Knowing God - God Will Judge Everyone

Isa 26:5

For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground;

 he bringeth it even to the dust.

No matter how well known or respected a person is in society, they are still humans that were created by God for His purposes and they will give account.  Every celebrity faces death and no matter how beautiful the flesh is, it will still decay and corrupt after the life of the person departs.  All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust (Job 34:15). The glory and fame of man pale in comparison to the fame and glory of our God.  Are we more star struck with those whose faces appear on a screen than we are of our God who inhabits eternity?  When we enter into worship do we realize that the Lord is over all and we are privileged to know Him, talk with Him, be provided by Him and that He is waiting for us to dwell with Him in person forever? Let us not be so easily impressed with those who dwell on high.  Let us not look at the homes on the hill with some sort of inordinate reverence.  If we see someone we admire that is highly esteemed by man, let us not stop with a glance of admiration but lift that person who will inevitably be dust to the Lord seeking Him to touch their lives and soul.  Let us look up to the One who treats all men the same and is willing that none should perish but all should have everlasting life through faith in Christ.

Proverbs - Serving Masters - Eating Fruit

Proverbs 27:18

Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof:

so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

Our master is Jesus Christ and we wait upon Him and do what He asks us to do.  If we are married, our husband is over us and we should put his requests above ours.  If we are employed, those who we work for should be served by us.   If we are in a ministry, our overseer should be a priority in the carrying out of our duties.  When we see ourselves as servants and want to wait on those who are over us, we will be honored.  As we tend to the things we are given, we will eat the fruit of it.  Sometimes our plights may be a result of a lack of diligence and servitude.  Ladies, let us wait on our masters and tend to whatever fig tree we find in our care.  We will be honored and we will eat the fruit thereof.

Knowing God - He Wants to Touch Us!

Jeremiah 1:9

Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

                                                                     

Jeremiah was having a dialogue with the Lord.  God was calling him and Jeremiah was working through his own doubts and concerns.  As they continued interacting, the Lord put forth his hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth.  He touched his mouth, not to heal it, but to place His Words in Jeremiah’s mouth.  Oh, how we need to have His Words for His calling in our lives!  This came by Jeremiah positioning himself in a place where he could sense the hand of God touching his mouth and the voice of God could be heard explaining what had been done.  It is often difficult to have this kind of interaction in our busy days but vital to be effective in all that the Lord has called us to do.  I remember when I had small babies the best time for this was nap time.  When I single, it was at lunch time off to the side at work.  Now, it is first thing in the morning after the kids go off to school.  No matter what time you meet, make the time.  We need the touch of God and to hear His voice explaining a bit of what He is doing.  God wants to touch us and God wants to talk with us.  Be in a place to be touched and hear.

Proverbs - It is Wise to Have Friends

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Friendships are healthy.  The body of Christ is made up of many members.  One part supplies what the next part needs.  To sharpen a knife or a pair of scissors, another piece of metal is rubbed against it bringing back to its optimum performance and removing the natural dulling time brings.  Ladies, we will dull if we isolate ourselves and just have our husbands and children as influences.  We need to be around other sisters and trust that they will sharpen us and we will sharpen them.  When was the last time you spent some time on the phone or went out to lunch with another sister?  If you are a woman who tends to isolate, you meddle or interfere with wisdom.  Get close to some great gals and watch some of your dullness fade away!

Proverbs - Women Can Be Drips!

Proverbs 27:15-16

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind,

and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

A continuous dripping is something very annoying.  There is a rhythm and a constancy of noise that just grates on one’s nerves.  This is what we are liking when we are contentious.  We move away from being a rain that refreshes and waters and become a drip.  A drip comes from a collection of water that releases in a systematic dropping that cannot bring refreshment or cleansing to anyone or anything. Could you imagine being thirsty and having to hold a cup under a dripping faucet?  Sure the water is there but it is being released in a frustrating way.  We can be like that, giving our opinion here and there with the intent to provoke and frustrate those who hear us.   When a man tries to cover for her it is like trying to hide the wind.  We should never place our husbands in such an awkward place as to cover the phone or excuse our comments.  We were meant to be helpers and blessings.  We should be women who seek to serve and not be served.  We should be women who are clouds with water intended to refresh and water those around us, not contentious drips who are troubling those who surround us.

Knowing God - He Feeds Us with His Faithfulness

Psalm 37:3

                                                                     

 Trust in the Lord, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

NKJV

Feed on His faithfulness – this is an interesting command.  This means that God’s ability to take care of us and be absolutely consistent in His concern towards us is something we can actually taste and be nourished by.  Feeding has to do with taking something in.  It is not looking and admiring something.  It is consuming it and enjoying it.  It is chewing, swallowing and digesting it.  Many times we chew on the unfaithfulness of others or even ourselves.  We analyze, surmise and criticize.  We become the restaurant reviewers of people and their ways.  Here we are instructed to pass those dainties by at the buffet of experiences and rather serve ourselves heaping portions of God’s faithfulness and character.  Are you so well acquainted with the offenses and failings of others or yourself that the very texture, taste and after effects still linger in your being?

Throw it up if you have to.  Confess this to the Lord and start today taking bites and chewing on all God has done for you to prove His faithfulness.   Start at the finished work of Christ and move on from there.  God’s very name is Faithful and True.  Bon Appetit!

Knowing God - He Gathers with His Closest Friends

Matt 5:1

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

Jesus saw the multitudes at this time and went up into a mountain.  After he settled himself his disciples came to him.   We can learn about life from Jesus’ example.  He moved up and away from the multitudes at times and gathered with some of his closest, like-minded friends.  Sometimes we can see the multitudes of people, tasks, trials, responsibilities and burdens and choose to immerse ourselves in them even more.  There is a time to go up and away from the multitude and see what really follows us.  There is a time to get together with people who are committed to us and the things the Lord is doing through us.   To isolate ourselves in order to avoid responsibility may be a very bad thing but to isolate ourselves to face responsibility may not only be good but necessary.

Proverbs - Loud Voices in the Morning

Proverbs 27:14

He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

it shall be counted a curse to him.

This is quite an interesting observation.  We must not call people and wake them up based upon our own sleeping schedules.  We should be sensitive to the sleep patterns of those we love.  If our friend has a new baby we should not make her phone ring early in the morning, she won’t be blessed.  If we get up early and enjoy the dawn but our friend enjoys a later wake up, do not call or stop by because it works around your schedule.  If your neighbors rise early and you have loud music playing at night, it is inconsiderate and you are ruining their morning.  If you start a construction project in the dawn and wake up those who live near you it will be counted a curse.  Let us not live to please ourselves.  Let us not look out for our own interests but also on the interests and schedules of others.

Knowing God - He Goes to Us

Matt 4:23

 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Jesus travelled.  Jesus went to the meeting places, the hills, people’s houses and public places.  Jesus taught those who had come to learn, proclaimed good news to those who were discouraged and healed those who were sick and hurting.  Jesus didn’t stay in one place and ask people to come to him.  Many of the sick were most likely so ill it would have been difficult for them to connect with Him if Jesus had chosen this way of touching those He came to reach.   Jesus loves us and He meets us where we are.   He is in the learning institution, public places and painful situations we find ourselves in.  He is a God who did not stay in the heavens but left His glorious home to dwell with us in human flesh.  How then shall we doubt His accompaniment with us throughout our various seasons and mindsets?

Proverbs - Prudence with a Stranger

Proverbs 27:13

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger,

and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

In business matters the Lord wants us gentle as doves and wise as serpents.  We do not get into a business matter with a stranger and trust them without some sort of collateral.  The money we have been given has been given to us as stewards.  Stewards are managing someone else’s money.  The money we have is the Lord’s and we answer to Him for how it is used.  We have every right to check into someone’s credit score, work history and reputation; even if the person says they are a believer.  The book of first John declares over and over again that many times a person will say that they are a believer when, in fact, their lives disprove this.  If someone is insulted with your inquiries when they are a stranger to you, be warned.  No one who is doing right is afraid to come to the light.  Be wise, dear sister.  Do not be simple and gullible.  If you do not know someone’s character you have the right to research.  Do not be deceived into thinking that searching out truth is a lack of faith.  We are to place our faith in God alone.  People are allowed to be scrutinized especially in business dealings.

Knowing God - God Delivers

Jer 1:19

And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.

The Lord is speaking to His servant Jeremiah and warning him ahead of time of the opposition he will face.  He assures His servant that those who fight against him will not prevail.  Why?  Because the Lord will be with him.  We are seeing that God’s promised presence will enable us to not be overcome by the things that come against us.  He is with us to deliver us.  He is not with us just to be a friend with whom we hang out, but He is a deliverer who is with us in times of trouble.  He is not with us just to help us not feel alone in trouble, but with us to deliver us from the enemy’s plans.  This is why it is so important for us to cultivate and consider the relationship we have with God.  This companionship is vital for support, strength, and deliverance.  We must take the time, often, to connect with Him so we are assured of this truth.  If you are facing a strong opposition, now is the time to draw away and become acutely aware of the fact that He is with you.  This will protect you from fighting in your own strength or deciding to give up to the pressure and onslaught.  He is with you to deliver you!

Proverbs - Foreseeing Evil

Proverbs 27:12

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself;

 but the simple pass on, and are punished.

This is very wise advice.  We want to be those prudent women, don’t we?  If we anticipate evil we must take the appropriate measures to avoid it.  If we are struggling with spending too much money, we should avoid the stores.  If we are struggling with overeating, we ought not place ourselves in temptation’s way.  If we see that our children struggle with obedience when they don’t get their naps, we should insist on a nap.  If we know our husband is going away for a few days, we should make ourselves available to meet their sexual needs.  If we see a bill is due, we should set aside the money.  If we see a potential for conflict we should seek how to be a peacemaker.  We ought not live in the moment in such a way that we are not prepared for the season to come.  When we foresee the evil we should ask the Lord how we might hide ourselves from that evil and be protected.  Do not be that simple woman who just goes on with life and experiences unnecessary evil.

Proverbs - Wise Children

Proverbs 27:11

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

Praying for wisdom for our children is quite the need.  Our children have foolishness bound up in them and by asking the Lord to give them wisdom and help them to obey wisdom when she calls, helps us answer those who reproach us.  As moms, we really enjoy the wise choices our children make.  When they live wisely we can enjoy the parenting role much more.  We are not so beat up nor or we beating ourselves up for the blame the enemy often puts on us for our children’s foolish choices.  Let us continue to ask God to give our children wisdom so that when the enemy reproaches us we can rest in the fact that we have done our part, asked God to do his part and allow our children to do their part.

Knowing God - God is in the Midst

Ps 46:5

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Here we learn that the promised presence of God results in promised positioning.  The Lord was in the midst of His people in the Old Testament and the Lord is in the midst of His people now.  At one time the Lord dwelt in the tabernacle and then the temple.  Now He dwells within those who are His adopted children by His Holy Spirit. Because He is in the midst of us, we shall not be moved.  We shall not be displaced or uprooted.  God will help us and He will help us early; early in the trials, early in our battles and early in our weariness.  It is His very promise of His presence that assures us of our positioning and His promised assistance.  We must remember that when Jesus said that He would never leave us nor forsake us, it was not a conditional promise.   It was a promise of His presence.  Do you realize that if you are in Christ, Christ is in you?  Do you realize that if you feel lost, He knows where you are?  Do you realize that if you are disoriented, He has your position?  God is in the midst of you dear saint.  You shall not be moved.  He will help you speedily!

Knowing God - He Uses Shame

Ps 83:16

Fill their faces with shame;

that they may seek thy name, O Lord.

This is a prayer that the psalmist is praying about his enemies.  We get a glimpse of the heart that the Lord has for His enemies.  The shame that is desired is shame that produces a seeking.  The Lord will use shame in people’s lives to bring them to a place where regrets lead to repentance, embarrassment leads to embracing and consequences lead to commitment.  The shame that the Lord allows is good for us.  It speaks of a conscience touched by a holy God and when we begin to sense shame we begin to sense surrender.  Shame can be our friend when it produces this sort of looking up and purposed pursuit of God.  Whether it is our enemies or we ourselves, may the shame associated with evil actions produce the response of seeking God and His ways.  Oh Lord, it is You that mankind needs and no matter how evil others have been to us or we, towards you, let shame work a work of humility and dependence upon You.  

Proverbs - Friends from the Lord

Proverbs 27:10

Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity:

for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

Maintaining relationships is a sign of mature love.  We should be cultivating new friends and revisiting friends from the past.  Sometimes we can rely upon family without realizing the Lord has put friends in our lives to pour into us things outside of the familiar.  Friends come form a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and ethnic upbringings.  Some are further along in the Lord and others are excited new believers.  What a privilege it is to know so many people.  They each contribute so much to us and we should be careful to affirm and nurture our relationships with them.  Sometimes a new friend is who the Lord wants to use rather than someone we are used to running to.  Be sensitive to who the Lord has placed as a near neighbor and be aware that they may, in fact, be who the Lord wants you to run to in the day of calamity.  Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother who is far off.

Knowing God - The Lord Leads to a Dwelling Place

Ps 107:7

 And he led them forth by the right way,

 that they might go to a city of habitation.

The Lord Leads to a Dwelling Place

The people of God were wandering and they knew it.  They travelled in a way that seemed to have no end, but the Lord was leading them in the right way.  There is always a wrong way and a right way.  The Lord leads us in the right way so that we can end up in an organized place where we can dwell and stay.  If you sense restlessness in an area of your life, the Lord may be leading you away from some sort of pattern that He no longer wants you to dwell in.  He has a place He is taking you to and wants you to trust His leading.  You may not know where that is, but He does.  Follow Him.  He has picked out a place for you that you can settle down in and enjoy.  Be open to move.  Be prepared for the journey and be confident that the place He has for you is safe and inhabitable.

Proverbs - Fragrant Counsel

Proverbs 27:9

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:

so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

Hearty counsel is like good perfume.  Good perfume is not cheap.  It is made up of quality ingredients and seldom watered down by other cheap additives.  It is usually made of some sort of substance that, when crushed, gives forth a fragrance that lasts longer than when it was not.  The counsel we give should be a result of opinions that have been crushed by the weight of God’s counsel.  Our words to another must not be watered down and made to be close to the truth and yet not the truth.  When a friend seeks our advice, we should be slow to speak and quick to listen to what our Lord has to say about it.  We should rejoice our friend’s heart with the fragrance of advice rooted in our Savior who was crushed for our iniquity. We should pray with them and seek to discover what God has to say. Then we will leave them with truth that will go on and permeate future situations as well.  

Knowing God - He Wants to Affirm Us

Jer 1:12

“The Lord said to me, "You have seen correctly,…..”

                                                           NIV

Jeremiah was asked by the Lord here to state what he saw.  When Jeremiah saw what was really there, the Lord affirmed his perspective and told him he had answered correctly.  The Lord wants to show us all kinds of things and understands that we, sometimes, have to focus in and find out from Him if we are seeing what He wants us to see.  Jeremiah and the Lord were having a conversation and the Lord questioned Jeremiah about what he saw.  The Lord will question us and ask us if we see what He is trying to show us.  He will then let us know if we are seeing correctly.  What a wonderful teacher we have.  He wants us to see truth and will be sure to affirm us when we do.  Don’t think the Lord wants to always tell you when you are wrong.  He loves to tell you when you are right as well.  Be open to this from Him that your relationship with Him might be the safe and encouraging one He desires it to be!

Proverbs - Know Your Place

Proverbs 27:8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

Do you know your place dear sister?  Where has God placed you and are you cultivating the land and fulfilling the calling He has given you?   Are you wandering seeking to find worth and purpose outside of that which He has given you?  If you are, my friend, you are like a bird wandering from her nest.   You are vulnerable and at risk of injury or death.  What is your nest and are you wandering.  Your nest needs to be cared for.  Some of the materials your nest is made up of needs repair and more sticks and soft padding to keep it in tip top shape.  You are privileged to be where you are and your sense of satisfaction with life is directly related to caring for the place God has placed you.  Don’t be slothful.  Don’t be discontent.  Take where you are and be there.  Ask the Lord to help you stay in your place and take care of it.  You will be protected.  The Lord will be glorified and you will enjoy safety

Knowing God - He Wants to Cover You

Ps 57:1

“… yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

The Lord reveals Himself in the picture of a mother hen here.  He connects to His servant as one who wants to identify Himself as a place to hide in until calamities have passed over.  When my husband was in the Philippines one time a heavy, tropical downpour hit the house where he was staying.  On the grounds were baby chicks and their mama.  He saw the mama hen go around with her wings open scooping and covering her little chicks into a safe, warm, down-filled area close to her heart and away from the torrential waters.  Our God knows that calamities come and oftentimes they must.  He wants us to make Him our refuge during the times of calamity and downpours.  He isn’t just a mighty fortress from deadly arrows, but a tender God who wants us to feel safe, loved and dry.  Draw near and sense His heart for you.

Proverbs - Fullness

Proverbs 27:7

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb;

but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

We need to be satisfied with the Lord.  When we are filled with His joy and love we will not be so tempted to taste of other things that are not good for us.  Have you taken time today to fill yourself with His truth?  Have you considered that in His presence there is fullness of joy?  Have you asked Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit?  When our souls are full we will not be quick to taste something no matter how sweet it may appear.  We will have much more discretion as to what to listen to or take in.  Be filled with His Spirit.  Be filled with His Word.  Be filled with His love and watch those temptations no longer be tempting.

Knowing God - He Will Speak in Your Responsibilities

2 Kings 22:8

And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

King Josiah had Hilkiah count all of the money that had been collected in the temple for its maintenance and then begin to delegate its repair and refurbishing.  As Hilkiah was in the temple noticing what repairs were needed, he found the book of the law – God’s Word.  God’s Word was lost in the day to day operation of the temple and even in a most noble attempt at bringing the temple up to code, the Word of God was lost.  Hilkiah found the book of the law.  Who do you think led Hilkiah to find that book?  Hilkiah found carpenters and masons, money and tasks, but the Lord knew that the real building project was going to be directed by the Lord and not Hilkiah.  As we are given charge over things, even spiritual things, let us not leave the book of law lost among all of the other things.  The Lord will show us time to sit in His presence and receive direction from His Word for His work.  Because the Lord preserved His Word and led Hilkiah to find it, an entire nation was reconstructed rather than just the temple building itself.   Have you lost His Word among all the ‘things’ in your service to Him?  He will show you how to find this treasure again.

Proverbs - Open Rebuke is Better!

Proverbs 27:5-6

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Hearing from someone that loves us about an action or pattern that is not in line with God’s plan for our lives, is a good thing.  A friend is someone who is willing to call us on things that will tear our house down.  They are not a good friend if they observe patterns and behaviors in us that are contrary to the Lord and yet remain silent and wait to watch the inevitable reaping we will face.  If we are building something with faulty materials, another person should tell us before we invest all of that time and energy into something that is bound to fall apart.   Enemies love to affirm things that they know will lead to our demise.  Friends will rise up and call us on things to help us have lives that are sturdy and blessed.  Are you that kind of friend?  Do you have that kind of friend?  Pray for both and don’t trust the kisses of an enemy.  Trust the wounds and open rebukes of a friend.

Knowing God - He Gives Us His Fellowship

Jer 1:8

Be not afraid of their faces:

 for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

He Gives Us His Fellowship

Jeremiah was going to be sent to speak a message from the Lord.  He was to go where the Lord sent him and say what the Lord wanted him to say.  The Lord was preparing Jeremiah for the fact that the people were not going to receive these words and that the expressions on their faces could very well leave him in fear.  These faces would be angry and volatile.  These faces would appear to Jeremiah as faces of those ready to lash out and take vengeance on the messenger of God.  The Lord reassured Jeremiah with the promise of His presence.  He was letting him know that the fact that He was with Jeremiah to deliver him should calm the natural fear that would come went confronted with resistance and opposition.  Sometimes when we are doing what the Lord wants us to do and saying what the Lord wants us to say, we are surprised and perhaps a bit shaken by the lack of receptivity and flow that results from our obedience.  This is not to be the determination of whether we are doing or saying what the Lord has asked us to do.  As we speak or do things out of obedience to His leading, remember that He is with us at that moment so that the fear of man will be overcome by the fellowship we have with God.

Proverbs - Who Can Stand Before Envy?

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

Wrath is cruel.  It hurts and wounds.  Anger leads people to do things that are outrageous and we are often left in pieces.  This scripture warns us that as harsh as anger is, envy is much more volatile, powerful and destructive.  It would behoove us to pray that God would deliver us from people who are discontent and envious.  When King Saul began to envy David, it led to a prolonged pursuit that made David’s life miserable and vulnerable to Saul’s attempts to take his life.  We should be careful of how much we say to others about good things in our lives.  Some people cannot handle it and they end up comparing their lot with ours and fall into such a sin as envy.  Don’t just open your mouth and speak.  Be sensitive to the restraining work of the Holy Spirit and if He seems to be telling you to be quiet, be quiet.  We don’t want to contribute to the probability of having to stand before envy.

Knowing God - God Destroys

Jer 1:10

….to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

This is what the Lord wanted Jeremiah to do in the position He set him in.  Most people think of the Lord building and planting but might have a bit of a harder time being convinced that the Lord wants things rooted out, pulled down, destroyed and thrown down.  The stark truth is – He does.  How do we know that?  Because He has revealed in His Word that this is to be done.  One time King Josiah started building and repairing the altars and temple of the Lord.   As he began to do so, the book of the Law was found and Josiah realized that there were false images in the temple and altars to idols throughout the kingdom.  He had to stop building and repairing and get to tearing down and destroying.  Our God knows that major restoration in our lives requires some demolition and uprooting.  If you see this happening in your life, don’t think it is the enemy.  Embrace the Lord’s reconstruction tactics and believe that after all the pulling down there will come a time of building and planting.

Proverbs - The Weight of Wrath

Proverbs 27:3

A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

Carrying a stone or sand in your backpack is weighty and a burden.  Here we are told that a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.  A foolish person when given to wrath can really make our lives difficult.  A foolish child, husband or acquaintance can come in and weigh our lives down by their anger and venting.  If we sense this weight, we are proving the word of the Lord to be true.  The heaviness and burden of it are expected but what are we to do with things we end up carrying.  We are to cast our cares upon the Lord and He will sustain us.  Our prayer life might have to be upped a bit during the season of experiencing a fool’s wrath.  We might have to run into the bathroom, or take a walk and bring this weighty experience before the Lord.  He is able to lift our heads and He is able to help us carry such a weight.  Cast the fool’s wrath upon the Lord because He cares for you.

Knowing God - The Lord Positions for Purposes

Jer 1:10

See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down,and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

The Lord Positions For Purposes

The Lord is speaking to Jeremiah about His purposes for Jeremiah’s life.  The Lord begins by pointing out that the Lord has set Jeremiah in a position of influence.  Jeremiah did not seek this or put himself there.  The Lord did.  The Lord set him over all these nations and kingdoms.  He set him there for reasons.  These reasons are given to Jeremiah after the Lord declares his position.  One of the best ways we can discover what the Lord wants to do through us is to realize where He has put us.  He generally places us in a position in order to carry out His purposes.  What positions do you find yourself in today?  Perhaps you could take some time today and jot these down.  This might help you better discover the details of your job description at this point in your life.  The Lord is faithful to put us in the places in which He has works for us to do. 

Proverbs - Let Someone Praise You

Proverbs 27:2

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;

a stranger, and not thine own lips.

I love this verse.  We are commanded first and foremost to allow someone else’s mouth to say affirming things to us.  The next time someone says something nice to you, do not interrupt, cut off or excuse away such encouragement.  We are people who need encouragement and affirmation and the Lord will send people into our lives to give us such.  When we stop someone from doing this we are in deliberate disobedience to this command.  Receive from another and let those words affirm what the Lord is doing in and through you.  Say thank you.  Give God the glory as well, but don’t stop them from doing it.  We are also warned not to praise ourselves with our own lips.  We will be less likely to do this if we allow others to do this for us.  Sister, receive your Father’s praise and enjoy the times another person’s lips give you affirmation

Knowing God - He Speaks to the Individual

2 Kings 22:19a – 22b

….because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake…..thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.

The Lord Considers the Individual

This is the Lord speaking to a 16-year-old King Josiah.  Josiah had just read the Word of God after it was found in the midst of a temple that was filled with all sorts of abominations and priests that were not serving the Lord.  He read that horrible things were going to happen as a result of God’s people and previous kings serving false gods, offering their children as sacrifices and allowing anyone to be a priest regardless of their devotion to the one true God.  Josiah feared the inevitable consequences of living apart from a surrendered life to the Lord.  The Lord spoke to Josiah and explained that these consequences were sure to happen but because Josiah’s heart was tender and he humbled himself at the Word of God, he, himself would not live to experience this.  The Lord does look at an individual’s response to conviction and His voice.  We might have made mistakes or lived in ways that oppose the Lord, but when we have a tender heart and humility before Him when confronted, we can be assured that our God is not only just, but merciful.  Remember to fear the One who judges while drawing near to the God who forgives.  He doesn’t just deal with His people as a group but considers the individual as well.

Proverbs - Don't Boast!

Proverbs 27:1

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Boasting implies control.  Boasting tends to root itself in personal lordship.  We have been called to have Jesus Christ as our Lord and we are trusting that the Lord has ultimate sovereignty over all we do and plan.  We do not know what a day may bring forth.  We can plan but it is the Lord that directs our paths.  Boasting is being someone who speaks and believes that their plans are final.  We ought rather to say, “If the Lord wills, we will do this and that.”  Speaking this kind of option keeps us in a place where we understand that we are under the Lordship of Christ and His servants chief of all.  If we remain in this place we will not be so anxious or controlling.  We will be yielding and flexible and looking for His will to unfold throughout the day.  We will be considerate of others and loving in the face of interruptions.  Let us not be women who boast about tomorrow.  Let us be women who face this day with an open mind about His leading and face tomorrow with a childlike trust and anticipation of surprises.

Proverbs - Lying and Relationships

Proverbs 26:28

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it;

and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

When we lie to someone we are hating them.  We are not giving them what they think they are getting.  We are like a corrupt businessman giving someone goods they didn’t even want to buy.  When we are tempted to lie to someone thinking we are doing them good, we must know this truth.  You are hating the one you are lying to.  Lying tongues afflict people.  They feel hurt, wounded and deceived.  Sure, truth can hurt but it doesn’t afflict.  Affliction goes on and on, a wounding truth can be dealt with.  If you love someone, be sure you don’t lie to them.  

Knowing God - His Touch Comes First

Matt 8:2-3

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

A leper came to Jesus and worshipped him.  He worshipped him before any healing was given.  He worshipped Jesus from a place of rejection, physical torment and affliction.  No one could touch a leper.  Lepers would have to announce their presence to give people an opportunity to pull themselves back in order to avoid any possible touch.  Could you imagine?  Being someone is o much affliction and not having human touch to comfort and console you? Here, we see Jesus healing this man, but we see Jesus touching this man and then healing him.  The touch came before the healing.  The lepers worship came before the healing.  How precious the love each had for the other.  Our Jesus is longing to touch us regardless of whether we think we deserve it or not.  His touch IS our healing.  He will touch us BEFORE we are healed.  Be open to His touch today.  Worship Him BEFORE He moves in power.  This will produce a relationship that is rooted in love rather than performance.

Knowing God - God is for Me

Ps 56:9

When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: 

this I know; for God is for me.

God is For Me

Here is an instruction on how our battles are to be fought.   The psalmist distinctly connects his enemies turning back with crying unto the Lord.  Because God is for us, He wants to be involved in our battles.  So often we wait until our enemies are upon us to call upon the Lord.  If we were to cry out to the Lord at the first sight of opposing forces, His intervention will be experienced at a much sooner time than when the conflict has already taken a great toll on us.  When we call on the Lord, it is not just a therapeutic exercise but a cry out for legitimate help that is powerful and effective.  Dear saint, when you cry out to the Lord, do you not know that you are pulling into your battle, the God who is for you?  Do you not realize the potential of influence your God has in the situation?  Do not allow the enemy of your soul to trivialize or minimize the effectiveness of your cry.  This is war!

Proverbs - Don't Dig!

Proverbs 26:27

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:

and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

This truth is not like karma.  Karma is doing something wrong and having it come back to you in an unrelated sense.  This truth tells us that if we dig a pit we will fall into that pit that we dug.  God tells us that if we roll a stone, that stone will fall upon us.  God is not mocked.  Whatever a man plants, he shall reap.  If we plant watermelon seeds we get watermelon.  If we plant to our fleshly nature we will reap the flesh with all of its ‘wonderful’ fruit.  If we try to injure someone by our own plans these plans will backfire on us and we will end up being hurt by the very plans we created.  Sister, do not plan destruction for another.  Do not repay evil for evil.  The Lord is the judge and He is the only legitimate one to deal with men’s sins.  You don’t want to fall into that pit.  You don’t want to have that stone roll back on you.  Forgive and commit yourself to your faithful creator.  

Knowing God - He Pleads Our Cause

Ps 35:1

Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me…

                                           He Pleads Our Cause

                 

How wonderful that we have a God who can be everywhere.  He can speak to those who come against us when they are in their car, in the shower or while they are speaking things against us.  The Lord is the best attorney and most convincing representative we could ever have. He pleads our cause to those who strive with us.  What a loving Father!  This should help us keep quiet and avoid saying things we might regret later when trying to defend ourselves out of pain or being wounded.  We must remember that the Lord can get into people’s minds, hearts and lives in a thoroughly convincing way.  Dear friend, you have the Lord on your side.  Who can be against you?

Proverbs - Weighing Words From Those Who Hate Us

Proverbs 26:24 -26

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

Having hate in our hearts will produce the wrong words.  A heart issue must be dealt with before the one who can create in us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us.  If someone hates us we must not trust what they say.  They have abominations in their hearts and the Lord will deal with them.  We must keep loving them and doing good to them but we shouldn’t believe them.  Let their words be insignificant whether hateful or flattering.  Pray for them and love them but be wise in your dealings with them.  People will hate us and we should be warned by this proverb how to deal with their words.