Blessed is the one who always trembles before God

Proverbs 28

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God.v14

I have often read and reflected on how I am to fear the Lord.   We are clearly to both love and fear the Lord.  This is also clearly stated in the Ten Commandments:

And God spoke all these words:

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

³ “You shall have no other gods before me.

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.  Exodus 20:1-4

 It is this love and healthy fear of the Lord that draws me near to Him.

My Prayer: Lord, You are awesome!  Your love and might are incredible.  I have even seen it when I have experienced trials how You love me.  I am not worthy of such love yet You love me anyway.  I neglect You and I often don't trust You and this is deeply sinful.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me and help me see You as trustworthy all the time.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

Proverbs 27

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
    give careful attention to your herds;

for riches do not endure forever,
    and a crown is not secure for all generations. v23-4

 This is an encouragement to me to focus on the hearts of those entrusted to me...those in my family.

Similarly, another verse in this Proverb:

As water reflects the face,
    so one’s life reflects the heart v19

and an entry posted a couple of years ago encourages me to actually live a life of example.

I also recall:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

My Prayer: Lord, You are trustworthy because You are 100% good - You always have my interests in mind and You will never do anything that is not just or good. I wish I was more like You...I say and think bad things about people - people I work with and people on TV, etc.  I thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me and purify and refine me.  Help me be more like You.  Help me focus on the hearts of my family and be a good shepherd of their hearts and a leader in my house/family.

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

It is prudent to plan and God wants us to follow Him and His vision for our lives....we just should not boast about anything and focus on ourselves...all for His glory.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and I am thankful that You are able to use me for Your glory.  I am imperfect and I often pursue selfish desires more than You.  I should be loving You with all my heart soul and mind.  I thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me and please help me come to You...daily and all the time.

Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.

Proverbs 22

Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
    apply your heart to what I teach,

for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips. v17-18

I ask daily that the Lord write a message on my heart.  Solomon's words here in Proverbs reinforce the role of memorization - because it is "pleasing [to the Lord] when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips."

My Prayer: Lord, Your Word - the Bible - is Truth, Wisdom, and Life...and so much more.  I cannot live without it.  However, I say this yet there are days when I ignore You.  How foolish and sinful!  I thank You that You love me anyway but I ask You Lord Jesus to please forgive me!  Help me come to You daily and help me grow in my faith so that I can have Your words on my heart and ready on my lips.

...man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deu 8:3

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

Proverbs 21

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

First and foremost I am to seek His pleasure and delight.  I break the number one commandment, the most important one...all the time.   I need Christ desperately in my life.

My Prayer: Lord, I know You love me and once again I find that amazing....because I am broken.  Thank You that You do love me but please forgive me...please purify me, refine me and make me Your devoted servant.   Make me more like You.

 

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

Proverbs 21

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out and not be answered. v13

I need to be more mindful of those in need and what God wants me to do - either with my time, talents, or treasure (or all of the above).  There is also a broader message here that whoever does not help (of any type) anyone in need  will not be able to be helped by God.  

Today's message is also found in another post.

My Prayer: Lord, You are generous in so many ways and You never neglect me regardless of how I neglect You.  Thank you for this and please forgive me for my neglect of You.  Please help me be generous and please help me be more like You.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Proverbs 21

The plans of the diligent lead to profit
    as surely as haste leads to poverty. v5

I have often struggled with the concept of living a life aligned with a purpose from God - implying that working towards a vision God has for me.  I am also struggling with how to do with this Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.

These words encourage me to continue this struggle because it is a worthy fight - to work towards God's vision for my life.

My Prayer: Lord, Your hand in my life is clear and I have seen the good and perfect work you have done.  I am ready and willing to be used by You.  I know I have not loved You with all of my heart mind and soul so thank You for loving me anyway but please forgive me.  Please also reveal to me glimpses of Your vision for my life and encourage me to follow You and to lead my family.