The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 17

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. v27

I know I can be very strong willed and opinionated and when not restrained, this can lead to words used in a way that is not Godly (sin).  A few days ago an interaction with my boss did not go well and I was sinful in terms of how I dealt with my boss.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your words are always good - whether for encouragement or for rebuke.  You are SO patient with me.  This is truly amazing - I am not worth of such patience.  I have sinned and while I am thankful that You love me anyway I do pray that You will forgive me and help me use words with restraint and to be even tempered.

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.

Proverbs 17

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly. v12

I am reading The Good and Beautiful God right now and one of things that the author indicates as being key to spiritual growth (along with our narratives of God and the Holy Spirit) is "social context".  

It is important to have brothers and sisters in my life that both challenge and support me in my effort to grow in Christ.

In the above verse it becomes more clear to me that social context is important.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am amazed that You love me because I am so fool hearty....and that does not even begin to describe my sin.  How incredible You are.  I am full of anger and impatience as I was yesterday with my boss at work.  I am thankful that You love me anyway but please please forgive me.  Help me find others who can both challenge and support my efforts to growth in Christ.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

Proverbs 17

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart. v3

As our church embarks on a capital campaign my generosity and trust in the Lord is once again tested...and so it is appropriate that God chooses to reveal to me scripture that help with discernment, obedience, and trust.

Commentary here  also references:

Malachi 3:2
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.

1 Peter 1:7
These [trials] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Today I must ask myself what impurities is God trying to remove from me and what is he trying to reveal?

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are more precious and valuable than any gold, silver or any other earthly treasure.  You create all earthly things and You use all people and things for Your glory - which is magnificent!  I on the other hand I am mere human and full of faults, including disobedience to the most important law - love the Lord Your God with all your heart, mind and soul.  I am not sure I do this.  I thank You that You love me anyway but I please ask Your forgiveness Jesus.  Build my faith and trust in You.

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 16

I have strong opinions about the way things should be and I am very often impatient with others if I don't trust in God that these things won't work themselves out.

Today I understand impatience for what it is - lack of trust in the Lord.  That the Lord knows what is important and if it is important and He wants it to happen He will make it happen in His time - and that I need to trust Him.

My Prayer: Lord, You have the utmost in patience, grace, and love for me.  How incredible You are.  It is incredible of course because I am not worthy of such blessings.  I am full of impatience.  I thank You that You love me anyway and for how You bless me but I need You to forgive me for my impatience.  Give me supernatural patience - the kind of patience that You have in me.

Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path.

Proverbs 15


Fear of the Lord is not just requested from us but it is commanded...as in the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20.  The dictionary definition of command is to (a) to direct authoritatively or, (2) to exercise a dominating influence over.  The implication is that our lack submission has implications....bad ones.  We of course need to keep in mind that the flip side is that the God who gives us these commandments is a great God, one who loves us without bounds.  In Exodus 20 God gave the Israelites the Ten commandments and said:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)

We all know there is more to God's love and it is visible every day of our life:

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

...

The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.  (Proverbs 15:29)

The scripture today is a reminder of how fear of the Lord is important as a means to stay on God's path for us.

The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead. (Proverbs 15:24)

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your love is clear to me and I know that it also beyond what I deserve.  I remain a prideful person and my sin does not stop there.  I thank You for all of the ways that You bless me and that You love me anyway but I beg You Lord to please forgive me for my pride.  Help me stay on the path You have laid out for me.  Help me be more like You.

Whoever is patient has great understanding,

Proverbs 14

Whoever is patient has great understanding,
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. v29

We should be patient in many areas of our life, including with our listening.  According to James, we need to be: "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry[.]" James 1:19

In 1 Timothy 16:15-16, we are to be patient because Jesus is with us:

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

Patience has many benefits as well.  This morning I found an interesting book titled Wait: The Art and Science of Delay.  The premise of the book is that we are to master the art and science of delay to make the best decision possible....interesting.  I have not read the book but my view is that during this delay we are to go to God for His wisdom.

My Prayer: Lord, Your patience, understanding and love for us is unending.  It is unending because we continue to sin despite our best efforts not to.  I am sinful for not loving others as You command us to.  I thank You that You love me anyway but I do pray Lord Jesus that You forgive me for this sin.  Please also help me be to others as You are to me.

The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.

Proverbs 14

The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps. v15

I am easily swayed by my own thoughts and desires...and this is a symptom of what is in my heart.  This is of course a danger and a battle as is believing in any God or Truth other than Jesus Christ.  In a previous post on Proverbs, I read about guarding my heart.  

God also gives us free will and wants us to exercise it - of course following His leading and guidance.  It is prudent to plan.

My Prayer: Lord, You have always provided for me and I have never experienced a period of hunger or drought.  There have been dark periods but You have always lifted me up.  That You love me as much as You do is amazing because I am prideful, impatient, and lazy.  I thank You that You love me anyway, but please forgive me Lord and help me be more like You.

 

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives

Proverbs 13

I am often either thinking critical thoughts (critical of other people) or saying critical things. 

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives. v3

Both are wrong and sinful and I need to see people as Jesus does.  In another post, I have read about James' thoughts on this subject:

¹ My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God in that You love me no matter what...I wish I can same the same in terms of my love for other people but it is not true.  I am often critical -  at least in my thinking but often in speech - of others and I know this is a sin.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me and help me guard both my heart and my lips.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Proverbs 11

One person gives freely, yet gains even more;

another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

A generous person will prosper;

whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (v24-25)

I often get inquiries to help people and many times I blow off these inquiries thinking that someone else will help them or I have helped enough people.  I want God to reveal to me what He wants me to do because I don't want to withhold my generosity.  I want to give as Jesus gives.

In a recent post, I wrote about supernatural kindness...I need to be more in tune with the supernatural kindness that God has for me. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You give to me and You continue to give beyond the point where it makes any earthly sense...it is certainly not deserved because I am clearly a sinner for today I have spoke ill of others and this is SIN!  I thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but PLEASE forgive me and transform my heart and my life Jesus.

Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.

Proverbs 10

Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.(v12)

...

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. (v17)

...

Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
    and spreads slander is a fool. (v18)

...

Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.(v19)

 Today's reading provides many useful words for me particularly v18 given my sin yesterday to speak ill of a colleague.  V19 is also interesting given I did not see any meaning  at first glance - yet a quick web search for addl commentary revealed something interesting - that this verse is an admonition to no explain away or rationalize/justify our sin.  Let is stand alone and seek forgiveness for what it plainly is - SIN!

My Prayer: Lord, You are SO patient with me.  You instruct me, speak to me, and of course You love me.  Yet many times or even most of the time I sin or I am disobedient.  How sinful I am!  I thank You that You love me anyway, that You love me anyway, and that You are so patient with me.  Please forgive me for speaking ill of my colleague and help me become more pure - more like You Jesus.

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors,

Proverbs 8

Here I am implored to focus on wisdom - God's wisdom - the one and only Truth from which all other wisdom flows.  I am also told to

- listen and watch daily for this wisdom
- "find [this wisdom]" or else "hard [your]self"

³² “Now then, my children, listen to me;
    blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
³⁵ For those who find me find life
    and receive favor from the Lord.
³⁶ But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
    all who hate me love death.” 

I've been told that I need to read my Bible daily but I can't recall the Bible expressly saying this...here it is.

My Prayer: Lord, Your Word and Wisdom is amazing....it is life giving and I have felt this life spirit run through me like blood, powering transformation of both my life and my heart to be more like You.  Yet I know there is MUCH more refinement for me Lord because I continue to sin.  Yesterday I was full of anger, impatience, and pride.  Thank You Lord Jesus for Your Word of course but thank You also that You forgive me for past sin and love me anyway.  Please forgive me for my sin yesterday, and help me come find You daily.

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 8

To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
    I hate pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech. v13

I am a prideful person - I need transformation in this area of my life.

My Prayer: Lord, Your wisdom and glory is enough for, my abilities cannot compare.   Those abilities I do have are from You and can only shine through when I humble myself and dampen my own pride.  I am deeply sorry for my pride.  I thank You Jesus that You love me anyway.  Please forgive me.  Transform my heart and my life and help me humble myself so that more of You is visible in my life and less of me.
 

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold...

Proverbs 8

1Does not wisdom call out?
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
² At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
³ beside the gate leading into the city,
    at the entrance, she cries aloud:
⁴ “To you, O people, I call out;
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
⁵ You who are simple, gain prudence;
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.^[a]
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
⁷ My mouth speaks what is true,
    for my lips detest wickedness.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
⁹ To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
¹⁰ Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,
¹¹ for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her. 

For me the relevance is that daily I should go to God FIRST and not be distracted by earthly or worldly matters.  I often say these matters are more important than God...again sin!

My Prayer: Lord, You are Truth and You are the Way.  I need to go to You first and foremost above all other pursuits.  I confess to You however that I don't and I worry too much about these worldly pursuits.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me strengthen my faith.

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him

Proverbs 6

¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates,
    seven that are detestable to him:¹⁷         haughty eyes,
        a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,
¹⁹         a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. 

Haughty is defined in the dictionary as "blatantly and disdainfully proud".  I know I am prideful and I am more so than I care to admit.  I was prideful yesterday and I am likely to be today if I cannot guard and protect my heart.  I am sometimes concerned about what others think of me and so I puff myself up to appear bigger than I am - how sinful!!

My Prayer: Lord, there is NONE more great than You, more magnificent than You.  You are great and magnificent for so many reasons I cannot begin to describe.  You don't need to be haughty.  Yet I confess that I am full of pride and I act out my pride, including yesterday.  I thank You that You love me anyway.  Please forgive me for my pride and strengthen my faith and love of You and Your ways.  Help me delight You and glorify You with my life.

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 5

¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ A loving doe, a graceful deer —
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
²⁰ Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

I have never physically been unfaithful to Lisa and I never expect to be...yet from time to time I do become intoxicated with other women either because of their beauty or qualities they have - and this is clearly sin!  I do believe also that God is growing in my heart and yesterday's reading demonstrates that drawing near to God is the only way to protect yourself.  Fix your eyes on Jesus to protect your heart and all else will flow from there, including other tactics you can use to protect yourself from sin.

My Prayer: Lord, You are SO patient with me....that my growth in You is sometimes non existent (either because I choose not to come to You or because I am not obedient in other ways) or very slow to grow.  I have become intoxicated with other women - including yesterday!  I thank You that You love me anyway and for Your patience with me.  Please forgive me and also help me grow in Christ.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4

How things are written are of course clues to message that is being delivered...in today's case it starts out with the words "above all else". 

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it. ²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.

 There are other clues today, specifically, repetition or saying the same thing over and over again although using different words:

⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.

...

²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;

 ...

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.

 In the case of above - the message is about FOCUS.  Where should we focus - and the answer is of course Jesus.  This is amplified elsewhere throughout scripture, including here:

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3

Perseverance is something that means several things....I must continue to study hard in the program where I am at right now; most importantly it is about staying focused on Jesus over a lifetime.  We will endure much and the "race" will be painful as any endurance race is but we should focus on the finish line....

My Prayer: Lord - what an awesome God you are!  You know our lives our difficult in many ways and you use all of our lives to build our faith and for Your glory - how You are able to use someone as ordinary as I am is incredible! I am weak however and my faith is weak...I am weak in prayer time and this is yet another aspect of my faith where even though I am weak, You love me anyway.  Thank You that You love me anyway.  Please forgive me for my weak prayer  life and help me with this.  Build up my faith and help me have a strong faith in all areas so that I can be fully used for Your delight and glory.
  

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Proverbs 4

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.  (v7)

As I go back to school it is interesting to note how my listening skills need great improvement.   My poor listening skills reveal much, including:

Pride: I speak often to try to show others my knowledge or intelligence - SIN!
Selfishness: I speak over others - SIN!.

Yesterday's sermon on supernatural (or uncommon) kindness was also revealing in that Pastor Scott spoke about Jesus' kindness that he demonstrated to others - even to his own detriment (i.e. dying on the cross).

I need God's help to listen - as this will help me gain wisdom.  But first I must be willing to deny myself the prideful and selfish habits I have that get in the way.  I must humbly accept that listening is a way of putting others first.

My Prayer: Lord, You are available any time I am to listen to anything I have to say - that You are so available and so patient is amazing.  I need You because I am broken Lord in that I am full of both pride and selfishness.  I thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for this sin.  Refine me and purify me Lord Jesus and make me more like You.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

Proverbs 3

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.  

God has blessed me I believe with a heart to encourage...yet I decide too often that I don't want to use my gifts because I don't feel like it or I don't feel like I have time.  I think about relationships in my life where I can be more encouraging - even with Lisa.  I am too critical when I should be encouraging.  

My Prayer: Lord, You encourage me every day and all the time - the beauty of Your creation, Your word, song, prayer, fellowship of a friend/family, etc.  That You do all of this for me is amazing.  More amazing to me because my faith is weak and I am selfish and sinful.  I continue to be weak in prayer - I am supposed to pray often for others but I don't.  Thank You for all of Your grace and love despite who I am and what I do.  Please forgive me and help build my faith and my prayer life.  Help me be more like You.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

When I don't come to the Lord and see His word, it is essentially, in my view, saying that I don't need Him.  How disrespectful and arrogant!  On the other hand, when I do come to the Lord in quiet time and seek His message for me, it makes all the difference as it says here in Proverbs.


My Prayer: Lord, I know Your wisdom is Truth and there is no other truth.  I also know You are a great and amazing God - what a beautiful drive I had yesterday on my way to UVA - such an amazing creation You made with Earth.  You are amazing because You love me no matter what - and I confess to You that I often don't trust in You with all of my heart and lean on my own understanding - and this is sinful.  I did this yesterday by not coming to You for Your Word for me.  I thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Please also build up my faith and help me seek You out daily - transform my heart and my life Lord so that I can daily delight You with my offerings.