Day 31 - Open thy mouth

"Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." Proverb 31:9

Proverbs 31 is famously known as the "virtuous woman proverb" but a different verse/thought struck me today while reading the chapter.

Verse 9 stuck out to me today, in particular, the phrase 'open thy mouth'.

I need to open my mouth for Him more. It's one thing to sit behind the keyboard and update good Facebook statuses or tweets but when given the opportunity, face to face, to open my mouth and witness to someone or share with them what God has been doing in my life, I often remain silent.

I need to open my mouth and share the gospel. I need to open my mouth and share the great thins He has done for me. I need to open my mouth and give Him the praises He is due.

Open thy mouth.

Day 30

"Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." Proverb 30:5

Yesterday we talked about how every idle word we speak, we will have to give an account of, so today, verse 5 jumped out as me as soon as I read it.

I've had this thought rolling around my mind for the past day or so. Ever since I read Proverbs 28:26 "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."

I've been thinking of that verse, how I can't even trust myself, I can't trust my own heart because it's deceitful but then I read verse 5 today and am so thankful that I can trust God and His Word! There are many unreliable things in life but God, He is reliable.

You can't put a price on that!

Day 29 - Say what?

"Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him." Proverb 29:20

Today's reminder from Proverbs is to watch what we say.

"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards." Proverb 29:11

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
Matthew 12: 36-37

I heard once that the average person says around 7,000 words per day. That's a lot of words. According to Matthew 12, we will be accountable to God for each and every one.

Wow. That's sobering.

Day 28

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverb 28:26

You can't base everything off of your feelings. Feelings change. Your heart can change. It's not wise to trust in your heart.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

I know we have discussed the heart earlier this month, but I found this verse interesting today when I read it. I'm thankful for verses like this. They remind me that on days when I don't feel close to God, when I don't feel like a Christian, when I don't feel like I am living an abundant life, I can turn to His Word. It is consistent. He is consistent.

I appreciate that. I need that. I need Him to be consistent because I can be all over the board some days and He is there...my steady Rock.

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverb 28:26

I can't always trust and depend on my heart, but I can ALWAYS trust and depend on God!

Day 27

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Proverb 27:1

Proverbs 27.

I love this Proverb. There are so many great verses.

"Let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth: a stranger and not thine own lips." verse 2

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." verse 6

"Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." verse 9

"He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." verse 14
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." verse 17

"As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man." verse 19

"Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied." verse 20

But the verse that always gets me is verse one: "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

Each morning when we wake, God has provided us with a blank canvas. We can spend our day however we chose. We can serve Him as much or as little as we want. We can read His Word as much or as little as we want. We can spend as much time with Him in prayer as we want. We can tell everyone we see in a day about what He has done for us, and what He has done for them. We can give Him our all.

Or....

We can get up and go about our own business. We can make our own decisions. We can keep quiet about what He has done for us and keep it "just between me and God" because "it's personal. We can hoard our time and waste our time and we can ignore His calling.

We can choose each day whom we want to serve: self or God?

"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15b

There is no guarantee of tomorrow. That person you saw at the gas station, you know, the one that God told you to give a tract to but you didn't feel like it, you didn't want to seem awkward or interrupt them...you may never get a chance to see them or hand them a tract ever again. God made your paths cross for a reason. He gave you an opportunity to serve Him. You may never get that opportunity again.

This verse is pounded down deep in me. I think of it almost everyday. Which is a good thing, because I need the daily reminder that it is a new day, full of opportunity...I just need to be willing to follow Him and not set my own path.

Day 26

"He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears."
Proverb 26:17

Social networking is the playground for gossipers. But that is still no excuse for Christians to be meddling in things that don't pertain to them. God doesn't like gossiping and this verse is a great reminder that if you meddle in the business of others, you are asking for it.

Day 25

"Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer."

This is a great attitude to have. The attitude and desire to have God take away our faults and sins (dross) and improve us that we may be a cleaner vessel for Him to use.

It isn't always easy to go through those stages of having the dross cleared away from our lives but it is necessary.

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:16

Day 24 - God's perspective

"The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men." Proverb 24:9

There seems to be so many things that we are expected to be tolerant of nowadays. It doesn't take much to be labeled as intolerant. All you have to do is stand on a street corner with a Bible verse sign or simply speak up against homosexuality or fornication and say that it is Biblical (and the right thing to do) to wait until marriage before being sexually active. Those are just a few examples.

But our society is constantly trying to blur the lines of what is right and what is wrong.

"Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20

One way that we can combat this in our own lives is to try to get God's perspective on things. We can do this by studying God's Word (such as reading a Proverb a day). This helps us understand God and according to Him, even the thought of foolishness is sin.

I remember the first time I read this verse. I was floored! The very thought, not even the action but simply the thought of foolishness is sin! Oh if I could really truly see my sin the way God sees it. If I could hate sin the way that God hates it - my oh my how my life would be different.

"Lord, help me to see the sin in my life. Help me to be uncomfortable with it. Help me to hate it the way You hate it. Help me to be more like You."

Day 23

"Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. " Proverb 23:29-30

I used to get invited out for drinks after work. Nothing big, just a few coworkers going to a local restaurant, not a bar, to have a few drinks and unwind a bit. I always declined the invite. They would still try to get me to come by changing the location or advising that not everyone was going to drink, others were only going to have water. They'd say it's not about what beverage you had, they just wanted to get together.

I understand that. But I still declined.

I know many people think that it is okay to be Christian and okay to drink. If you read the Bible, you will see God's strong disdain for alcohol. Yes, I have heard the argument, "well, Jesus drank wine." It's always the line that gets brought up on this topic but when you actually study the type of beverage it was when Jesus turned the water into wine, it was new wine, as in non-fermented, as in not alcoholic.

God called us Christians to "be ye separate" and to "come out from among them". I realize it is not the norm to be in my 20s and not drinking. I'm not saying that it isn't tempting at times but it's not worth it to me. I know I would disappoint God and I've learned from Proverbs 23 what happens to those that "tarry long at the wine" and I want nothing to do with it.

Proverbs 20:1 tells us, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." We've spent all month looking at proverbs and trying to obtain more wisdom, what sense would it make to wash that wisdom away with a few drinks.

I don't drink. Proverbs 23 is on my list of reasons why.

Who hath woe? Who hath contentions?

Life is stressful and hectic enough. I do not need another vice that opens the door to more woe, more contentions, more affliction.

Day 22 - The financial proverb

"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverb 22:7

I've always thought of this chapter as the financial proverb. There are so many verses about money and debts and agreements.

"Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?" Proverb 22:26-27

As I read through this chapter and thought about the verses today, I can't help but think back to the time in my life when finances were a heavy burden and struggle for me. They still are somewhat, here and there but I specifically remember seeing God work and provide for me and thought I'd share it with you.

At the time, I was living in an apartment with my sister and I had been using my credit card for almost everything. I had managed to rack up a few thousand dollars in debt and now they were coming to collect and I didn't have anything. It was to the point where I was eating one meal a day, if I could afford it, a sandwich from Subway - back then the "sub of the day" was $2.50. I remember combing through my vehicle to find enough change to make $2.50. But I was scared and ashamed and didn't want to tell anyone just how bad it was.

But God knew.

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Thursday. Pay day. I got my check that morning and knew my account was overdrawn so on my lunch break, I went to the bank and deposited my check. I came back to the office and tried to balance my funds. That's when it hit me.

My account was overdrawn more than what my entire paycheck was.

My mind began to race.

"Well, looks like I'll be fasting for the next 2 weeks."
"How am I going to afford gas to get to work?"

"Lord, what am I going to do?!?"

I was discouraged. I was ashamed. I was worried. I was scared. I was mad at myself. I was at a loss.

So I prayed. I finally let go of the reigns and gave my checkbook and bank accounts over to God. Just like when I got saved, I gave my mess to God and asked Him to fix it. I knew I had made a mess of everything He had given me and I knew He was the only One who could fix it.

I could hardly focus the rest of the day.

I drove home that day feeling defeated and pleading out to God.

I walked from my car to the door with heaviness. I unlocked the door and walked into the apartment and as I turned to close the door behind me, I realized I had stepped on something. I looked down and saw that it was an envelope with my name on it. There was no stamp, no address. It had apparently just been slipped under the door.

As I stood there, my sister came out of the bathroom after finishing a shower. I asked her if she had seen it or dropped it. She said she had just gotten home and took a shower and didn't see it before. So I opened up the envelope and inside was a cashier's check, in my name, for $100.00. In the corner of the check, by MEMO is simply said: God bless.

I was stunned.

That check felt like a million bucks to me that day! I began to weep. I was overwhelmed.

God had answered my prayer. I believe He answered it before I had even prayed it. I have an idea of who possibly slid that check under my door that night but I have never asked them about it. I figure they were being obedient to God and for that I am thankful. I'm thankful that God took care of me and allowed me to go through that time because I remember that experience when I read about how the borrower is servant to the lender.

It is so very true.

God has taught me a lot about finances and I am happy to say that I have lived the last 4-5 years without a credit card and I have no plan on obtaining one in the near future. I no longer live outside of my means. God has even brought funds across my path that have enabled me to give more to a ministry, missionary or fellow Christian when He lays it upon my heart to do so.

It is not always easy to go through those "trials' or lessons from God but I am thankful for them. That experience was very crisp and clear in my life and mind and now when finances begin to become a struggle, I think back to that day. I know I can trust in Him. I know He will protect me. I know He will provide for me because He did it then.

This lesson and experience taught more about more than just finances, it brought me to another level of faith in Him.

He is the only One I ever want to be indebted to.

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

-

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

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.

Day 9

"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding." Proverb 9:6

When you become a Christian, a saved, born-again Christian, you change. There is a super-natural change that is brought about within you.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

There are many changes that take place, some happen faster than others but the changes, they always come.

When I read verse 6 of today's proverb, that's what I thought of..changes.

Times of change are not always the easiest times to go through. They can be trying times, challenging times, difficult times.

But verse tells us we need to forsake the foolish and go in the way of understanding. This is sometimes easiest right after we get saved. Our eyes have just been opened to the Bible and God and His standards and expectations and desires and we can see ourselves stuck in the life we had been living up to that point and it can be easy to discern the foolish things from the right things.

But what about 10 years down the road? Is it still as easy to discern?

It should be.

We may not have as many foolish things in our life after being saved and in the Word for a few years but I'm sure if we examined ourselves and our lives, we could find some foolish things in our lives.

I know I have. I don't think there is anything wrong with self-examinations. Wait, maybe I should restate that. I don't think there is anything wrong with periodic self-examinations.

In fact, I know that I need to examine my self, examine my life, my speech, my thoughts and actions from time to time.

Even better, is when I allow God to examine me.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

We don't always like to actually pray that prayer for God to search, in fear of what He will find and expose to us. We can very easily turn a blind eye to our own faults and foolishness. And when I say "we", I do mean myself included.

I believe the wise thing to do, is to regularly ask God to search out your heart, you mind, your thoughts, your life and ask Him to reveal unto you the "foolishness" that you are holding onto and carrying with you. When He does show you those things, address them (don't ignore them) and forsake them. This will free you up and allow God to guide you in the way of everlasting and in the way of understanding.

"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding." Proverb 9:6

I've got some evaluating to do.

Day 8

"Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me, findeth life and shall obtain favor of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." Proverb 8:33-36

Wow. Today's Proverb was jam-packed with great verses about wisdom. It describes how wisdom cries out and wants to be sought after, how wisdom was there when God created everything. It also talks about it's inestimable worth!

"For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things may be desired are not to be compared to it." Proverb 8:11

Our culture desires many things but wisdom doesn't exactly seem to top the list.

Can you imagine where we would be as a culture if wisdom was a top priority and desire? Can you imagine where you would be if you sought wisdom first and foremost in your life?

Seek it daily, wait by the posts...when you find wisdom, you will find life and favor of the Lord!

So Christian, where is wisdom found on your list of priorities?

Day 7

So thus far in the book of Proverbs, the importance of wisdom is quite obvious. We've read verses of how instruction is thy life and how we are to keep our hearts with all diligence and yesterday we were reminded to bind the wisdom of the Word of God upon our hearts.

Today, we are given a great example of why we ought to hearken unto wisdom.

"Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded; yea many strong men have been slain by her." Proverbs 7:24-26

Proverbs 7 tells the tale of a young man who yielded to a harlot.

I am quite familiar with this chapter. I've heard sermons preached out this chapter and I have read over it and studied out. It's not exactly one of my favorite chapters in Proverbs but it does have a lot of good stuff to draw out.

As I thought about this chapter today, I began to ponder the scenario of what are we to do once we begin to obtain wisdom. You know, so far in Proverbs, we are told over and over and over again to get wisdom, to keep it, to bind it up our hearts and wear it around our necks. We're not to let wisdom go.

Great. But once I have some wisdom, what do I do with it?

Use it.

Use it to discern the right choice from the wrong choice, the right place from the wrong place.

Our young man from today's Proverb found himself in the wrong place. Actually, I think he knew exactly where he was, he simply chose the wrong place.

"Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night; and behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart." Proverbs 7:8-10

Verse 8 tells us the young man was near her corner and he went the way to her house. He knew where to find sin. We all know where to find sin. It isn't exactly hiding. We don't need to search it out. But this young fella, he went after it. He meandered in a place where he should not have been. He could have spared himself, had he used some wisdom to discern that he did not belong in that neighborhood.

I also thought of Solomon. God offered him anything and he chose wisdom. Great choice. He is the one who actually wrote the Proverbs. However, I thought to myself, "Where did all that wisdom get Solomon?" He didn't exactly end his life victoriously serving God.

He let his guard down. He stopped using the wisdom God had given him and he allowed his heart to be drawn away from God unto other idols. This, in large part, was a result of all the wives he had. Solomon allowed himself to be surrounded by people who did not seek after God's wisdom. Solomon found himself surrounded by the wrong people.

So what are we to do with wisdom, as we obtain it from God and His Word. We are to keep it. Use it. Allow it to work in us and guide us. If we don't, we allow our hearts to be unguarded and make ourselves vulnerable to sin.

Seek after wisdom and when you get it, put it to use right away, allow it to become your habit and your guide.

Day 6

"My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee: and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee." Proverbs 6:20-22

Take the Word of God and bind it to your heart, embed it in your mind. When you need it, it will be there.

Today, I'm taking this as a reminder of the importance of memorizing scripture. A famous phrase comes to mind: "Sin kept me from it now it keeps me from sin."

Very true words. I have experienced it myself. My encouragement for you today, reader, is to find a verse to mediate on and take this week to memorize it - bind it upon your heart.

Day 5

Proverbs 5

Today, I chose verse 21: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings."

Initially when I chose this verse this morning, I figured I would relate it to the fact that no matter where we are or where we go, God is ever-present. He always knows exactly where we are...at all times. That thought can be both comforting but it can also be quite sobering. It's comforting to know He is there, watching out for us, even when we lock our keys in our car. It can be quite sobering though, especially when we are not serving Him the way we ought to our when we find ourselves in the middle of sin.

That was my initial thought on this verse, but as it swirled about in my mind this evening, it began to broaden the boundaries of my original thought.

I thought about how we, as Christians, never really have to worry about being lost because our ways are before the eyes of the Lord and we know that He will go and seek after His lost sheep.

Lost.

That word seemed to just hang in the air like a dense morning fog.

Sometimes I feel lost. Not lost in the sense that some of you might think, not lost in the sense of being a "lost" person but sometimes lost in life.

Am I really doing what God would have me to do? Is this where God wants me? Is this what God wants me to be doing right now?

I'm just going to be honest here folks, there are times when I question if I have missed major opportunities the the Lord wanted me to seize. I wonder from time to time if I made decisions contrary to what God really wanted for me.

There are some areas in my life that I don't doubt at all. I want to be sure that is clear. I am very grateful for the privilege I have to be a Sunday School teacher and I know the things I am currently doing, I am doing them because I know God wants me to but some time I just wonder if there were opportunities that I let pass by.

The answer maybe yes, that I have let opportunities pass by but I can know that no matter which way I go, it is always before the Lord. Verse 21 from today's Proverb, encourages me to be sure my ways are worthy for God to see. When He sees where I am going and what I am doing I want to please Him. So even if I have let opportunities pass by, this verse is a great reminder to remain aware of what I am doing and to touch base with God and make sure we are on the same page...or for me to make sure I am on His page!

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings." Proverbs 5:21

Day 4 Keep thy heart

I knew I would have days during this challenge when I would come across a chapter that is jam-packed with great verses and that I would have difficulty selecting just one verse or one thought.

Today was one of those days.

When I opened my Bible to Proverbs 4 this morning, I noticed it was a very colorful page. I have the several verses highlighted or marked. Verses like:

Verse 5-8: "Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee; love her and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her."

Verse 13-15: "Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."

Great verses!

But I knew I would have to go with verse 23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

I'm sure I have mentioned this before but on Friday nights, my brother and his wife hold a Bible study in their home and we have spent the past few months doing an in-depth study on the tabernacle. It has been a great study and I have gotten a lot out of it and learned a lot.

One thing I learned through the study was just how very particular God is. He has a certain way He wants things done and there is nothing wrong with that because He is God!

As we were wrapping up the study, we were discussing the mercy seat and the veil and coverings. As we were studying this, my brother made the comment about how we are now currently, the temple of God. Now, I have heard messages on this subject and have read the verses about it but sitting at that table on Friday night, my mind began to click and put things together.

When they constructed the tabernacle, they were given very specific instruction about what supplies to use, how to construct it and what dimensions were to be for each piece. God was so particular about this task because it is a variation of something in Heaven. He actually dwelt in the Holy of Holies, where the mercy seat was and this was a protected area. It was protected by a 15 foot, incredibly dense veil and this room was only approached once a year.

The priest who entered this room annually had to go through a process to reach this point as well. They had to be cleansed and all their sins had to be confessed and taken care of before reaching this Holy place. This task was not taken lightly. It was very serious and very sobering, I'm sure.

With all that in mind, I began to think; since we are now the temple of God and have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us, we ought to be protecting that just as the Holy of Holies was protected. That's when verse 23 came to mind. If the Holy Spirit is dwelling inside me,let's say in my heart, than what am I doing to protect it?

God obviously thought it was important to protect the room where He and His Glory dwelt when He dwelt among Israel, why should it be any different now that He dwells within our hearts?

I've been contemplating this thought and verse since Friday night and this morning, during the preaching at church, God gave me some answers about how I can improve the protection of my heart. I have already followed through with most of them but let me ask you, reader, if you are saved and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, how are you protecting your heart?

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to protect our hearts with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. How diligent are you?

It is a great privilege and blessing to a born-again Christian, to have the Holy Spirit dwell within us and to have the access to God that we do. But we ought not to take it for granted and ought not to be flippant about it, either, Christian.

Keep your guard up. Keep your heart and be diligent about it. Ask God to examine your heart and show you where you can improve and then, most importantly, be obedient to Him. Don't resist it. Don't argue with Him about it and don't harbor things that He tells you to rid yourself of.

"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life."

Day 3 - My confidence

I know it's only day 3 of my month-long challenge but I am really enjoying this and am seeing results in my life already. I love reading and studying the Bible and am really thankful that God has allowed me to do this blog. It causes me to read my Bible differently, with a different perspective and I love seeing God work things out and show me things out of His Word. Man, I just thrive off of it sometimes!

Well, today is Proverbs 3 and this chapter is loaded with good verses and wisdom.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes, fear the Lord and depart from evil." Proverb 3:5-7

While those are most likely the most well-known verses from this chapter, the verse that struck my today was found later in the chapter.

"When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; ye, though shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." Proverb 3:24-26

When I read those verses, my mind immediately went to an incident that happened a few weeks ago.

There are many nights that pass, when I do not get very good sleep. A few weeks ago, I found myself awake in the middle of the night. I got up to use the bathroom and get a drink of water. On my way to the bathroom, I heard the sound of a truck driving by. I didn't think much of it and went about my tasks. I got my drink of water and on my way back to bed, I realized the sound of the truck didn't pass and fade away, it sounded as though it was right outside on the street, engine still running.

I thought it was kind of odd because it was just after 2:00 am. So I went to my living room and peeked out the window and sure enough, there was a truck parked right outside on the street - engine running but no one in the cab of the truck.

For some reason this freaked me out. My mind began to race - was someone coming to visit the people who live upstairs? Did their door open and I just missed it? Who could it be? What do they want? Why this hour of the night? Why is the engine running but no one is inside? Where are they? Where did they go?

So I grabbed my flashlight and checked every room and door in my place. Everything was fine and locked.

But the truck was still there. It's engine was still running.

I went back to my bedroom, told myself I was worried about nothing and laid down.

3 minutes later I was back up, standing by my kitchen window with my flashlight in hand.

My mind was arguing with it's self. "Amy, don't worry about it. It's nothing. If you were actually sleeping right now, you would have no idea about this truck and you wouldn't care about it."

While the other part of my brain is saying, "Yes. But I am not sleeping right now. Maybe this is the reason I'm not sleeping right now. Maybe I was supposed to wake up."

Oh. It can be an exhausting thing - knowing everything that is going on in my mind sometimes!

Just then, a verse popped into my mind.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

I repeated it over and over and over and over and over again in my mind.

Because of that verse, my fear was distinguished.

The truck was still there (and a good 15 minutes had lapsed now) but I no longer was afraid or worried about it. God was my confidence. It actually was quite amazing. I don't recall feeling such protection so instantly before but He did it. He was my Protector that night.

He protects us, more than we can even comprehend. He has not given us the spirit of fear and just like the Bible says, "what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." That night, the Lord made my sleep sweet.

He is an amazing God. I love Him so much.

I am so happy that I can put my confidence in Him. Nowadays, there seems to be very little that we can put our confidence in, but I know that I will never, ever gone wrong by putting my confidence in Christ.

Day 2

Last week Friday, while having breakfast with my brother and sister-in-law, we were discussing salvation and how people make a decision when they come to the realization of their standing before a just and holy God. My brother recalled how he felt deceived by the teachings of our former denomination. He recalled being taught specifically that being baptized would save you and allow you to go to Heaven.

I thought about that this morning as I read Proverbs 2.

"When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee." Proverbs 2:10-11

The chapter starts out telling us that wisdom is there. It's available and verse 6 tells us where wisdom comes from:
"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

So we know where to get it and that we can get it but what does wisdom do for us? What shall we do with it?

That's where verse 10 and 11 struck me. When we allow the wisdom, given to us by God, to enter into our hearts, it pleases our soul and allows discretion and understanding to protect us.

Discretion.

I know I can always use more discretion. Discretion with my words, discretion with my actions, discretion with my attitude, discretion with my relationships, discretion with my time, discretion with my thoughts and so on and so on. I could easily keep going but I think you catch my drift.

The more I study out God's Word and seek out wisdom from Him (not my own wisdom or ask other's for their wisdom) but wisdom from God, the more discretion I can obtain and discretion can preserve me and protect me.

My brother found discretion from the Word of God and as a result, he shared it with the rest of our family. I'm very thankful he did and that he showed me, out of the Bible, my need for Christ.

Have you seeked out God's wisdom today?

And we're off...

It's March!

March is going to be the month of my first ever blogging challenge. Since there are 31 days in the month of March and 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs, I thought it'd be a perfect fit to challenge myself to get something each and every day from the Bible. Not only do I want to get something everyday but I want to share it. If we don't use and share the things God teaches us, what good is it to learn it in the first place, right?

So I hope you will join me this month and please feel free to comment and interact with me on this challenge. Read Proverbs along with me - who knows, we may end up picking the same verse to meditate on!

Well, without further ado...

Proverbs 1. Proverbs seems to be all about wisdom. Rightfully so, considering that the book is written by Solomon, the wisest man, apart from Christ. Proverbs 1 sets a solid foundation of the importance of wisdom, as described in verse 7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

I love how wisdom is personified in this chapter and how it seems to just lay it all out there, plain and simple, right from chapter 1.

"How long ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning? and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded." Proverb 1:22-24

Wisdom is there...free for the taking. The question is: are you seeking it?