Knowing God - He is Creator

Isa 45:7

 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

The Lord is speaking to His people through the prophet Isaiah.  He is reminding them of who He is that they might take His commands and boundaries a bit more seriously.  We do not have the option to ignore God’s Words and expect to experience life in the manner in which He designed it.  The Lord formed light.  The Lord creates darkness.  The Lord makes peace.  The Lord creates situations that we don’t like.  The Lord does these things.  He is Lord.  He is Creator.  He is wisdom.  He is judge.  He is Savior.  He is the One we answer to.  In a day and age where personal opinion is touted as the ultimate guide to our lives, we had best take note of who our God is and the position He deserves as final authority in all matters.  Who is like our God?  He deserves our appropriate submission, honor and respect.  Perhaps it would do us well to sit in His presence for a few minutes and take in what He is saying here.  Perhaps if we started our day with a bit more awe, we might choose our paths more carefully.

Proverbs - Giving Helps Us

Proverbs 28:27

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack:

but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Giving to those who need something is a principle the Lord uses to provide for us.  Are you attentive to the needs of others?  Do you hide your eyes from those you could help?  Is there a certain family that is struggling that you could pay one of their bills? Is there a relief organization that meets the needs of the desperate you could contribute to?  Do you know of someone who could use a gift card to the market or gas in their car?  One of the best ways to provide for your family is to provide for the poor. 

Knowing God - Jesus Strengthens

Phil 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

When a believer reads this verse, they usually focus on the part of being able to do all things.  Here we will focus on what we learn about Jesus Christ in this verse.  We are told, by Paul, that Jesus gives him strength when he faces things he needs to do.  This shows that Jesus was not just a prophet or eloquent orator who died to be a good example.  This verse proves the resurrection of Christ and His ability to be with every believer imputing to them strength that they need.  Christ strengthens the individual.  He is not just concerned with His church as a whole, but comes individually to each member of the body ready to give them strength that He has to give.  Jesus is real.  Jesus is alive.  Jesus has strength to give.  Jesus is God!

Proverbs - Trusting in Your Own Heart

Proverbs 28:26

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool:

 but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Do you want to tear down your house?  With your own hands?  Then, trust in your own heart.  Believe your feelings.  Consider your conclusions as absolute and to be obeyed.  Make sure your perspective is the one that is heeded to by all around you.  Believe your judgments and emotions.  Be sure to control everyone based on what you think you need.  That is trusting in your own heart and that is a foolish woman.  We are to walk wisely.  Walking wisely means keeping an open heart and mind to what the Lord may be trying to tell us and show us.  Wisdom will be yielding and can be quiet.  Do not be wise in your own eyes.  Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

Knowing God - His Arm

Isa 33:2

 O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

The Lord wants to be our arm every morning.  The phrase ‘the arm of the Lord’ speaks of God’s strength.  It is often in the morning that we awaken and consider the problems and responsibilities we currently have.  It is in the morning that we can realize that the Lord wants to be our arm, our strength.  The arm of the Lord also represents His authority and final say so in matters.  “The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength..” (Isaiah 62:8) In the morning we can come to our God and thank Him for being our arm every morning – the strength of our lives.  “….thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.” (Exodus 15:13) 

Oh Lord guide our days, starting in the morning with your mighty arm and strength.  Be our arm O Lord.

Proverbs - Pride and Strife

Proverbs 28:25

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife:

 but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

When someone seems to always cause strife, we can be assured they have a proud heart.  This means that we mustn’t allow ourselves to be taken down the road of contention and arguing by someone with a proud heart.  If we find ourselves rather contentious we should seek to go off before the Lord and humble ourselves before Him asking Him to help us not be arrogant and proud.  When we find ourselves contentious let us put our trust in the Lord.  We don’t have to prove our point and we don’t have to be right.  We can trust the Lord to be our defense and humble ourselves under His mighty hand.  He will lift us up. 

Knowing God - He Chose the Weak

Deut 7:7                                              

The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people;

for ye were the fewest of all people:

The Lord sets His love on us and chooses us not because we are more in number but BECAUSE we are the fewest of all people.  He loves us because we need His love.  He cares for us because we are vulnerable, weak and outnumbered by things in this life.  God’s love is what we need to overcome those things that outnumber us.  He knows that His love, set upon us, brings a strength and confidence that far exceeds any sort of obvious strength or might.  How wonderful that His love is not contingent upon the things He sees shining in us but, as a matter of fact, is contingent on our weaknesses and inabilities!  Thank You for Your love, set upon me.  Thank You for choosing me.  Thank You that I don’t have to impress you.  You impress me with Your love!

Proverbs - Dishonor and Destruction

Proverbs 28:24

                                                         

Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

Parents are to be treated with honor and respect.  They should not be robbed of honor, possessions or money.  Do you owe your parents something?  At one time did they bail you out and you can repay them?  If your children have taken some money or snuck something behind your back have you considered the seriousness of this offense?  Just because parents provide for their children doesn’t mean the children have the right to take from the parents.  We don’t want to be a companion of a destroyer or raise such children. 

Proverbs - Rebuking is Loving

Proverbs 28:23

He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour

than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Sometimes it is difficult to confront someone when it is necessary.  The person might take it as a personal offense or even be defensive when the subject is brought up.  If we are motivated by love and a desire to help the person have the blessed life the Lord wants them to have we must not consider a person’s response but rather whether we did what the Lord wanted us to do.  In the long run, our friends will appreciate the fact that we cared enough to steer them in the right way rather than sit passively back and watch their demise.  Love people in truth.  Care more about them than how they care about you. Be willing to be rejected initially and wait on the Lord.  If you spoke His truth motivated by love you will either end up with a friend that respects you in the long run or eliminate companions that are not serious about pleasing God.

Knowing God - He Will Defend Us

Ps 35:1

 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

When people strive against us they usually have arguments, reasoning and accusations.  The Lord will plead our cause so we won’t be tempted to defend ourselves in our own strength.  He will plead our cause with people if we would just get out of the way.  When people fight against us, the Lord will fight for us.  We are not to take it on ourselves to defend, fight for or argue for ourselves.  The Lord is the Word.  He is the best defense attorney we could ever ask for.  He is the truth and He is love.  His banner over us is love.  He will help us and we can focus on forgiving, loving and, yes, enjoying those who come against us.  Even when someone doesn’t like us we can still focus on what we like about them.  If we back off and let the Lord take on the conflict we can focus on loving God and loving them.  This will fulfill the law and the prophets.

Knowing God - He Has Promised to Guide

Ps 48:14

For this God is our God for ever and ever:

he will be our guide even unto death.

God is Our Guide

Our God is not a temporary god.  Our God is to be our God forever and ever.  When we submitted ourselves to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, we made an eternal commitment.  Our God is an eternal God.  When He possessed us by the purchase price of the Lamb of God, we became His children and His people.  Here, we are promised His guidance even unto death.  We need guidance and He is our personal guide in this existence called ‘life’.  Even when we die He will be there guiding us through the health issues, tragedy or discomfort.  He will take us from the temporal to the eternal.  Let us follow Him in life knowing He will even guide us unto death.

Proverbs - Don't Be Hasty to Get Rich

Proverbs 28:22

He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

The Lord never intended us to operate in a hasty way to make money.  This could lead to gambling, risks, criminal activity and getting involved with people to our own demise.  Money can lure us down a dangerous road.  We should never labor to get rich and we must not love money.  If we do love money we will be serving another God.  We cannot serve both God and money.  The Lord can bless us and He might choose to give us riches but we must not pursue such schemes.  This is usually rooted in a bit of slothfulness and impatience.  It might even be rooted in covetousness and a lack of gratefulness.  When we feel the pull to be hasty to get rich, consider that poverty most likely will come out of it.  If it seems too good to be true it probably is.  Seek first His kingdom.  Work for your Lord.  He will add those things that you need.

Knowing God - God Has Done No Iniquity

Jer 2:5

Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

The Lord is challenging His people and asking them what sort of iniquity He has done that they would go far from Him and walk after empty things rather than Him.  The Lord challenges us when we walk away from Him or pursue things less noble than those He would have us pursue.  This question is a statement.  The Lord is telling us that He has NOT done anything wrong to have us ever go far from Him or exchange a first love relationship with Him for lovers that leave us used and empty.  The Lord is faithful and He does ALL things well.  He deserves our complete devotion because He is holy and right in all He does.  His perfection demands our complete loyalty and our lives are designed to cling to Him and walk after those things He deems worthy of our lives and efforts.  The Lord has done no iniquity and He does not deserve to be treated with such casual straying or downright rejection.  Our God is good and He deserves our upmost obedience and surrender. 

Proverbs - Sin Comes From Favoritism and Pride

Proverbs 28:21

To have respect of persons is not good:

 for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

Being a respecter of persons means either showing favoritism to one or looking down on another.  This could be motivated by any sort of criteria.  We may be tempted to do this based on someone’s clothing, education, or personality.   We must be careful because this will confuse us with our ability to discern and make good judgments in our lives.  When we measure people upon our own standards we will find our standards inconsistent and not rooted in truth and love.  We will then measure our choices subjectively and not hear the Lord’s standards.  We will end up with the fear of man and a life that is controlled by pride and self standards.  Let us ask the Lord for His heart for everyone that we might treat people according to His love and not change based on the recipients.  Our treatment of others will not have to change based on some sort of standard rooted in pride or ignorance.  Lord, give us your consistent love for every person we meet.

Knowing God - He Destroyed the Devil

Heb 2:14

…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Jesus became a human being so He could die.  He had to have flesh and blood to be the acceptable sacrifice for us.  Through His death, He not only purchased us back from the devil, but actually destroyed the devil.  The devil had the power of death.  That word power means dominion.  The devil had dominion over death but through Jesus’ death, his dominion has been broken because the devil, himself, was destroyed that day at Calvary.  Now, when we remember Jesus’ death we can praise Him for destroying the devil through His sacrifice and rejoice that even death itself is under His dominion in our lives.  We no longer need to fear death because Jesus has destroyed him who had the power of death.  One day death itself will be destroyed and thrown into the lake of fire, but for now we can rejoice that the dominion and authority over death is no longer in the devil’s hands but under the authority of Jesus Himself.

Proverbs - Faithfulness Results in Blessings

Proverbs 28:20

A faithful man shall abound with blessings:

 but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Faithfulness is a rare commodity these days.  It is important that we know how to do our jobs day in and day out with a sense of wanting to do them well and consistently.  Showing up on time to things, having dinner ready for our families, being at a bible study every week and paying bills when they are due are all types of faithfulness.  Being able to keep going in the things that you have to do regardless of what comes to distract is being faithful. Not dropping our responsibilities due to a more exciting opportunity or even because of discouragement helps define us as faithful.  This includes avoiding pursuing things to get money quickly without working.  The temptation is to get rich quick and the Lord lets us know that if we do this we will not be innocent.  He wants us to be faithful where we are and not try every new pursuit with the hope to get rich quick.  We will abound with blessings when we are faithful women.

Knowing God - He Deals with us According to Truth

                                            Jer 2:35

 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

The Lord is letting His people know that they do not determine truth by their own statements.  He has heard what they say about themselves and what conclusions they have come to about His dealings with them.  Here, we learn that the Lord will not take our words and assumptive reasoning as the guide by which He deals with us.  He will confront us in our self-centered, self-justified thinking and bring us in line with truth itself rather than allowing us to continue deceived about our condition as well as who He is what He will do in our lives.  God will plead with us when we say something to ourselves that just isn’t true.  There is a teaching out there that tries to tell believers that their words establish reality.  THIS IS NOT TRUE!  Our words are not as God’s words and our words may in fact contradict truth.  Let us not come to the Lord with our reasoning and expect Him to follow our words.  Let’s come to Him and yield to His truth and ways of doing things.

Proverbs - Tilling Your OWN Land

Proverbs 28:19

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

The Lord is letting us know that we need to till our own land.  We don’t need to be concerned about everyone else’s land.  We need to till our own land.  This will result in having our needs more than met.  What is your land?  Is it your home?  Is it your apartment?  Is it your car?  Is it the ministry or job you have?  Are you tilling it?  Are you making sure you are taking care of it?  Is there something you can do to develop and make these things better?  See what your hands find to do today and do it with all your might unto the Lord.  We are warned here that if we choose to hang around with friends that are not tilling their land and distracting us from our land we will end up lacking.  Consider your land.  Consider your children, your marriage and your health.  Don’t accept that luncheon invitation with that group of gals if you haven’t taken care of your land first!

Knowing God - Much Soap

Jer 2:22

For though thou wash thee with nitre,

and take thee much soap,

 yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God.

The Lord sees the various things people do to try and take away the guilt of sin.  He watches people use ‘much soap’.  This soap could be achievements, good deeds, ministry, drugs, fun, entertainment, busyness etc., but He concludes that the sin is still present in His sight.  The key to a clean conscience is not having our iniquities marked before God.  The soap He has made available to us is the sinless shed blood of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  Ladies, let’s just be honest in His presence and agree with Him when sin is present.  Let us put our faith in His blood and stop trying to cleanse stains that only the blood of Christ can cleanse.  Just as much as our iniquity is marked before Him, His remedy is present as well.  Thank You Lord for the blood of Jesus Christ that is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Honor Him by walking in the richness of forgiveness made available through the sacrifice of His dear Son.

Proverbs - Walking Uprightly

Proverbs 28:18

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved:

but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

Walking uprightly will result in being able to see where we are walking.  If we are walking with double standards and mixed motivations we will fall.  It is important that we know that our lives are not our own and we should be open before the Lord for His leading and purposes for our lives.  We shouldn’t lean on our own understanding and take paths motivated by our sinful nature.  We need to not be led by the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes or the pride of life.  Walking uprightly means we are not keeping secrets or changing our directions based on a given influence.  We are walking as the Lord directs and we want to be corrected, led and in His perfect will for our lives.  This way we will be safe an not fall at once.

Knowing God - God Contends with the Backslider

Jer 2:9

Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your children's children will I plead.

Here the Lord is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to His people.  They were no longer having the Lord as the first love of their lives.  The Lord says here that He is pleading with them.  This word ‘plead’ means ‘to wrangle’ ‘legally confront with a controversy’.  The Lord was taking the time to explain their backslidings and even let them know that their backslidings were going to be used by Him to correct them. ”… thy backslidings shall reprove thee:..”(Jer 2:19)  The Lord was pleading with them and promised in this verse to plead with their children and their grandchildren.  How wonderful our God is.  He will plead with every generation to return to Him when they wander away.  Dear mother, are you yearning for your child to return to the Lord?  Dear grandmother, are you praying for those grandchildren to know the love and peace you enjoy in Christ?  Be comforted to know that your God is pleading with them with the same fervor that He pled with you.

Proverbs - Guilt is Good

Proverbs 28:17

A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit;

let no man stay him.

The Lord is warning us not to hide and protect the guilty.  They may sense the need to run from judgment but we are not to assist them in this.  Everyone that does right comes to the light.  Some people don’t want to come to the light because their deeds are evil and they don’t want these things exposed.  We don’t uncover the sins of others as they seek forgiveness and choose to walk in newness of life but if someone has done something and is running from its consequences, we should not be privy to such a course.  Guilt has been given by God and it is an appropriate response for sin.  It drives the sinner to seek cleansing.  Let us not get in the way of the work of the Holy Spirit in someone’s life.  The Lord loves them and will use their shame and fear to draw them to His side – the side that poured out the last of His sinless blood that can cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Proverbs - Covetousness

Proverbs 28:16

The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

The word ‘wanteth’ here is an Old English word which means ‘lacks’.  When someone is in authority and they don’t have nor want understanding they will tend to be very oppressive and difficult to serve under.  It would be wise for us to pray for those over us that they would have understanding.  We are also told here that if a prince or person hates covetousness they will prolong their days.  This is a contrasting verse.  The first part tells us that about a prince lacking understanding and the second explains that hating covetousness will cause our days of authority to last longer.  This could infer that if we are covetous we lack understanding.  Do we not understand that God has given us just what we need and might I add – even more than that?  If we look to other things, other husbands, other gifts, we are guilty of idolatry concluding our peace will come from these things.  Oh Lord, help us be content with what we have and quick to thank you for all you have already given us.  This will protect us from anxiety and restlessness that will most likely impact our health and disposition.  

Knowing God - He Gave Us His Breath

Gen 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;

 and man became a living soul.

The Lord God formed man.  The Lord God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.  A few verses later we see the Lord forming every animal and bird from the ground. “And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air;..” (Gen 2:19) It is not recorded that the Lord breathed the breath of life into the animals, only in man.  This could help us understand the eternal existence of man versus the temporary life of animals.  Both, the animals and man were formed from the ground so we both have this tie to this earth in our life.  Yet, we, as humans, have been given life from God – from an eternal God.  We were created before the animals and the Lord has made us in His likeness.  We have received this life from Him and we can only experience life the way He intended as we continue to be dependent on Him.  Cherish your origins.  Allow His breathe, to breathe upon you today bringing the breath of life to your existence. Job remembered this and it helped him through the most devastating trials in a man’s life as recorded in scripture.  “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” (Job 33:4)

We were created

And given His breath

Then Christ came to earth

And delivered from death

Knowing God - Jesus Loves Children

Luke 18:16

But Jesus called them unto him, and said,

 Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

This is a correction that Jesus was giving to His disciples.  Ladies were bringing their babies to Jesus in order to have Him touch them.  The disciples were rebuking the women for doing this.  Jesus told His disciples that their actions were wrong and that children were very important to Him.  We learn God’s heart here about children.  Although we don’t read a lot of recorded encounters between Jesus and children, we get quite a picture of His heart in this statement.  Our Savior loves children.  He wants children to come to Him.  He wants us to facilitate easy access to Him and be that kind of people who embrace opportunities to be used to bring children to Jesus.  This is His heart.  Consider your attitude towards children.  Do you tend to push children away?  Do you see them through His eyes?  Lord, help us be used to bring the little children to You, that You might touch them and that they might know Your love and friendship.

Runny noses, high-pitched screams ,

And energy so much,

Remind us to that the little children,

Need to feel His touch.

Proverbs - Wicked Leaders

Proverbs 28:15

As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Roaring lions and ranging bears intimidate and bring fear to their prey.  We are not to rule like that.  Our children don’t need us to be roaring lions.  We are wicked when we are like this.  We must maintain a calmness even in the most difficult parenting situations.  When we do roar or range we should confess this as wickedness and realize that our children are not to be treated as such.  He can change you.  He loves to make all things new.  He can take your weakness and turn it into a strength.  You should get a sister to be accountable to if you find yourself roaring.  It is unacceptable in the eyes of the Lord and you must confess and forsake this behavior.  He can forgive you and change you.  As your children see you confess and forsake this behavior you will find mercy.

Knowing God - He Gives Grace to the Humble

                                          1 Peter 5:5

“…..for God resisteth the proud,

and giveth grace to the humble.”

We learn who the Lord opposes here.  We do not want to be in opposition to the Lord.  If we are proud then we will find ourselves in direct opposition with God.  He will lift His hand of blessing when we are proud to show us the danger we are truly in.  When we humble ourselves, God will give His grace – the divine influence upon our hearts that manifests itself in the way we live.  God’s grace is available to those of us who are humble.  It is difficult, if not impossible to lead someone who is stubborn or pre-decided in the direction they want to go.  God desire to lead, bless and influence our lives.  When we are humble, the grace, the divine influence, is there to strengthen, lead, empower and equip us to live our lives.  When we are proud, stubborn or self-willed our path seems uphill and full of obstacles.  Our God enjoys humility and rewards it as well.  Oh Lord, we humble ourselves before you today, seeking Your grace upon our lives.

Proverbs - Fearing God

Proverbs 28:14

Happy is the man that feareth alway:

but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Soften our hearts Lord.  Keep our consciences clear and open.  Holy Spirit, convict us of that which would grieve You.  Oh Lord, help us be women who fear you always. Help us fear you in all scenarios and situations.  Give us hearts of flesh that feel what you want us to feel.  Show us if we start to harden our hearts to your voice in even the minutest way.  We want to be happy women and we don’t want to fall into mischief.  When you speak may we listen and obey.  When you disapprove, may we refuse and reject.  When you call us away, may we run to you and be safe.  Give us tender hearts that we might avoid unnecessary mischief.