Inner Strength

My son, keep my words, 

And treasure my commands within you.

Proverbs 7: 1 (NKJV)

 

When faced with temptation in the wilderness, the Lord Jesus used scripture to expose and defeat the wiles of Satan.  We, too, have been given the ability to resist the devil and his schemes.  In 1 Corinthians 10: 13, the Apostle Paul explains that:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)

When we recognize temptation in a given situation by the wisdom we have been given, it is then time to take action without delay.  That is our chance; it is time to take the “way out.”  Those who are baptized into Christ have the gift of the Holy Spirit to help them recognize and resist temptation.  So let us go through today confident and unafraid to face temptation… Because the One who defeated Satan in the wilderness and then once and for all on the cross, lives inside of us!

 

Reading for today: Proverbs 7

 



Say What?

There are six things the Lord hates,

seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,

a false witness who pours out lies

and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

 

Proverbs 6: 16-19 (NIV)

 

The verses above make up what some refer to as God’s “hate list”.  Of the seven things listed there, three are directly related to words that are spoken in a deceitful or malicious manner.   There is an abundance of verses in the book of Proverbs related to the words that we speak.  Some of those words build others up while some of them tear others down.

What do the words we say tell us about ourselves?  Jesus had some pretty sobering words to say in Matthew 12: 35-37:

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (NIV

To be sure, Jesus didn’t mean every word… did he?  I don’t know about you but I definitely have some work to do!

Our challenge for today:  Let’s take a self-assessment by taking a mental inventory of the words we say.  At the end of the day, it will be interesting to see how our “building up” words compare to our “tearing down” words.

 

Reading for today: Proverbs 6

 



Run for Your Life!

Remove your way far from her,

And do not go near the door of her house

 

Proverbs 5: 8

 

The great writer Mark Twain said: “There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.”  The Adversary (a.k.a. Satan) is a master at disguising sin as a package that is pleasing to the eye, while blinding us to the consequences.  Often times, the best way to resist temptation is to avoid it all together.  The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22 NIV).

Proverbs 5 describes how a poor decision can affect the rest of your life; a decision that you will regret for as long as you live.  However, by following the instructions of both Solomon and Paul, we can elude the temptation all together.  I heard theologian and bible teacher Dr. David Jerimiah once say that sometimes the best defense against temptation is a good pair of sneakers.  Some may say that running away from difficult circumstances exhibits weakness but in certain cases of temptation, I believe that running away exhibits both wisdom and strength.

 

Reading for today:  Proverbs 5

 

 



Hold On!

My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your eyes;

Keep them in the midst of your heart;

 

Proverbs 4: 20 & 21

 

Many times in life we drift away from what we know is right.  We drift away from things we were taught and we even drift away from things that we learned through life’s experiences; having said, “I’ll never do that again” or “That’s a lesson I’ll never forget”.  In chapter 4 of Proverbs, King Solomon uses terminology like: retain, do not forget, do not turn away from, take firm hold, do not let depart, in referring to wisdom.  In his great wisdom, Solomon knew that people were prone to forget or place aside or even ignore what they had just learned.

Although it may sound like a broken record, there is a reason that our preachers and Christian teachers repeatedly remind us to spend time in God’s Word and to spend time with Him in prayer.  These quiet times of study and prayer serve to not only feed us spiritually but to also refresh and remind us of things that we have already learned but have perhaps “misplaced”.

On a personal note, from time to time, I struggle spiritually.  Every spiritual struggle that I have gone through can be traced back to turning away from, departing from, letting go of, forgetting, the things that I know that I should be doing… not using the wisdom given to me.  Today, let’s end our devotion with a prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for the wisdom you have given us so freely.  We pray for more wisdom to help us to do the things you have called us to do.  Father, help us to always keep Your words of wisdom in our heart.  We pray in Jesus’ Name.

Amen

 

Reading for today: Proverbs 4

 



An “Unpleasant” Feeling

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline 

and do not resent his rebuke, 

          because the Lord disciplines those he loves, 

as a father the son he delights in.

 

Proverbs 3: 11&12

 

Yesterday, our devotion was focused on seeking wisdom as one would seek a treasure.  Today we will look at the importance of having discipline in obtaining wisdom and knowledge.  I don’t know about you but I am not particularly fond of being corrected or disciplined.  I didn’t like it as a child and I know I don’t really care for it as an adult.  If truth be told, the primary reason for that is my pride; which when you get right down to it, is a sin.  Proverbs is heavily populated with verses addressing pride. (which will be the topic in another devotion),

In Hebrews 12, the writer talks about fixing our eyes upon Jesus and also enduring hardships.  It quotes our verse(s) from today in Proverbs 3.  The Hebrews writer goes on to say in verses 7 and 8

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?  If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

Although discipline and correction are often unpleasant and unwanted, they are very necessary and are never “outgrown”.  In our walk with God, He uses discipline from time to time to instill wisdom and to mold us into the individuals He wants us to be.  So, that thing your parents used to tell you, “I’m just doing this (discipline) because I love you”, is very biblical… and God, our heavenly Father loves us even more.

 

Reading for today: Proverbs 3 

 



Hidden Treasure

If you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

Proverbs 2: 4

 

You’ve got to want it.  How many times have you heard motivational speeches that challenge listeners with the question, “How badly do you want it?”  We tend to put a lot of time, effort and attention into the things in life that we really want or that we really like.  Proverbs 2 talks about the value or benefits of wisdom.  However, the first few verses emphasize that we have to desire and actively seek it.

Although you don’t see it as much anymore, I remember as a young boy observing the man that walked up and down the beach with his headphones on and with a metal detector sweeping back and forth in front of him.  It was intriguing to watch him as every few feet he would stop and dig into the sand to find the treasure his metal detector had “sniffed out”.  Although he didn’t find a treasure with every alert from his metal detecting device, he kept on looking and hoping that the next “tone” would be the big treasure.

James 1: 5 says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”  Do we ask God for wisdom?  Do we go throughout the day looking for wisdom in all that takes place around us?  Do we seek wisdom as a treasure?  I hope you find a treasure today!

 

Reading for today:  Proverbs 2