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.
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