Day 21

"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."
Proverb 21:16

I've searched through concordances and through the Bible and have yet to come across a verse that says living the Christian life is easy. It isn't always easy. I think that's why some people give up after awhile. They get tired of the battle, the battle of sin, the battle of self, it can be tough and exhausting.

It can be a tough battle but it is a battle worth fighting.

"He that followeth after righteous and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour." Proverb 21:21

We have the freedom to choose which life we want to live. We can choose to follow after God or we can choose to leave the way of understanding. We can choose to be in the congregation of the dead or we can find life, righteousness and honour.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

Day 20 - What are you known for?

"Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right." Proverb 20:11

We can be known for a lot of things. We can be known as the sarcastic one, the gullible one, the dramatic one, the ignorant one, the know-it-all, the pessimist, the optimist, the happy one, the sad one, the wise one, the foolish one. But as I read through today's proverb and came across verse 11 this thought entered my mind:

What are you known for?

My brother and I used to work together. He was very well known at this company as the guy who is always happy. People knew this and thought this of him because he had a chipper attitude when speaking with customers on the phone or because they would see him smile when they passed him in the hallway or break room.

That is a powerful and impactful testimony. People ask me about my brother all the time. They make comments about how they miss his happy attitude in the office.

Like our verse says, we are known by our doings. What we do, shows who we are. My brother is a happy guy and therefore his life, words and actions reflected that and others could see it.

Want to be known as a person of prayer? Pray.

Want to be known as an encourager? Encourage someone.

Want to be known as wise? Get wisdom.

I started a list and am praying for God to show me the areas in my life that I need to improve. I want to be known for some things, good things, Godly things. He is the best person I can think of to ask to help me.

"But if any man love God, the same is known of him." 1 Corinthians 8:3

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Day 19 - Short and sweet

"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end." Proverb 19:20

Seek counsel, while you can.

Soak up wisdom, while you can.

"He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." Proverb 19:8

Day 18

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Proverb 18:24

Yesterday we talked about how a friend loveth at all times. Today, We have verse 24 so I thought we'd keep the friend theme going.

God did not intend for us to be alone. He created Eve for Adam.

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
Genesis 2:18

And it's been that way ever since. We have people all around us.

I know loneliness is very real and it can be really hard to deal with but this verse reminds us that we do not have to be alone. God did not intend for us to be alone and in order for us to be sure we are not stuck on an island of 1, we must show ourselves friendly.

People need people.

I'm thankful for the people God has put in my life. I know I am incredibly blessed with a wonderful family and a great church family. I have met great people through work and trips as well. Each one has an impact on me. Some greater than others obviously, but an impact nonetheless.

And that is the way God designed it.

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

We can impact and provoke one another to live lives that glorify God more and when we invest that much of ourselves into others, it is returned to us as well. It is easier to serve God with a group of people than it is to stand alone.

I think of Moses, when in order for the Israelites to be winning the battle, his arms had to be raised. As soon as he began to grow tired and weary and allowed his arms to droop, they began to lose the battle. So other men came along side Moses and held his arms up for him when his strength had run out.

We can do the same. We can partner up with other Christians and encourage one another as we serve God and try to fulfill His will for us.

Or we can sit at home. All alone. And feel sorry for ourselves. And think that no one else cares.

The Bible says a man that has friends must show himself friendly. Sometimes you have to think beyond your own self and get out there and invest yourself in others. It may not always be the easiest investment and you may have struggles along the way, but it will be worthwhile.

Day 17

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverb 17:17

I've had song stuck in my head all day. "Our Great Savior" by John Chapman

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

So I was quite happy to come across verse 17 today. There are times when I love to just sit back and meditate in the fact that Jesus is my friend.

Friendships can be difficult. Mostly because they involve people. People can fail you, people can disappoint you, people can hurt you and people can grow apart.

But not God. He is the one Friend who will never fail you, never disappoint you and never hurt you.

We can do all those things to God though. Our friendship with God can be so skewed. He is nothing but good and we are the ones who fail Him, disappoint Him. But He never lessens His love for us based on those things. He loves us regardless.

That is a true friend. A friend worth keeping. He is a friend that loveth at all times and sticketh closer than a brother.

I am going to bed tonight, filled with happiness that I have the best friend imaginable. Thank you, Lord, for being my friend.

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