Wisdom

Day 3: Which Way? – Proverbs 3

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Picture for Day 3 two roads going different directions

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

I can’t get through Proverbs 3 without writing about these 2 verses, they are my life verses! Everything in my life comes back to this, trusting Him with everything. Letting go of what I know, or rather, what I think I know, fixing my focus on Him and waiting for His direction for my life. WORKS EVERY TIME!

First, I must trust Him. Trust He has a plan and purpose for me. Trust that He will not let me down. Trust that what He has for me is far better than what is accomplished by my own hand or by the ways of this world. So, I ask myself, do I trust Him? My answer, YES! Yes, I trust Him with all my heart.

Then, I must not look to my own understanding. Ha, easier said then done! We want to see it and we think if we can’t see it, well, then we won’t trust or believe it.  I face this very kind of thing every day living with physical blindness. So often I am having to trust and respond to what others are telling me. I cannot rely on my own sight, it is flawed, broken, distorted, and absent. This is often true in my trust of God’s leading and direction of my life. I can’t see what He can see. My sight is limited. I can’t rely on my own understanding.

So instead, I acknowledge Him in every area of my life. I seek Him in every decision. I look to Him for direction, provision, clarity, and instruction. There isn’t any part of my life that He isn’t available to work out for me. I accept His truth. I confess He exists, and His plans are greater and higher than anything I could dream or imagine.

And because I trust Him and accept His wisdom, He will show me which way to go! And that is for anything in my life.  The big stuff, the life altering decisions, those things that will affect my life and those around me. It’s also for the day to day decisions. Those things that come up daily in parenting, marriage, relationships and basic life stuff. He will give me wisdom and the right answer! He will show me which way to go!

I pray today for increase in my faith and trust in Christ. I pray for the Lord to reveal those areas of my life where I am not trusting Him. Amen.

What is God speaking to you today in Proverbs 3? Comment below or join the conversation on the  Journaling Through Proverbs Facebook Group.

Day 2: My Shield, Guard and Protection – Proverbs 2

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picture of ocean and boardwalk

“He is a shield to those who walk in integrity. He guards the paths of the just. And protects those who are faithful to Him.” Proverbs 2:7-8

Proverbs is all about wisdom, seeking it and gaining understanding. I hear that and I long for it. I want to be a person who walks out wisdom in every part of my life. Making right choices in the moment that will reap good consequences. But you know what, I’m not going to get it right every time. I probably get it wrong more often then right. In all honesty, I just get in a hurry and make decisions in the moment that just feel good. It’s later that I realize where I failed and forgot to seek out wisdom.

Today I read in verses 7 and 8, if I will have integrity, live justly and remain faithful to Him, then he will shield and guard me and He will protect my path.  To know that regardless of my mistakes, there is protection for me. Now, I don’t think that I can just go out and do what ever pleases me in the moment. I still must seek out wisdom, but it’s in those moments I fail that He is shielding me, guarding me and keeping my path protected. I wonder, how often is His protection keeping me from harm? I believe He is working for me and with me, even in those moments when I am unaware and miss the guidance of wisdom. . .

I’m aware that I have a responsibility to live my life according to the call and purposes of God. But, it’s impossible to live out perfection in every part of my life all the time. I need Him, His wisdom, His strength. And when I fail, I need his protection.

Thank you, Lord, for wisdom that is available to me. Thank you that through your Word and by the leading of the Holy Spirit, I can walk out my life with wisdom and understanding. I pray today that I will be a person who lives with integrity, who lives a just life and above all else, remains faithful to You. I am thankful that when I am weak you are strong. You are a shield and guard around me and you protect my future. Amen.

Join the conversation on the Journaling Through Proverbs Facebook Group or leave a comment below. What is God speaking to you and how can I be praying for you?

Day 1: Wisdom – Proverbs 1

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Picture of flowers

“Wisdom shouts in the streets…..come and listen to my council,
I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise…..
All who listen to me will live in peace untroubled by the fear of harm.”
Proverbs 1:20, 23, 33

Proverbs is a book full of wise council for living a peaceable and successful life.

Wisdom is

Knowledge and good judgement that is gained from experience. Wisdom can be given and received. It’s born out of “been there, done that.” We can gain wisdom through our own experiences and through others’ experiences if we pay attention. And here in Proverbs we can learn about wisdom, discipline, understand the insights of the wise, learn to live disciplined and successful lives, guide us to do what is right, just and fair. Proverbs gives insight to the simple and knowledge and discernment to the young (VV. 2-4). Seriously, y’all, there is a lot in here!

I chose the above portions of this chapter because first it reminds me that wisdom is available to me. Verse 22 says “wisdom shouts in the streets.” That says to me that wisdom is not hiding or hard to find. It’s not something I can only gain access to after I’ve experienced life. Sure, the older I get, the more experiences I have, therefore gaining more wisdom. But, here in Proverbs, I’m told that wisdom is calling out to me and if I will listen, I can find wisdom.  Once I hear wisdom speak then I must decide to listen and obey. Really living a life led by wisdom is on me, its available to me, I just need to listen.

The final verse in this chapter says, “But all who listen to me (wisdom) will live in peace untroubled by harm.” And that is a word for me today. Seeking out and trusting wisdom will lead me to a life filled with peace and freedom from fear. Can I get an AMEN somebody!  There is so much going around right now, what we should do or what we shouldn’t do. Is staying home the right thing, or do we need to get back to living? I don’t have the exact right answer, but wisdom tells me that I can find the right answer. And that fact is not just for today and what is happening with Covid 19, it’s for every part of my life; marriage, parenting, finances, relationships, education.

Thank you, Lord for your Word. Thank you for the wisdom it offers for my life today. I pray today for myself and for those who are reading this that we will listen to wisdom and allow it to bring peace to our lives. Amen.

 

What is God speaking to you today through Proverbs 1? And how can I be praying for you?  You can comment below or join the discussion on the Journaling Through Proverbs Facebook Group.