As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Proverbs 27

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. v 19

We are called to examine our hearts because that is where our true desires live and are known (see also Matthew 6:19-21). 

Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind[.] Psalm 26:2

We should desire to live a life modeled after Jesus Christ (see Romans 12:1) and as we strive to do this, we should examine our hearts and lives, and we should ask others to do the same for us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have transformed my heart and life to be more like You....and You continue to do so.  Thank You Jesus for helping refine my thoughts and ways.  You have blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  I am weak and selfish and need You - constantly.  Please forgive me for my lack of patience in others.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You instead and help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.

Proverbs 27

Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes. v20

Peter also warns us that Satan is always there, on the prowl, looking for us to fall for temptation and for us to sin and be separated from God.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

We must equip ourselves with scripture and surround ourselves with the "armor" that only God can provide.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I know that protect me from sin - You have protected me and I desperately need You to continue to protect me.  I am surrounded by sin and temptation.  Only You can protect me.  Thank You Jesus for how You have protected me.  Forgive me for those times when I have fallen prey to Satan and His forces.  I love You and I need You.  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.


 

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. v17

I too often associate this verse with manhood, in particular with Iron Academy, where Zach goes to school. I've done biblical manhood studies via Robert Lewis' work Authentic Manhood, and with Pat Morley's Man in the Mirror organization, yet what I too often fail to focus on is how it is important for believers to be in fellowship with each other.  See Acts 2:42-47 as an example.  Share lives with others, encourage, pray with and for each other, serve, etc.

Jesus - help me be in relationship most importantly with You but then with other believers - I desire to be sharpened to serve You as You intend.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are...You have placed men and others in my life that have sharpened me and helped me grow closer to You and live a life more of how You intend it.  Thank You Jesus!  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  I am weak and lazy.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me form and grow relationships where I can be sharpened and I can sharpen others.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Thank You for a positive appointment Lisa had yesterday!  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus so that they choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Proverbs 27

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. v1

We all have dreams and goals for what we'd like to accomplish yet it is important to focus on them to the point of idolatry.  We exist to glorify God, so our core focus is to ensure that have a daily relationship with Jesus so that we can understand HIS will for our lives (see also Romans 12:2).


We must also live life with an eternal focus. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, my Teacher, My Counselor, My Healer, You are my everything and without You I can do no good thing.  Thank You for how You have blessed me abundantly.  I am not worth such blessing.  Please forgive me for my harshness and lack of patience for others.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Proverbs 25

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. v15

God wants us to be slow to anger and quick to listen, and to use our words wisely - to encourage others and not to tear others down.

People are to see and experience Jesus in us (and Jesus was rarely overtly angry) - and we are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who IS quick to listen, slow to anger, and abounding in love...how awesome are You! Thank You Jesus for the patience You demonstrate to me.  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I am too often harsh and impatient with others.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus so that they choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Proverbs 24

Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. v19-20

I often look at the world has to offer and I long for and desire what others have - a better job than me, more money, etc.   Yet when I do this, I fail to recognize how God HAS blessed me and that I have a God who loves me more than I can ever comprehend and recognize.

Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
    and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13

This morning when I feel stressed about work, this verse provides a measure of comfort:

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

 

God is great and He will never leave or forsake me.

 

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5”

 

Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God that has blessed me beyond what I deserve and You will never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus as I am not worth such love and blessings!  I need You desperately to cleanse me of my sins - for my lack of being content and for my envy of others.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Proverbs 24

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? v11-12

There are those in my life who I know are being led away towards death...those who are staggering towards slaughter.  Yet I not only know this is going on, I have done little to nothing about it.  Shame!

God wants me to be a light and to share the light with others.

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Read The Great Commission in Matthew 28.

See also Ezekiel 2, and Jude 1.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God worthy of my life as a living sacrifice and my full attention.  There is no God like You and I desperately need You to save me my the sting of sin and death and to direct my steps and my path. Thank You for snatching me from the fire.  Forgive me for not being the man You intend for me.  Help me be that man.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal  and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.