Category: Wisdom

You Get What You Give

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I think I have heard this concept more in the secular realm.  There are mixed feelings about this.  Not every workplace seems to reward good work (or punish bad work).  I think as Christians we look at the wicked and wonder why their lives look so good. 

However, this passage tells us that God has contempt to those who are contemptible.  Being out of favor with God is not a good place to be.   This passage tells us the wise will receive honor, but the fools disgrace.  I prefer the concept of honor.

When I recently read these verses, I thought of the Golden Result.  We tend to know the Golden Rule. I hadn’t heard the Golden Result until I started reading Ken Sande’s Relational Wisdom Blog (rw360.org).  I have found it an interesting concept.  I think these verses support that idea. 

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to live in humility and wisdom.  Please help me to encourage others to do the same.  I know Your way is the best way to live.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Seeing Security

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I enjoy the word pictures Proverbs gives.  We are admonished to keep the principles of wisdom in our line of sight.  This brings life and stability. 

I often think I have to provide my own security.  However, I don’t have the ability to see past the short term.  God knows how every decision I make fits with everything happening in my little piece of the world as well as the entire world.  As I submit to God, He gives what is needed for every step of my life.  He knows the final outcome of every situation.  I can trust Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing wisdom and reminding me to hold on to Your way.  Please help me to look to You in every situation.  Please guide me according to Your discretion.  Thank You for all You’ve done and will do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Wisdom for Good

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I struggled as I thought about these verses.  It sounds like the prosperity gospel.  The Bible makes it clear that we will have trials and difficulties (James 1:2-3, Phil. 1:29). However, through those challenges, God provides His wisdom to help make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:6).  While trials cause pain, wisdom provides life and blessing (Proverbs 3:18).  I find that thought comforting.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessing wisdom brings.  Thank You for providing help through life’s trials.  Please give me the strength to hold fast to wisdom and follow Your way.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Worth and Value

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This passage tells us the worth of wisdom and understanding.  We live in a materialistic society that often values money and possessions over wisdom. 

I know God is truth.  Everything He gives is true including His word.  The more I seek God’s way, the more depth I find in life.  Money can buy some fun thing and I need it to live.  However, I would rather amass the knowledge and understanding that comes from studying God’s wisdom.  I have found more depth of friendship, more peace, and more satisfaction in life when I fill my life with God.  I just need more consistency in seeking true wisdom.  I’m so glad God does not give up on me.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing wisdom and telling me how much it is worth.  Thank You for Your patience with me when I want to go my own way.  Please help me to seek true wisdom and send me reminders when I seek my own.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Delightful Discipline

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I really don’t think of discipline and delight together without a negative.  Discipline does not seem delightful while it is happening (Hebrews 12:11).  However, these verses tell us how the two words can co-exist.  God the Father delights in those who place their trust in Jesus Christ.  His delight and love move Him to provide discipline and rebuke to change us into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).  Discipline is painful, but worth it.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to view Your discipline as a sign of love.  I know You want the best for me.  Thank You for providing the rebuke I need.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Healing My Way or God’s Way

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I appreciate all there is to learn from the Proverbs.  God’s Word is full of wisdom to help me through life.  Proverbs 3:7 warns against self-sufficiency – thinking my way.  The verse then reminds me to fear the Lord.  Turning from evil should be a natural part of fearing the Lord.

I find verse 8 interesting – healing and refreshment are a direct result of fearing the Lord.  I believe in getting medical care where appropriate.  However, I wonder how much trouble we cause ourselves through our own wisdom. Hmm. Something to ponder.

Dear Heavenly Father, please show me where I follow my own wisdom.  Help me to fear You and turn away from evil.  Thank You for the healing and refreshment You give.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Straight or Crooked Paths

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I have found myself being very nostalgic recently.  It has been a year since I received a diagnosis of DCIS.  Those were hard days.  I had decisions to make while feeling overwhelmed. This next week marks one year since I crashed after getting my first opinion.  While I am not a fan of crashing (I have done it more times than I like to admit), I am so glad that I got a second opinion.  I felt so much better about my decision after the calm atmosphere at CTCA in Zion, IL.  I greatly appreciate the expert care I received there.

God allowed what I would consider a crooked and rocky path last year to show me how He can make my paths straight.  I had to pray my way through repetitious thoughts of “I don’t want to deal with this”.   By God’s grace, He kept showing His love time and again as He led me through the situation. I am so glad this part of my story is past.  While I will always have some of the difficult memories and I bear the scar of surgery, I do not want to feel sorry for any of it.  God gave so much grace.  I continue to pray that God’s hand is visible in my life.  Whatever path God leads me to walk in the future.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making my paths straight through tough times.  Thank You that I can lean on You.  Please help me to continue to submit to Your plans.  I want others to see Your hand in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Pleasant Safety

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Last week, I talked about wisdom being safe.  The next two verses continue the theme.  I like how verse 10 talks about knowledge being pleasant.  Too often the information we see comes through as unpleasant.  I understand why – we fight through information overload sorting through what we read or hear.  This is why I am thankful for God’s wisdom.  His way gives clarity as I walk the path He has chosen for me.  I can gain pleasant safety as I seek God.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing wisdom through Your word.  Please guide Your followers as You have promised.  Please help us to see the guidance You provide.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Safety

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We have heard a lot about safety over the last two years.  Unfortunately, we have passionately disagreed on the details.  No matter where I stand, or the reason why, I want to seek God for wisdom.  Wisdom will direct our thinking through the ever-changing sea of information.  God knows everything.  He knows how it all fits together.  He knows what will happen. He knows the good and bad decisions we will all make.

In Proverbs 2:7-8 we read that God keeps those who follow Him – those who fear Him.  He has wisdom reserved for us.  He is a shield and watches us.  There is safety in the fear of the Lord.

Sometimes we think that the weight of our decisions fully rests on our shoulders.  While we need to take responsibility for our decisions, we need to lean on the Lord and seek the wisdom He so freely gives (James 1:5).

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for storing wisdom for us. Thank you for the protection you provide. Please help us to seek You in all our decisions.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Seek Ask Understand

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Proverbs 2 gives us another if then statement regarding wisdom and fear of the Lord.  If we seek and ask for wisdom, we will understand the fear of the Lord.  Then verse 6 reminds us that all of this comes from God. 

I believe that we get stuck in human understanding.  God gave us minds for the purpose of thinking logically.  Unfortunately, we can use our logic in our own strength without the fear of the Lord.  If we walk away from Scriptural thinking, our logic will take us down the wrong path.  We need to seek wisdom from the Word of God.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us wisdom through Your word.  Please help us to seek You and You alone for wisdom.  Please help us to understand fearing You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.