Proverbs 27- Godly Counsel

“Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel. 

Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭9‬, ‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, thank you for placing me in a community that loves me and encourages me.  Thank you for surrounding me with people who love you and continually remind me of Your goodness and grace.

When I try to figure out my own problems, I inevitably make them worse...but when I bring in trusted, believing friends, they always help me to see things clearly and point me back to your truth!  Without those people, I would be lost, hopeless and making a mess of even the simplest problems!

Proverbs 26- Pride & Foolishness

“As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness. 

Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to remain humble and avoid the foolishness of pride.

Proverbs 25- Speaking What, When

“A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings. A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, you have given me a ministry that relies heavily upon speaking into challenging situations to people who are hurt/hurting.  Let me depend solely on Your Spirit to know the appropriate timing and what to say so that they may benefit and You are glorified!

Proverbs 24- Cost of Wisdom

“A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength; for you should wage war with sound guidance — victory comes with many counselors. 

Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The benefits of wisdom really are unending.  And what is amazing is that wisdom is not something that is dependent on how smart you are or how much education you have, it comes from following Jesus.  Wisdom comes from reading scripture, talking to people who have wisdom, praying to God.  In James we see that God gives wisdom to anyone who asks…

So wisdom is not hard to get, all of those things are free and accessible.  But wisdom does require humility in nearly every way:

- we must admit that we need it.

- we must recognize people wiser than us.

- we need to be willing to consider that our way is not best.

- we have to be suspicious of our natural thinking.

- we need to ask for help.

- we must respond to wisdom given by acting on it…even when it is uncomfortable or hard.

- we should attempt to build it into how we think about all aspects of life.

So although it is not hard to get, it is extremely difficult to pursue.  However, it is worth it in every way!  Sweet to your soul and leading to victory at every turn…it is worth the challenge, worth the humility, it is worth whatever it costs!!!

Proverbs 23- Self Control

“Apply yourself to discipline and listen to words of knowledge. 

Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the Lord. For then you will have a future, and your hope will not be dashed.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭12‬, ‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Discipline is not easy, but it is worth it…to be disciplined in holding Gods Word in high esteem, or listening to it above my own wants or desires takes daily, moment by moment surrender.  

God I cannot do any of this on my own, I need Your Spirit to empower me, to produce self control, and to energize me to surrender to Your will every second.  Without Your strength, I will drift back to my selfish ways and be dragged away by pride.  In that far away state, I feel so alone and hopeless…

Proverbs 22- Confidence in God

“Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips. I have instructed you today — even you — so that your confidence may be in the Lord.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, thank You for giving me wisdom from Your Word!  I pray that it would not just be knowledge stored up, but that You would guide me into opportunities to share it and example it!  Bolster my confidence in Your work, in Your character, in Your love so that others would recognize You and run to Your presence.

Proverbs 21- Words & Motives

“All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs hearts. 

The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬, ‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to see from your perspective, give me wisdom to understand my own heart and motivations.  I don’t want to be fooled by my own selfish thoughts or excuses.  I want to make decisions based on truth, Your Word and an accurate understanding of why I do what I do.

In all these things, guard my mouth that I may speak truth in love, recite Your Word with accuracy and allow You to protect my reputation rather than my creative deceit.  Give me the faith to trust You alone rather than feeling the need to help with verbal misdirection.

Lord, I want to please You with my motives and my words…May I rest in Your strength rather than my cunning!