Why do I so often choose that over God's way?

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:7

Day 13

There were a lot of great verses in today's proverb. It was hard to narrow it down and focus on just one thought. But as I read through today's chapter a few times, the verse that kept piercing me was verse 3:

"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."

Somethings are better left unsaid.

In a world filled with text messages, email, tweets, blogs and status updates, I know it is hard to consider the idea that there is a time and place when it is best to not say anything, but it is true.

Words are powerful. When we are not careful, our words can destroy. Words can belittle someone, or they can build someone up. They can cause divisions or unite us.

Don't be like the man with a wide open mouth, spouting out every thought and opinion that crosses his mind as he will surely have destruction. But be like the wise man, who knows when to hold his tongue.

Day 12

"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it good." Proverb 12:25

It is not fun to have a heavy heart. It can really effect a person. Their whole countenance can be dampened. You can feel defeated and low. But something as simple as a kind word can really go a long way.

I needed this reminder. I am horrible at thinking of the needs of others. Most of the time when I go to church, I have a check list in my mind of things to do so I have a tendency to walk in with blinders on and I never notice someone who may just need a kind word. I speak this to my own shame. It's not limited to just church either. I notice I do it at work and other places as well.

I have a tendency to blame this on my job, somewhat. I talk to people all day. I listen to people tell me their problems all day. When I am not working, I'd rather not hear of people's problems. But what I want doesn't always matter. This verse was just what I needed to remind me to take the blinders off, look around and see who around me could use a kind word.

You never know how it could effect somebody. It could make their day, or even their week.

"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it good." Proverb 12:25

Day 11 - Safety

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety." Proverb 11:14

I love the Bible. It helps me so much.

This verse included, which actually has helped me tremendously this weekend.

I had an issue that I needed and wanted counsel on. I am blessed with great people in my life that I can seek good, solid, Biblical counsel from. It wasn't a big life-altering issue but it was something I wanted to really consider before acting on...or if I should even act on it.

By obtaining counsel from those around me, I was able to reach a decision that I believe the Lord would be happy with. One of the greatest remarks I got this weekend was, "Well, now that you've gotten the opinion of them and us, before you make your decision, be sure to pray about it."

It is a great idea and obviously needful to get counsel from the right people (let me just repeat that real quick) get counsel from the right people, but the most important person to get counsel from is God himself.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

He is our Counselor. I am so thankful for to have such access to a Counselor whom always has the right answers! I never have to worry about or doubt the counsel I get from the Lord.

So when you need to make a decision and you are looking for counsel, get counsel from the Lord. Get His opinion on the matter. But also, consider getting counsel from others around you, and to discern who the "right" people to ask are, consider those who adhere to God and His Word, as they will most likely give you counsel that aligns with God.

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety." Proverb 11:14

Day 10

Boy, Proverbs 10 is like a tennis match. It bounces back and forth between the righteous and the wicked.

"The fear of the Lord prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." Proverb 10:27

I've read this verse many times but it has only been within the last year or so that I have really seen the truth of this verse. The Bible says (in Proverbs, actually) that the way of a transgressor is hard.

Sin has many different effects on people. One effect I have noticed in the past year has been how it can really age a person. I know people who have, in the past few years, decided to turn away from God and live their life however they so chose and I can see the effects of their lifestyle. They can sometimes look far older than they really are and on the same note, I know people who have resisted sin and strive to live a clean, God-honoring life and they look much younger than their actual age.

Another thought that can be drawn out of today's proverb is the way you lead your life is always being watched by others.

"He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; but he that pervertheth his ways shall be known." Proverb 10:9

His ways shall be known. I know in the verse it is discussing a man that is leading an unholy life ad how his ways are known but your ways are known whether they be upright or not.

When you lead an upright, holy and clean life, others will see it and know you by it. But when you lead of life of sin and follow every temptation laid before you, well, others see that as well and know you by it.

Which would you rather be described as: upright or perverted?

Keep in the Book and allow Him to be your Guide rather than you and you can find yourself living an upright life, free of concern of the judgment or condemnation of others, free to do as much for Him as He will allow. There are all kinds of blessings intertwined with for God, I believe this is one of the subtil ones.