Proverbs - Silver on the Outside/Clay on the Inside

Proverbs 26:23

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Our hearts can be quite wicked and the words that come across our lips can burn and wound.  Many a show has exalted the wicked woman with flattering lips.  We must be cautious to be sure that our hearts are seeking to love and our lips are seeking to build up.  Otherwise we may come across one way initially and end up delivering nothing but empty promises and hurtful judgments.  We must be sensitive to the power of the tongue and consistently guarded by the Lord’s leading when speaking.  Be open to the convictions of a wicked heart and get it right by confessing it and receiving his forgiveness and cleansing.  A potsherd is a piece of a broken clay pot.  If this piece was covered in silver, the silver would disguise the true substance of the object.  Let us give words that are like apples of gold in settings of silver rather than potsherd covered with silver dross.

Knowing God - The Lord Formed You

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

The Lord formed us in our mothers’ wombs and the Lord had us in mind before He even made us.  He decided our genes, socioeconomic environment, weaknesses and gifts.  He had specific purposes in mind for each one of us and set us apart for certain works before we were even being formed in the womb.  If you and I ever feel misunderstood or lost in our own skin, we must take note that the Lord has known us even before we were created.  In order to live out the life He has for us, it is so important for us to be in total submission to the One who decided to make us in the first place.  Ask Him for His leading and His purposes to come forth in your life today.  He knows you.  He formed you.  He has set you apart and called you.  He loves you.

Knowing God - The Lord Pays Good for Curses

2 Sam 16:12

It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.

The Lord Pays Good for Cursing

David spoke this when a man was casting stones at David and saying all kinds of accusations at him.  Earlier David said, “…so let him curse, because the Lord has said unto him, Curse David”. (2 Samuel 16:10)  David was in a very low time of his life and this man was adding insult to injury.  David was not going to command his men to fight for him in this situation.  This was not a king’s battle.  This was a personal attack and David knew the difference.  He realized that the Lord is His King and the Lord will fight for him.  The Lord sees the insults and personal attacks we go through.  He sees our afflictions and might very well give us a blessing because of someone’s ill treatment of us.  The attacks of others are intended to be used by the Lord to be used for our good.  The Lord sees your personal conflict.  Resist the desire to attack back and look up.  It may be that that the Lord will pay you good for the cursing you are going through.

Proverbs - Words Can Wound

Proverbs 26:22

The words of a talebearer are as wounds,

and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Getting on the phone or going out to lunch and telling another woman the play by play account of your life is a common practice for women.  This is not to be with the woman of God.  She does not tell the stories of conversations and relationships to another.  She handles her relationships with care and keeps confidences and conversations in the appropriate boundaries.  She doesn’t tell another what someone else said and did unless the Lord is leading her to in order to breed unity and admiration.  Her conversations are rooted in the Lord and what He is doing with the person and relationship at hand.  If she repeats something she risks hurting the person across from her without her even knowing it.  It is best to avoid bringing other names and situations into a current conversation.  Love the person in front of you and enjoy the moment.  This will decrease the likelihood of injury and pain.

Knowing God - He Will Show You the Way

Psalm 16:11a

You will show me the paths of life..

He Shows Us Life’s Paths

The Lord is the One who shows us the paths of life.  He doesn’t just teach us about them or command us to go on them, but actually SHOWS us the paths.  Oftentimes we are ignorant or blinded to the paths that are full of life.  We choose paths of death and paths of decay.  We can choose a path because it looks familiar or inviting unaware of its destination.  We need the Lord to SHOW us the paths of life.  He will use His Word to illuminate our path and show us the path that goes towards life and newness.  Life denotes newness, activity, goals, accomplishment and meaning.  As you look into His Word and sense His leading trust that the paths He is leading You on are not really those which kill good times but rather bring life.  

Proverbs - The Accelerant of Contention

Proverbs 26:21

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire;

so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Here we are warned again about putting out the fire of strife.  Being contentious will contribute to the fire of conflict.  Being contentious means being argumentative and contending for our positions.  We ought rather leave things and allow the Lord to fight for us.  State what needs to be said and drop it.  If we go on and on we will be like burning colas and wood to fire.  Be quiet within and quiet without. Settle your soul and let the peace of Christ reign and rule in your hearts.  Don’t be that contentious woman.  Don’t be that hot burning coal.  Watch the fire of strife begin to diminish and resolution take place because you chose to not be contentious.

Knowing God - He Goes Before Us

                                                            Isaiah 45a             

“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight:”

So much of who the Lord reveals Himself to be involves His involvement with us.  How wonderful that our God is a God who doesn’t just sit on a throne disconnected with His creation!  He is a loving Father, Shepherd and King, who concerns Himself with the paths of those He has created.  Here we see that God, Himself, goes before us on our paths, straightening out ways that are crooked before we even walk them.  Our Lord desires to be a God who, not only is with us on our roads, but goes before us to give us a great sense of being cared for and looked after.  He is in this day and its events before we even get there.  If you and I face something difficult today, remember that the Lord has gone before us and He has influenced the twists and turns our lives make.  He will guide us because He has travelled our roads before us.

Proverbs - Fire Extinguisher

Proverbs 26:20

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:

so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Wood helps a fire continue and retain its strength.  When there is conflict and strife between people we can help put it out by not telling others about it.  A tale bearer is one who repeats what happens to another.  By not talking about the conflict we can help diminish the strife and put it out.  We might be tempted to tell someone and pull them into our world but we are told here that this will only fuel the fire of strife and division.  The next time we want to tell someone the details of some conflict, maybe we should envision a wildfire and reject the temptation to speak.  

Knowing God - God Cares about Relationships

Psalm 68:6a

God setteth the solitary in families:

The Lord Cares about Relationships

God has a plan for our support environment.  He sets those who are alone into family environments.  It isn’t really us who are deciding that but He that is setting us there.  This truth about our God should help us understand God’s heart about relationships and family.  He knows we have a need to belong and be connected and He knows where to set us.  Be open to who He may be setting around you that He wants you to embrace as family.  Be open to being set in families where He knows they have what you might need.  What a wonderful God to direct our paths into relationships that feel like family!

Proverbs - Just Joking

Proverbs 26:18-19

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Our culture enjoys teasing and joking.  Sometimes these can be very funny.  For example:

First Person:  Knock, knock

Second Person:  Who’s there?

First Person:  Control Freak.  Now you say “Control freak who?”

Jokes can really lighten things up and bring joy to our days, but teasing someone else has its inherent dangers.  We are told in this verse that saying something in jest is like a crazy person throwing hot coals, arrows and death.  When a crazy person throws something it could go anywhere.  It could hit something and it might not.  This is how it is with jesting and tricking another person.  It might wound them and it might not.  People come with a lot of baggage and previous wounds.  If our teasing hits them in a tender spot, they will be wounded.  Every time we joke around and then have to tell someone that we were kidding, we risk injuring someone.  Is it worth it?

Proverbs - Meddling Can Bite You!

Proverbs 26:17

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

We can find ourselves passing by a conversation and notice that there is some sort of misunderstanding or conflict.  Sometimes there is a temptation to get involved and put our two cents in.  The Lord is warning us that if we do this we might very well be bitten by it.  Strife that does not belong to us is not to be brought into our lives.  If we are an overseer and there is strife, it belongs to us and we must be peace keepers.  If we sense the Holy Spirit leading us to come and mediate, we must obey.  But if we just feel pulled into something because of a subject or relationship, we would be best to pull back and not take the dog by the ears.  It would be better to pray on our own that the Lord will intervene and avoid unnecessary dog bites.

Knowing God - He Knows Us

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.

He Knows Us

                                                               

Sometimes we can feel like nobody really knows us.  We may even be confused ourselves about who we are.  One day we may feel outgoing and the next we want to isolate ourselves.  God knows those who trust in Him.  Trusting means to place our confidence in Him to the point that we don’t need an explanation to believe or act on what He says.  When we place our trust in Him, He knows us.  He knows our fears.  He knows our desires.  He knows our arrogance.  He is not asking for perfection.  He is asking for trust.  We don’t have to explain ourselves.  He knows us.  Trust in Him.  He is your stronghold in the day of trouble.  You don’t have to have your act together.  You don’t have to understand why you may be reacting the way you are.  He knows.  Focus more on trusting and knowing Him and less on trying to depend and know you.

Knowing God - He Had Done Great Things - FOR YOU!

1 Samuel 12:24

“Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart;  for consider what great things he has done for you.”

                                                                          

He Has Done Great Things  - FOR YOU!

The Lord has done great things.  We all know that.  He has created this earth.  He brought His people out of captivity over and over again.  He raised Lazarus.  He forgave the adulterous woman, but…..here we see we are commanded to consider the great things He has done FOR YOU!  Perhaps you are in a place where you believe and know that God is powerful and has done great things but you have not chosen to consider what great things He has done FOR YOU!  Stop now and consider what He has done for you.  Has he saved you from continuing in patterns that would have left your life in ruins?  Has he healed you? Has he given you abilities you know did not come from the way you were raised?  Has he delivered you from your own consequences?  Consider this today and it will help you to only fear Him and serve Him in truth with all your heart.

Proverbs - Laziness Makes Us Unreasonable

Proverbs 26:16

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

When we are lazy we are unreasonable.  When we are lazy we are not thinking clearly and responsibly.   The flesh is in control.  When we work hard we tend to think more clearly and look at things in a more reasonable way.  We understand the responsibilities that others have because we are taking care of our own.  We avoid unnecessary arguments and verbal conflicts because we are busy with the task at hand.  When we work diligently we feel accomplished and aren’t depending on others to make us feel affirmed and worthy.  If you find yourself a bit unreasonable, check out your work ethic.  Sometimes this is linked to an unreasonable state of mind.

Proverbs - Preparing Food

Proverbs 26:15

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom;

 it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

Here, a slothful person is one who is even lazy to do that which involves feeding himself.  This could translate sometimes into the ‘fast food’ mom.  She sits around and thinks, “What am I in the mood for?” and then counts on a restaurant to purchase and prepare food for her and her family.  Sure there are times on the run or even for fun that we can enjoy eating out but a slothful woman is one who patterns her meal times away from her own labor and depends on others to do this task.  A godly woman prepares food for her household and gives them the sense that she loves them and nurtures them.  When we give food to our family we create a bond between us and them.  It demonstrates our love in putting our own effort and thought into it.  We can show we know what their favorites are and instead of having the food in paper or on a restaurant’s plate, we can serve it on plates that remind them of home.  Even Jesus prepared the fish for his disciples after he rose from the dead.  Ladies, don’t be slothful concerning food.  Your family will thank you for it.

Knowing God - The Lord Interrogates

Job 38:2

“Brace yourself like a man:  I will question you,

and you shall answer me.”

The Lord Interrogates

The Lord is speaking here and seems to be speaking in a tone of authority.  We can find ourselves questioning Him and expecting Him to answer us.  Here we see the Lord saying that He will question us and He expects us to answer Him.  When was the last time you allowed the Word of God to question you and you answered?  Have you ever sensed His still small voice speaking to you?  It is a good thing to sense the searching of God and respond when you hear His questions. He could be asking us why we are doing something.  He could be questioning us about our mischaracterization of Him.  He could be asking us about something we have done.  We would do well to put ourselves as the ones being questioned rather than always questioning Him.  As we give Him answers we might be surprised to find out that His questions were well directed and intended to bring out of us that which we might have been blind to.  Brace yourself.  He will question you.  You shall answer Him.

Knowing God - The Lord Shows Us

Psalm 118:27a

              “God is the Lord, which hath showed us the light…”

The Lord Shows Us

Sometimes we miss the obvious.  We can be walking in darkness and not even realize that it really isn’t dark – our eyes are closed!  Whether it be fear, lethargy or habit, we can miss the light that we need to take steps in the direction the Lord has for us.  Our God is not only the light, but is tender to SHOW us the light.  Sometimes He just lifts our heads up to see that the dawn is coming.  He has us look away from the darkness and towards the horizon of what He is doing.  The Lord knows our frames and that darkness intimidates us and leaves us unable to move forward.  If there is an area of your life that seems rather dark and colorless, be open to the Lord showing you the light today.  He loves you and understands your tendencies.  He is gentle and full of compassion.  He wants to show us the light.  Let Him be the lifter of your head today.

Proverbs - Laziness and Doors

Proverbs 26:14

As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

Sleep is a blessing.  The Lord gives His beloved sleep.  We must be sensitive to when He is giving us sleep and when we might be loving it too much.  Sleeping in should be reserved for illness, times of refreshment from a long night and catching up from busy times.  The godly woman rises before the rest of her household so they feel taken care of and that she is setting the tone of the day.  It is not a godly woman’s pattern to sleep beyond the rest of her household.  She gets to bed at an appropriate time and starts her day preparing food for the family and seeking her God in the morning on their behalf.  She can greet her children and husband with joy and welcome them into the day that the Lord has made.  If we keep going back to sleep when we sense the Lord calling us to arise, we are being slothful.  Let us wake up and be the keepers of the home He has called us to be.

Knowing God - The Lord Reigns

Psalm 96:10

Say among the heathen, “The Lord reigneth”…..

The Lord Reigns

                                                                                     

The Lord reigns.  What does this mean?  It means that the Lord is ruling.  This means that the Lord is actively involved in the affairs of men and even the spiritual realm.  We are told to tell those who don’t believe in Him, that He reigns and rules.  We are instructed to tell the non believer that, regardless of whether they believe in the Lord or not, He is the final authority on matters.  We can let them know that His rules and commands are legitimate and truly the final call.  We can let them know that He is able to rule over the mess they might have made in their lives.  What a privilege to tell someone who doesn’t know God that, not only is He real but He is powerful and a King, inviting them to yield to His authority in their life.  When non believers chide you about trials and problems in your life, have mercy on them and declare this truth about your God, “The Lord reigns!”

Proverbs - Laziness and Lions

Proverbs 26:13

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

Laziness tends to make excuses and place the blame on others.  Usually when we are trying to get out of some task we can predict the obstacles we will face and justify our procrastination.  Ladies, it is time we grow up in this.  Let us now speak all of the angles of the next task we are to do.  Let us approach work with a willing heart and willing hands.  Let us know that hard work is necessary to make a happy home.  It is good for our health.  It keeps our bodies active and our minds content.   Life is not about ease and entertainment.  The labor of a righteous woman is sweet.  The building the Lord wants us to do involves physical effort as well as spiritual pursuits.  Stop making excuses and walk in those works that the Lord has for you today.

Knowing God - He is the God of Peace

1 Thess 5:23-24

 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

God is the Very God of Peace

Our God is working on us.  He is working on our spirit, souls and bodies.  What is motivating our God in this process of setting us apart from those who don’t know Him?  The fact that our God is the very God of peace.  This means that whatever He is doing in our spirits, souls and bodies to change us is being directed by a God who desires peace for our lives.  Sometimes when the Lord calls us on something, we can feel anything BUT peace.  We might even feel shaken, confused and find ourselves in a bit of a struggle.  Peace comes through surrender.  Yield to His work in your life.  Trust that the eventual outcome your God of peace desires for you is peace.  Whatever He is speaking to you and I about changing will bring about a peace that passes our own understanding.   Sanctification is intended on bringing us peace from the very God of peace. Second Peter 3:14 says, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” Perhaps some sort of restlessness or conflict within you is a direct result of resistance to what the God of peace is asking you to do even now.  Ask the God of peace to have His way with you.  Thank Him that He has good plans for you resulting in the peace that only He can give.

Proverbs - Wise in Your Own Eyes?

Proverbs 26:12

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Self confidence is a highly esteemed attribute these days.  God wants us to be God-confident.  Self confidence causes us to be fools.  We will be blinded to possible mistakes and other options.  When we are humble in our estimation of our understanding we can be wiser and receive advice and direction that enables us to build our homes strong.  In the midst of conflict it is a wise woman who considers that her understanding may be misguided.  She is a woman who says to herself, “What if I am missing information?”  She is also one who wants to know the truth and not just give her take on matters.  She is seeking to love and find the answer that would most glorify the Lord.  She knows that she is one person and others have resources and perspectives she does not have.  Let us not be wise in our own conceit, becoming foolish women tearing down our homes with our own hands. 

Knowing God - God Made and God Places

Jer 27:5

 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.

God Made and God Places

                                                               

God is speaking here and explaining something to us.  He is telling us that He has made the earth, man and beast.  He is explaining that by His great power and outstretched arm He gives His creation to whoever He thinks seems appropriate in getting it.  In this section of scripture, the Lord is telling His people that the king they really didn’t like has become king because God has purposes behind it.

 In this chapter the Lord explains that He has sent this pagan king and was not sending the prophets that were prophesying.

We must move cautiously when accepting things that have the right outward package and yet the message is not from the Lord.  We must move in a cautious way, respecting the authority structures around us even when they might seem godless and in a ‘wrong package’.

 Sometimes we can become discouraged because the enemy tries to tell us that he has final authority.  Here, we learn that the Lord is in charge and He chooses how to divide up countries, put people in charge and is powerfully involved in the environments in which we live.  Knowing this should produce in us a great dependence upon our Maker, seeking Him for His leading no matter how we feel about the authorities in our lives.  Thank Him for those who rule over you and thank Him that it is by His great power and outstretched arm that things are the way they are at the moment.  You can then trust Him to give you the wisdom, reverence and ability to work within the authority structures He currently has you in.

Proverbs - Don't Return to Folly

Proverbs 26:11

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

When we find ourselves acting foolishly we must not just cease from being foolish.  We must ask the Lord to give us a heart for wisdom.  Our inner man needs to change.  We must ask the Lord to help us incline towards wisdom so we don’t go back to the familiar folly we are used to acting out.   Attitudes, words and financial decisions can all be guided by foolish guidelines and we might just be a little too comfortable with them.  When we are a bit tired or lack a sober mindset, we might just go back to the way we used to handle things.  Lord, create in us a clean heart!  Lord, help us recognize our old man as dead and help us reckon ourselves alive unto You!  Protect us from returning to bad habits and let us be women who are walking according to the wisdom you so generously give.

Knowing God - He Rolls Away Reproach

Josh 5:9a

                                                               

 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you…

The Lord takes Away Our Reproach

Here we learn of a wonderful trait of our God.  He rolls away our reproach.  Reproach is another word for shame or disgrace.  Israel was treated like slaves by Egypt and they had been beaten down.  It had been many years since God’s people had left Egypt but now was the day that the Lord was to roll this shame away.  The term ‘rolled away’ is used in other places of scripture to describe moving heavy stones.  Shame and disgrace are heavy stones in our lives.  We can get flashbacks about our choices and even sins committed against us that seem too weighty to ever be removed.  Our God rolls this shame away.  When the women went to the tomb they questioned among themselves,

“Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” (Mark 16:3)

  Who shall roll away the stone from the sepulcher of our past? Does your past seem overwhelming to you? The Lord can roll this weight away.  When the ladies arrived at the tomb

“….they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. “ (Mark 16:4).

Maybe you are anticipating the weight of your shame to be there. 

The Lord can roll this weighty burden away.  He is the one who, this day, can roll away the reproach of your Egypt.

Proverbs - God Rewards

Proverbs 26:10

The great God that formed all things both

rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

God formed everything so everything belongs to God.  He is the One who determines the law of sowing and reaping.  He determines what happens when we choose wisdom or foolishness and He has been quite generous in His instructions and warnings.  He rewards the fool and rewards the transgressor.  A transgressor is a sinner who violates the boundaries the Lord has clearly set and a fool is one who recklessly lives too close to those boundaries.  Both of these people will see direct results from their choices.  We cannot live either of these lives and not expect to have the results.  God is not mocked.  Whatever a man plants, that he will reap.  We must remember this when faced with the temptation to live foolishly or sinfully.  Our great God who formed all things rewards the fool and the transgressor.

Knowing God - The Lord Moves Upon Dark Places

Gen 1:2

 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The Lord Moves Upon Empty Places

The earth was already created here and we learn that it wasn’t filled with life or order.  The Spirit of God moved upon the darkness of the deep waters.  The Spirit of God moves when there is darkness and lack of life.  The darkness didn’t ask for the Lord to move upon it and yet the Spirit of God moved upon it.  Is there darkness in areas of your life? Do you sense an emptiness and lack of creativity?  Is there an existence you have slipped into that seems without form and void? The Spirit of God is moving and desires to speak life, order and color into your life.  Sense His presence.  Invite the Holy Spirit to move upon your life and begin to make something good out of things that seem lifeless and empty.

Proverbs - Parables in Fools' Mouths

Proverbs 26:9

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

When someone is seriously intoxicated, they don’t necessarily feel certain pain.  A drunken person can have a thorn in their hand and not even notice it.  When a message intended to give instruction is sent in the mouth of a fool, people won’t even notice the potency or strength in the message.  This is why it is very important that we live as wise women.   When we are living wisely we can give our children and those around us truth and it will be given with strength and power.   The truth we share will be backed up by lives that are built upon that truth.  We won’t be foolish women trying to give parables and instruction that seem pointless and innocuous to our listeners.  As we continue learning the difference between foolish and wise living in the book of Proverbs we will be better equipped to speak the truth and live the truth. The Lord tells us in Hebrews 13:7-8, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you, considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”  The Lord considers the conduct of the messenger and equates the effectiveness of the truth with the example.  As we consider this warning, it should help us not only open our mouths with wisdom but build our lives with it.

Knowing God - The Lord is a Living God!

Josh 3:10

And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail

 drive out from before you

the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites,

 and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

The Lord is a Living God

                                                                              

God is a living God.  A God who doesn’t just exist – but lives!  How will we know that this living God is among us?  By the fact that He will WITHOUT FAIL drive out from among us those enemies in our lives that threaten us and posses areas of our lives that He has given to us to possess.  The children of Israel were told to go in and drive out these enemies.  This was not to be done in their own strength.  The Lord would go before them – but they needed to proceed in conquering trusting the Lord to drive them out.  What sort of Canaanites are in your life?  What habits, attitudes, fears or sins are occupying a life that has been purchased by the blood of Christ?  Turn and face them.  Move towards them with the confidence that God is among you and, without fail, will drive these things out from before you.  He wants you to know that He is the living God that knows how to make our lives worth living.

Proverbs - Honoring a Fool!

Proverbs 26:8

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

Giving honor to someone who is doing something foolish according to God’s standards is like binding a stone in a sling.  You are setting up a possible occasion of wounding and offense.  We don’t want to give ammunition to the enemy to hurl unnecessary pain and affliction upon other people.  One way to avoid this is by not giving honor to a fool.  We don’t praise foolish decisions, we don’t look up to a foolish woman and we certainly don’t espouse foolish responses as ‘clever’ or ‘quick’.  We must understand foolishness and regard it as something we don’t want to be nor regard in any sort of honorable way.  We must grow in our discretion and recognize foolishness by the guidelines of the Word of God in order to avoid this great mistake.

Knowing God - The Lord Will Break Our Pride

Lev 26:19

 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:

The Lord Will Break Our Pride

The Lord is personally involved in the transformation of our personalities.  We are His people and He is our Father.  If we experience discipline from our Father it means that He loves us and desires to see us become all that Christ died and rose for us to become.  If we resist the Lord, He will break the pride of our power.  Our power is unreliable and often hurts and damages ourselves and those around us.  It is His power that we need and His authority we must put ourselves safely under.  The weightiness we feel sometimes might really be the exalting of ourselves to positions the Lord never intended us to walk in.  Perhaps your heavens feel like iron and the earth feels cold as brass.  Humble yourselves under His mighty hand.  He will break the pride of your power that you might experience His perfect power and your environment becomes safe and warm.

Proverbs - Sending Messages

Proverbs 26:6-7

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Both of these proverbs let us know that sending a message by a fool is not a good thing.  We can actually end up causing harm and sending the wrong message.  This reminds us to be cautious when choosing someone to give a message.  If the person seems to be a bit of a fool on the other line of a phone call, we’d best call back and leave the message on the voice mail or answering machine.  Also, when asking someone to represent us to anyone, we should evaluate if this person tends to be a fool.  Remember some of the attributes of a fool?  They vent all they feel, they tend to be slothful, often blame others and are usually right in their own eyes.  If we see these things in someone we should refrain from sending any sort of message through them.  If we do, it will be like cutting off the feet.  The message really won’t arrive and damage could be done.

Knowing God - The Lord Wants to Show His Power

Ex 9:16

 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

The Lord Wants to Show His Power

The Lord was speaking through Moses to Pharaoh in this verse.  The Lord is telling Pharaoh that he has been put in authority to show the Lord’s power and that the Lord’s name will be declared throughout all the earth.  Pharaoh exalted himself and would not let God’s people go.  The Lord knew Pharaoh would do this.  This gave the Lord the wonderful opportunity to display the fact that He is King of kings.  The Lord’s Word is greater than any other word, no matter what powerful place speaks them.  When we are faced with authority resisting God’s ways in our lives, we must not be frustrated or angry.  We must realize that those situations are great showcases for the power and authority of God.  If you have authority over you that seems to really be not cooperating with the Lord’s plans, be strong in faith, giving glory to God.  God may, in fact, have allowed that person to make those unreasonable decisions to display His power and authority in your life!

Proverbs - Contradiction?

Proverbs 26:4-5

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

These two proverbs seem like a contradiction but they are not.  They are telling us that sometimes when you answer a fool according to his folly, he can see how foolish he is being.  Other times, if you answer him this way, you lower yourself to a standard that the Lord would not want.  How do you know which one to do?  You must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  The Word of God is not a law book that can work without the leading of the One who wrote it.  It is called the ‘sword of the Spirit’ because only He has the ability to know how and when to use the Word of God in the most effective manner.  There are cults and false religions that use the Word of God to support the most blasphemous lifestyles and doctrines.  Satan used the Word of God against Jesus in the wilderness.  When dealing with a fool, we can get quite riled up and either get pulled into their foolishness or try to come at them with sound wisdom.  Sometimes one will work and sometimes the other.  We must remain quiet in our spirits and seek to respond as the Holy Spirit leads.  This will be the most effective response whether it is one or the other. 

Knowing God - The Lord is Good to ALL

Ps 145:9

The LORD is good to all:

and his tender mercies are over all his works.

The Lord is Good to All

The Lord is good to all so we ought not to be disgruntled when we see something good happen to someone wicked.  It is God’s goodness that leads a person to repentance.  He loves unconditionally and is willing that none should perish but ALL come to everlasting life.  Let us join Him in praying blessings upon those that have done evil to us and let us do good to those who have not been good to us.  Our God’s goodness is consistent and without regards to any person’s character.  God is who He is and His goodness is to be relied upon.  Lord, reveal your goodness to us today!

Proverbs - Fools and Consequences

Proverbs 26:3

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Fools need outside consequences to awaken their inner conscience.  A fool often has a hardened heart and needs to feel the pain associated with his choice to begin to instruct him the way he should go.  If our children are foolish and disregard the voice of instruction, we need to consider what sort of ‘rod’ to use to correct them and put them back.  Even if they don’t get the deep truth behind our admonition, the fear of the ‘rod’ should help protect them and guide them to safety.  This could be a ‘time out’, restriction, ‘swat’, or some other bridle, but it is intended to protect the fool from his own bents.  If you deal with a fool who is under your authority, don’t expect them to turn from their ways based on words alone.  Prepare consequences, clearly explained, that they might be inclined to choose well and avoid the natural consequences of foolishness down the road.

Knowing God - He Protects Us from

Ps 124:6

Blessed be the LORD,

who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

The Lord Protects Us from Predators

We have predators all around us.  Predators are lurking around and we need protection.  This verse tells us that the Lord, Himself, will protect us from the predators in our lives.  You might not even know what is lurking in your environment that is waiting to pounce on you.  The Lord does.  He is keeping watch over you and me.  He sees through those camouflaged places where predators dwell.  He is our protection and takes the role as the One who shields us from those who would want to devour us.  We don’t have ANY idea how many times He has delivered us from the mouth of the devourer.  Perhaps it would be good to pause even now and bless the Lord.  Thank Him for delivering you from the teeth of your adversary.

Proverbs - The Causeless Curse

Proverbs 26:2

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying,

so the curse causeless shall not come.

Sometimes Christians get scared of curses.  Maybe there is a ‘satanic’ group cursing area pastors or maybe someone in their anger breathes our threats and cursing.  If there is no cause for the curse we need not fear.  There are things we can do that can cause our days to be cursed.  The Lord spoke in the Old Testament that he puts before us a blessing and a curse.  We need to choose this day whom we serve.  If we are serving the Lord, the curse is causeless and we need not fear.  The words of men can be very intimidating and the threatening of our adversary can leave us a bit startled.  Still, we need to remember that if these curses are not based in a cause, something we have chosen against the Lord, they will not come.  Fear not.