The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
This is another passage about how to gain wisdom and what wisdom will do for you.
Thoughts for the day...
In an earlier devotion, I wrote about how to respond to criticism, something I'm not great at doing. But in reading so much lately in how to deal with criticism, I hope that the next time it's offered, I'll take take it better than I have in the past. Wisdom begins with knowing God. To know Him is not just to know the facts about Him, but to stand in awe of Him (to fear Him) and have a relationship with Him. My relationship with God is growing every day, and I have His promises in the proverbs I've been reading lately promising me that this will lead to wisdom.
My Prayer
Thank you, Father, for the relationship that I have with You. Thank you for bestowing upon me Your wisdom more and more each day. Continue to help me grow stronger so that I can take others' criticism, respond to it appropriately, and learn from it.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
This chapter of proverbs is about wisdom. In this passage, wisdom is portrayed as a woman who guides us and makes us succeed.
Thoughts for the day...
This verse clearly tells us that we are to run from all things evil; we should have nothing at all to do with it. God's Word is full of His commands, too, that tell us what those things are that He considers evil. So there's really no excuse to be hanging out with evil. We can't say, "Oh, I didn't know that was wrong," because God has shown us what is wrong in His sight. When we continue to do what is wrong in His eyes, we are not showing others or God that we love Him. Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist. Whatever is keeping you from following God completely, you need to give it up. Make a clean break with sin and commit yourself completely to God. It's not easy, but it's absolutely necessary.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, I want to be committed completely to You, and You alone. I know that I cannot love You with all my heart if I am tolerating any sin in my life, yet I continue to give it a home in my heart. Father, help me to move in the right direction and run from sin, allowing only You to inhabit my heart. That's my true desire, and I can only do it with Your strength.
This chapter of proverbs is about wisdom. In this passage, wisdom is portrayed as a woman who guides us and makes us succeed.
Thoughts for the day...
This verse clearly tells us that we are to run from all things evil; we should have nothing at all to do with it. God's Word is full of His commands, too, that tell us what those things are that He considers evil. So there's really no excuse to be hanging out with evil. We can't say, "Oh, I didn't know that was wrong," because God has shown us what is wrong in His sight. When we continue to do what is wrong in His eyes, we are not showing others or God that we love Him. Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist. Whatever is keeping you from following God completely, you need to give it up. Make a clean break with sin and commit yourself completely to God. It's not easy, but it's absolutely necessary.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, I want to be committed completely to You, and You alone. I know that I cannot love You with all my heart if I am tolerating any sin in my life, yet I continue to give it a home in my heart. Father, help me to move in the right direction and run from sin, allowing only You to inhabit my heart. That's my true desire, and I can only do it with Your strength.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Proverbs 4:7
The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.
This psalm is a father's instruction to his son.
Thoughts for the day...
This verse really has me going, because I have no idea what it means as I read it. I wonder if that's the point? Do I not have the wisdom yet to understand what God is trying to tell me? I cannot have wisdom if I don't understand something first. So maybe that is what God is saying in this verse, that before I can be wise, I must understand what it is I'm supposed to be wise about. So, maybe I get it after all. Sometimes, some of God's Word just seems too simple, so I feel like I must not be getting something. The wordiness of this verse just confused me. Does anyone have any thoughts about this verse or the entire psalm?
My Prayer
Father, it's on days like today that I'm glad You have told us to lean not on our own understanding, because sometimes, I just don't understand. I'm leaning on You, Father, to speak to me throughout the day today, telling me what it is You're trying to teach me through Your Word.
This psalm is a father's instruction to his son.
Thoughts for the day...
This verse really has me going, because I have no idea what it means as I read it. I wonder if that's the point? Do I not have the wisdom yet to understand what God is trying to tell me? I cannot have wisdom if I don't understand something first. So maybe that is what God is saying in this verse, that before I can be wise, I must understand what it is I'm supposed to be wise about. So, maybe I get it after all. Sometimes, some of God's Word just seems too simple, so I feel like I must not be getting something. The wordiness of this verse just confused me. Does anyone have any thoughts about this verse or the entire psalm?
My Prayer
Father, it's on days like today that I'm glad You have told us to lean not on our own understanding, because sometimes, I just don't understand. I'm leaning on You, Father, to speak to me throughout the day today, telling me what it is You're trying to teach me through Your Word.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Proverbs 3:4
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
The theme of the proverbs in chapter 3 are the rewards of wisdom.
Thoughts for the day...
I remember this verse from my childhood, and I sometimes wish I could go back to that simpler time when I had that same faith. As an adult, I find myself thinking too much about stuff that I should just trust God about. He commands us in His Word not to trust in Him just a little bit, not just some of the time, but all the time and with all of my heart. The second part of this verse says to lean not on my own understanding. The thing is, that should be really easy to do, because there's a lot that I don't understand about a great many things. But again, I think too much and too hard about things, trying to lean on the understanding that I just don't have; the understanding that can only come from God.
Are you trusting in God with everything you've got, or are you like me, running to Him when everything else you've tried has not worked? God should not be the last resort; He should always be the first option. He knows what's best for us, so trust Him to provide you with everything you need!
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to seek You first in everything I do, and not to think of You as a last resort when all else fails. You love me, You want what's best for me, and I pray that I will begin to trust you with all of my heart once again, as I did when I was a child.
The theme of the proverbs in chapter 3 are the rewards of wisdom.
Thoughts for the day...
I remember this verse from my childhood, and I sometimes wish I could go back to that simpler time when I had that same faith. As an adult, I find myself thinking too much about stuff that I should just trust God about. He commands us in His Word not to trust in Him just a little bit, not just some of the time, but all the time and with all of my heart. The second part of this verse says to lean not on my own understanding. The thing is, that should be really easy to do, because there's a lot that I don't understand about a great many things. But again, I think too much and too hard about things, trying to lean on the understanding that I just don't have; the understanding that can only come from God.
Are you trusting in God with everything you've got, or are you like me, running to Him when everything else you've tried has not worked? God should not be the last resort; He should always be the first option. He knows what's best for us, so trust Him to provide you with everything you need!
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to seek You first in everything I do, and not to think of You as a last resort when all else fails. You love me, You want what's best for me, and I pray that I will begin to trust you with all of my heart once again, as I did when I was a child.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Psalm 141:5
Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me.
In this psalm, David prays for help when facing temptation and in this particular verse, he asks God to give him wisdom in accepting criticism.
Thoughts for the day...
I don't think anyone really enjoys being criticized for anything they do. I always tell my students that there's a difference between constructive criticism and judgment. I need to remember that when someone is trying to offer me a way to improve something about myself or my work with constructive criticism. I can't take it personally; they're just trying to help me.
[from my study Bible] In this verse, David suggests how to accept criticism: (1) don't refuse it, (2) consider it a kindness, and (3) keep quiet (don't fight back). Putting these suggestions into practice will help you control how you react to criticism, making it productive rather than destructive, no matter how it was originally intended.
It's easy to want to defend (fight back) your actions or your work and not listen to what others have to say, but in doing so, you're not going to grow spiritually, emotionally, or in your work. More importantly, if you blow someone off, the next time they have an insight that you could really benefit from, they might just keep it to themselves.
My Prayer
Father, help me to accept criticism with an open mind and a thankful heart. Help me to not be so quick to fight back, but rather to really listen to what someone's trying to tell me and think on their words before responding.
In this psalm, David prays for help when facing temptation and in this particular verse, he asks God to give him wisdom in accepting criticism.
I don't think anyone really enjoys being criticized for anything they do. I always tell my students that there's a difference between constructive criticism and judgment. I need to remember that when someone is trying to offer me a way to improve something about myself or my work with constructive criticism. I can't take it personally; they're just trying to help me.
[from my study Bible] In this verse, David suggests how to accept criticism: (1) don't refuse it, (2) consider it a kindness, and (3) keep quiet (don't fight back). Putting these suggestions into practice will help you control how you react to criticism, making it productive rather than destructive, no matter how it was originally intended.
It's easy to want to defend (fight back) your actions or your work and not listen to what others have to say, but in doing so, you're not going to grow spiritually, emotionally, or in your work. More importantly, if you blow someone off, the next time they have an insight that you could really benefit from, they might just keep it to themselves.
My Prayer
Father, help me to accept criticism with an open mind and a thankful heart. Help me to not be so quick to fight back, but rather to really listen to what someone's trying to tell me and think on their words before responding.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Psalm 139:14
I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
This is a psalm of David in which he sings about God being all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present.
Thoughts for the day...
This is a often-quoted verse for people who are feeling down about themselves. I've reminded myself of this verse a few times when I've been depressed for whatever reason, when I've felt worthless. It's in those times that I remember that I'm made in God's image, and I'm exactly the way He wants me to be. God doesn't make junk; He doesn't make mistakes. I'm who He wants me to be: His child, His perfect creation, the apple of His eye.
My prayer for you reading this today is that you will remember this whenever you are feeling down about yourself for any reason. No one can be harder on you than you are on yourself, so give yourself a break. You are the way God wants to you be, and you are perfect in His eyes!
My Prayer
Thank you, Father, for creating me and shaping me to be the man I am today. When I get down on myself, which will happen from time to time, please help me to remember Your Word and today's reminder that I am who You made me to be, and I am perfect and precious in Your sight.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Psalm 138:8
The Lord will accomplish what concerns me.
This psalm, written by David, is a psalm of thanksgiving for answered prayers.
Thoughts for the day...
There's a quote I read years ago that I love: "Man plans...God laughs." While I don't think that God is actually laughing at my plans, how many times in my life have I made my own plans and tried to do things on my own, and watched them not come to fruition? Too many to count. Does that mean I shouldn't make plans, and I shouldn't have dreams for the future? Not at all! But when I'm making those plans, am I including God? Many times, I haven't included Him, I admit.
I remember our plan to move back to Michigan when we lived in Tennessee for a year. We missed our families, so we made the decision to move. I don't remember once praying about our decision and talking to God about our plans. When we were in Michigan, we were both working, but neither of us was particularly happy where we worked. We had a church we frequented, but neither of us ever felt really connected. We had friends at work, but outside of work, we didn't really hang out with anyone other than our families. God provided for us, but He also let us learn a hard lesson from our decision to leave Him out of our plans: we weren't happy. We talked about moving back to Tennessee, we prayed about our options this time, and God opened up some pretty huge doors for us down here. See, God knows what's best for us, and I don't believe He's afraid of reminding us of that now and again.
My Prayer
God, thank you for knowing what's best for me and always providing for me and my family. Even when I've strayed from You and You've let me learn some hard lessons, I know that You've always been watching over me and blessing me in other ways that I may not have seen or understood at the time. Thank you for loving me, Father.
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