Knowing God - Through Him

Ps 60:12

 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

We are told that it is through God that we shall do valiantly.  Valiantly is a word in the Hebrew that means “probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:” God has resources and means that we do not have.  As we do things THROUGH Him and not on our own, there are armies of angels, a wealth of wisdom, renowned resources, victorious valor and steady strength available to us.  God has resources we do not have.  He is God and He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all we can think.  We must remember who this God is that we are looking to.  He is a God with everything at His disposal.  He has the strength we have run out of.  He has the integrity we might have contaminate in ourselves.  He is a great God and through Him we SHALL do valiantly.

Proverbs - Laziness, Vinegar and Smoke

Proverbs 10:26

                       

 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,

so is the sluggard to them that send him.

                        When our husbands, manager or friends ask us to do something, we need to not be lazy in what is put before us.  This verse says that if we are, then we will be like vinegar to the teeth and smoke in the eyes.  Vinegar hurts the teeth and smoke makes the eyes burn and water.  Do we want to have that kind of impact on the person for whom we are doing a task?  We want to be a blessing to our husbands, refreshment to our friends and cool water to those who are in authority over us.  Next time you are given a task by someone else, do it with all your might.  Put a bottle of vinegar on your desk if you have to or on the windowsill do remind you not to be lazy in what you have been asked to do but a diligent woman who refuses to be sluggard.

Knowing God - He Wants to Be Believed

Num 14:11

And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

The Lord reveals here that He is really bothered when His people don’t believe Him after ALL the signs He does for them.  We see that our God is affected by our lack of faith.  Trusting God really pleases Him.  He is worshipped and blessed by our trust and confidence in Him.  By placing our trust in Him, we demonstrate that we know who He is and how powerful He is.  The Lord will ask us this same question.  How long will it be before you believe me?  He will remind us of all he has done and give us insight into His problem with our lack of belief.  Faith is a shield to us.  When we don’t believe we open ourselves for unnecessary wounding from the fiery darts of the enemy.  Let’s bless the Lord and abide protected by walking in trust today!

Proverbs - Shhhh Quiet

Proverbs 10:23-25

 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him:

but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more:

but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

                                    Fools, wickedness and mischief! We need to seek the Lord to purge from us foolishness, wickedness and mischievousness.  If we are guided by our wicked nature we will walk into self-fulfilled fears.  When we are guided by the sinful nature all we build are nothing but unstable structures awaiting demolition by the first winds of adversity. We must seek to be women of understanding and wisdom building our lives with the stable framework that withstands whatever a day may bring forth.  The everlasting foundation of the Word of God must be the core ingredient in determining what sort of effort and labor will be put into pursuits. 

                                    Sometimes we can see the wicked and they seem to be in all their glory, far removed from the winds of adversity.  The Lord declares in this verse that, as a tornado’s presence is obvious and demanding, it passes and has no lasting place to dwell.  We must live quiet, peaceable lives in all godliness knowing that the foundation that is laid and the materials we are using create lives that are able to weather whatever storms may come.  Sister, don’t grow weary, your labor is not in vain. 

                                   

                                    The most insignificant action done today to honor your God is stronger than the most dazzling act of glory done in wickedness or for self glory.  The Lord is building your house and He may be taking His time, but it is up to code and of the finest materials.  Rejoice!  He loves you and your life is being built for His glory to demonstrate what a great builder we have!

Knowing God - He Gives Skill

Ex 31:3

 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

The Lord filled this man with these things to make the mercy seat, furniture in the tabernacle and other things.  Before this man was commissioned to do these things, the Lord had filled him with these qualities to do it.  We see that the Lord is able to give us the spirit of God, in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all manner of workmanship.  We can be about even an artistic or constructive endeavor by His power and enabling.  He can show us how to decorate our homes, set the table, do our hair and anything else involving artistic and design qualities.  Of course, this man was making these things for His glory and purposes.  We, too, can look to the Lord seeking Him to be glorified in everything we set our hands to do.  He gives these things.  Is there any specific work the Lord seems to be calling you to do?  Ask Him now to fill you with His Spirit, His wisdom, His understanding, His knowledge and all manner of workmanship.

Proverbs - The Blessing of the Lord

Proverbs10:22

 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

                        When the Lord gives us a blessing it is nothing but a blessing.  Every angle oozes with His fingerprints and His goodness.  Not so when we go after those blessings and take them ourselves without His leading and by our own might.  When we purchase something in our own willful rebellion when the Lord has said “Not right now”, you can be sure that there will be sorrow with it.  Don’t you want blessings that have no sorrow with it?  Then, wait on the Lord until it comes from Him with no sorrows.  He will get the glory. He does things absolutely perfectly and He will use that blessing to minister His love and favor in your life.

Knowing God - He Compels People to Come

Luke 14:23

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Jesus is giving us insight into the Father’s heart.  He wants His house filled.  He desires fellowship with His creation.  He actually uses the phrase ‘compel them to come in’.  Tell people it is absolutely necessary to come in.  The Lord is willing that no one should perish but that ALL should come to everlasting life.  He wants His house filled.  This gives us a great understanding of our Father’s heart towards all the people around us.  As we urgently encourage people to believe upon the Lord Jesus that they may be saved, we must remember that we are in His will and being in line with His heart as we go to the highways and hedges, compelling people to come in.  The Lord has done the work of reconciliation.  He has given us the word of reconciliation.

Proverbs - Lips Feed Others

Proverbs 10:21

The lips of the righteous feed many:

but fools die for want of wisdom

                        Words are meant to feed others.  If our lips speak the things that are right according to the Lord, many people will be fed.  With our children we are often speaking to them and training them in the way they should go.  We might see them respond a certain way according to their sinful nature and with the Lord’s command we speak to them what the Lord thinks of that response and which one He would have them reach for.  Ladies, when you and I discipline and train our children with the Word of God as the guide, we will be speaking righteous things.  They will be fed, their children will be fed and many that you may never know will be fed.  We must not train our children according to what pleases us, but that which pleases the Lord.  Otherwise, our lips may, in fact, sap energy away from many rather than feed them.  Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”. (John 21:16).  May our lips speak His Words, His standards and His ways, so that we may truly be able to do this.

Knowing God - He Remains Faithful

2 Tim 2:13

 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Our faith and trust in God is very important.  It is our trust in Him that pleases Him, but our belief does not determine truth.  Truth is truth no matter what we believe.  We don’t create our reality by our faith.  We may experience a reality that is unnecessarily filled with fear and anxiety but the fact of the matter is that our God remains faithful even when we don’t believe.  God says what He means and means what He says.  He will prove Himself God regardless of an entire’s society belief that we evolved and there really is no God.  He is not shaken by the unbelief of man.  He is pleased and blessed when we believe and act on that belief but we must remember that our God abides faithful.   He cannot deny himself.  Let us not exalt ourselves higher than we ought.  Let us look to our Lord and praise Him for His power, consistency and ability to do ANY thing at ANY time because He is who He is.  Don’t let your doubt determine the truth about God.  Anticipate that God will display the truth about who He is.

Proverbs - Words with Value

Proverbs 10:20

 The tongue of the just is as choice silver:

the heart of the wicked is little worth.

                        Our words have value.  The value comes from the source of our words - the heart.  Here we see that if we have a just and righteous heart our words will be like silver and will feed people.  A just heart wants to do what is right.  A just heart is not out to prove itself right but to discover and do that which is right.  A righteous heart is a heart that is in right standing with God.  A righteous heart is covered by the blood of Christ.  A righteous heart is concerned with pleasing the Lord.   When our hearts are in this position our lips will speak words that reflect the beauty of our Lord just as choice silver reflects the image of the one looking into it.  When our hearts are in this position we will speak words that people who hunger for encouragement, hope and forgiveness will feed on.  If our words are lacking we must start with the cry, “Lord give me a just and righteous heart”.

Knowing God - He Saves

Lam 3:26

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

The Salvation of the Lord

We learn here that what we are hoping and quietly waiting for the salvation of the Lord.  We are not hoping and quietly waiting for His salvation and not what we think should happen in the situation.   When we are looking to the Lord to save we can be quieter than when we are trying to be the savior.  God’s salvation is thorough and God’s salvation is to be anticipated.  Look for what He wants to do.  Anticipate HIS salvation.  Don’t anticipate what YOU expect to happen, discover what HE will do!

Proverbs - Many Words

Proverbs 10:19

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin:

but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

            Given long enough any conversation has a more likely probability to produce sin.  We read here that the more words spoken, the more likely sin will occur. How long are you on the phone and why?  How long are you on the instant messenger and why?  How many statuses really need to be posted and why?  Is it time to leave that conversation in the parking lot or mall because the words are not purposed with love and fellowship?  Limit your human conversation unless you sense the Spirit’s control and leading to continue.  You will definitely cut down on the chances of gossip, slander, judgment, being misunderstood and a countless number of other sins and conflict.  Pour out your heart before Him.  Budget your time in human communication with a great sense of purposed speech.  Approach conversation with a ready mind and knowledge that if there are too many words, especially those spoken in carelessness, sin might very well be produced.

Knowing God - His Works are Marvelous

Ps 105:5

 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

The Lord’s works are described as marvelous here.  This phrase ‘marvellous works’ is speaking of works that are too difficult for us and to be absolutely in awe of what the Lord has done that we could NEVER have done.  We are commanded to remember these things.  When we remember these things we can approach each new situation that is far too much for us with a confidence that it is not too difficult for Him.  The Lord will often give us commands in a situation that He knows we CAN do.  Deut 30:11-12 says, “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.”  The things He asks us to do in a situation are things we can do with His power.  He will do those things that we CANNOT do.  Let us be in a place where we are absolutely convinced that nothing is impossible with God.  Let us remember His marvelous works.   Let us marvel at them, but let us do those things He has asked us to do with great diligence seeking to do our part and showing Him that we love Him because we keep His commandments.

Proverbs - Lips that Hate

Proverbs 10:18

           

 He that hideth hatred with lying lips,

 and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

                        Our tongues can really get us in trouble if they are not under the control of the Holy Spirit.  If we represent ourselves one way with our lips but in our heart there is another matter occurring we must confess this and ask the Lord to help us have the words from our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to Him.  If we find ourselves speaking nicely around someone and upon leaving their presence despising or judging them we must take the time to see we are fools.  We must ask for the Lord’s heart for that person and really be honest before the Lord if we find ourselves hating someone.  When we meet that person or talk about the person we must be careful about what we say so as not to hide our hatred with lying lips.  Does this mean we speak of our hatred to them or to whomever we are speaking?  Definitely not!  But we don’t speak of our great affections if they are not there.  Rather, we speak God’s truth about them and if we find ourselves at a loss for words.....don’t speak at all.   We can very deceptively use our tongues to slant the picture of another so as to justify our own lack of love.  Be careful....foolish women can be very clamorous. 

Knowing God - Worship in Truth

Gen 3:22

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Here we see the Lord conversing with Himself and giving us insight into who He is.  He uses a plural pronoun when He says “as one of us”.  Our God is one God and there is only one God.  How can this be?  This is because of a plurality within God Himself.  Our God has revealed Himself as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  He reveals Himself as this way back in the book of Genesis even before Christ came in the form of man.  We must worship Him in truth and the truth reveals that our God has a plurality within Him.  This is why the Holy Spirit is to be worshipped.  The Son of God is to be worshipped and the Father is to be worshipped.  If we do not see Him this way, we are not recognizing Him according to truth as revealed in His written word.  It is a bit of a concept to totally grasp but our understanding does not determine whether something is true.  

Proverbs - Listening vs. Keeping

Proverbs 10:17

 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction:

but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

                                     

Listening to Instruction vs. Keeping Instruction

                        We must hold on to every word of God and the wisdom He has so generously given us.  Our way will be full of life if we keep instruction and continue in the things we have learned.  This takes some review and meditation.  Sometimes things die in our lives as we learn they must but resurrection comes soon after, never dying again.  This is the way of life. 

                        If we refuse reproof we will error.  Ask the Lord for a sensitive spirit to His convictions and be quick to repent.  Seek Him for Him to search you.  Receive the wounds of a friend.  They are faithful and He is the faithful Friend.  Do not harden your heart but yield to His holy ways.  They are so good and the best way to experience this short time you have here on earth.

Knowing God - Boundaries Motivated by Love

Ps 104:9

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

He Set Boundaries

The Lord has created the oceans and seas.  He set a boundary that they can only go far.  Our God is a God of boundaries and His boundaries are for our good.  He knows where everything should be and how things best function.  The land has its place.  The sea has its place.  Our Creator is the one that we should look to in order to know the appropriate place for everything in our lives.  How much time we spend on entertainment, work, relationships and exercise is to be determined by our God of boundaries.  How much money is spent on food, clothes, others and the kingdom should be established by our God.  How much food we eat, how much sleep we get and when we should accomplish something should be set by this wonderful God.  When to express ourselves sexually, when to cultivate our intellect and when to relax should be brought before our God and His boundaries are to be respected and obeyed.  Our God is a great God of order and His boundaries are for our good.  Let us seek Him on these things and joyfully cooperate with His limits and boundaries knowing He is a God of love and His boundaries are  motivated by that love.

Proverbs - Labor and Riches

Proverbs 10:15-16

 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

                        Here I believe that the Lord is speaking about wealth and earnings gained by hard work and prudent spending and saving.  We see in the second verse that the labor of the righteous tends to life.  If we work hard we will be satisfied no matter how much we make or don’t make.  Our strength will be in the fact that we know we worked unto the Lord and He will take care of us and our needs.  If we find ourselves lacking due to laziness, credit abuse, lack of employment from poor job performance, living beyond or means etc., we will be destroying our lives.  Let us ask the Lord to search us out and show us how to be faithful, generous and diligent.  May He cleanse us of the pursuit of ease and ignite within us a love to labor unto Him.

Knowing God - God Reforms

Lev 26:23-24

 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.

The Lord Could Walk Contrary to Us

Our God deals with His children like sons.  We are legitimate children who oftentimes face discipline when we are walking contrary to Him and His plans for our lives.  Many things that come into our lives are intended to reform us.  They are to draw us close to Him and help us prioritize our lives in the manner that He desires them to be lived.  If we resist His prodding and instruction and choose to walk contrary to Him after we realize He has shown us His ways, we will face the Lord walking contrary to us.  We will most likely face unnecessary consequences because we are being stubborn and rebellious.  Our God does deal like this and it would behoove us to cooperate with any sort of training at the beginning rather than harden our hearts or do what is right in our own eyes.  We don’t want the Lord walking contrary to us.  We want His paths with Him walking with us.

Proverbs - Lips of Wisdom

Proverbs 10:13-14

 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found:

 but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

                        What we say tells a lot of who we are.  Wise people don’t have to tell everyone what they think or what they know.  They store up insight, observations and counsel.  Wise people not only know what to say but the timing of when to say it.  In order to speak wisdom we must have wisdom.  This wisdom comes from the Only Wise God and through the counsel of His Word.  When you read His Word ask Him to give you insight into His heart, His judgments and His ways.  You will then speak with great understanding.

                        When a foolish person speaks, they are actually sowing seeds of destruction.  When we act as foolish women and are tearing down our home with our own words we are destroying the very home we are called to build.  Oh Lord, help us be careful with our tongues and put a guard over our mouths.  Let the meditations of my heart and the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Proverbs - Hatred in the Heart

Proverbs 10:12

 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

                        If you find yourself stirring up conflict with others you might very well have hatred in your heart.  Maybe you hate the person you are striving with and maybe you hate someone else.  Sometimes we may even hate ourselves and are taking it out on other people.  We may even be doing something we hate and we know the Lord has asked us to stop and this hatred can stir up strife and anger within us resulting in strife with others around us.  We can ask the Spirit of God to search us and show us any hatred that we might be peacemakers rather than strivers.

                        Love covers all sins.  It doesn’t mean you don’t see sin nor confront sin. This means that you don’t want to expose sin or exaggerate its effects in someone’s life.  You don’t bring it up over and over. You don’t talk to others about it. You don’t use it against the other person.  You seek to have mercy and understanding in regards to the sin. 

                        Let’s ask the Lord today to cleanse us of any hatred and cause His love to flow through us unhindered.

Knowing God - The Best Story Writer

Heb 12:2

 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;..

He is the Best Story Writer

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.  He began the story and He is writing the chapters.  How important it is for us to stay in a place where the pen of His purposes has ample empty pages to write upon our lives.  We are living epistles, known and read by all men.  Our story is intended to bring Him glory.  We must not try to finish our story and complete in the flesh that which has begun in the Spirit!  We must not be so foolish as to forget that the beginning of our walk with Christ was His doing and His calling.  We must remember that we received Him by faith/trust and now we must remain open and vulnerable to the chapters He continues to write.  He knows the endings.  He controls all things.  He is the most excellent story teller.  He is the Word.  Thank You Jesus for promising to finish the work You have begun in me.  I pray that I would be open and flexible to the story You are writing with my life.

Knowing God - He Takes Care of His Vineyard

Isa 5:4

 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?

The Lord tells us in Isaiah chapter five that He has put a hedge around us, a winepress in our lives, a good vine that is planted, a watchtower in our midst and that “..He expected it to bring forth good grapes,..” He tells us that He looked at the vineyard and saw that it brought forth wild, sour grapes.  He then states this statement.  He is basically telling us that He has done everything that is needed in our lives that we would bring forth fruit.  It is not the Lord’s fault that our lives may be producing sour grapes.  He has given us every spiritual blessing.  He has put a tower in the midst.  He has given us the true vine – Jesus.  Let’s thank Him today for all He has given us and seek to use the resources, gifts and provision He has put in our lives to bring forth the fruit that glorifies the Father.

Proverbs - The Mouth of the Wicked

                                                                Proverbs 10:11

                                 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:

 but violence covereth

 the mouth of the wicked.           

                        A well is something which gets its water source from deep below the surface.  To have this mouth that is like a well we must be ladies who go below the surface of Christian values to the very heart of Christ Himself.  Do you take the time to ponder on His character?  Do you seek Him for His purposes for your life in the things that come your way?  Do you ask Him to open your eyes to His heart on a matter? The Lord Jesus says in Luke 6:45, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”  What are you filling up with before you see your husband at the end of the day?  What are you putting into your heart in the morning before the children wake up?  What are you meditating on throughout your day?  You will see a direct link between what you put in and what comes out.

                        People go to a well for refreshment and to quench their thirst.  Can people come to you and receive from your mouth things that their soul is longing for?   Can your children come to you with a frustration, bad attitude or wrong conclusion and your words can wash away the impurities and set them right on track?  In the midst of a conversation polluted with cynicism and judgment do your words well up with gentle rebuke washing away the seeds of division in the body of Christ?  Oh Lord help our mouths to be like wells today.

Proverbs - Winking and Wisdom

Proverbs 10:10

  He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

                               

           

Oftentimes when a person winks it means that whatever they just said is not absolutely true in itself.  Perhaps it was meant in jest or to tease the other person.  Sometimes when someone winks at another it is to get their attention to see what that person is about to do or so.  Any way you look at it the wink of an eye represents deception.  Here we see the Lord saying that this kind of trickery or jesting causes sorrow.  We should all be warned that teasing another to get a laugh is not the way of a follower of Christ.

                                                                                            

A prating fool means a babbling or chattering fool.  The enemy would want us to waste our passion and words on insignificant matters especially those surrounding our own kingdom and righteousness.  May we be ladies whose words are carefully spoken with the purposed intent of building another and/or blessing the Lord.  We don’t want to fall.  We want to stay in an upright position.  Let us choose our words carefully.

Knowing God - He Works Salvation

Ps 74:12

 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

God is my King of old.  He is the Eternal King.  His kingdom has no beginning and no end.  He is supreme over all and He works salvation in the midst of the earth.  The King has to become your King and my King.  He deserves our complete loyalty and submission.  He works great salvation.  He saves the drug addict and makes a sober, thankful person.  He saves the sluggard and creates a hard worker.  When He is King of the embittered, she becomes the joyful, loving person He so powerfully creates.  He saves the financially irresponsible and delivers them from being impulsive and rules over them to save money, pay bills on time and say ‘no’ to their own desires.  He saves the marriage that has grown cold and resurrects love that once burned bright.  He saves the lust driven individual and brings them to a place where a holy life is beautiful and love becomes a priority rather than the gratifying of the flesh.  He saves the depressed and brings them to a place where they love and serve others rather than focus on self and pity.   He saves the idolatrous man and brings him to a place where He worships the One True God!  God is my King and He works salvation.  What has He saved you from?

Knowing God - Fame After Fasting

Luke 4:14

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

After Jesus had been baptized, fasted and tested by the adversary, He returned to His hometown area in the power of the Holy Spirit.  His fame went throughout the entire region.  Jesus’ public ministry began to be very powerful after the simple act of being baptized, the disciplined act of fasting and the difficult time of being tested.  He teaches us through His example that often times the power of the Holy Spirit will accompany us after there are certain things the Lord takes us through.  The kind of notoriety the Lord would have for us is the fame associated with His power and anointing.  This kind of anointing is often given after a season of purifying and maturity.  We mustn’t resist the various seasons we go through as believers knowing that they are working for us a far more exceeding glory while we look at the things that are unseen.  Nothing is wasted in the life of a believer and many of the simple acts of obedience, disciplined times of obedience and difficult times of testing are His plan to equip us to be effective in our home region.  Trust Him to use those things you are currently facing to make you a more powerful vessel for His glory and purposes.

Proverbs - Receiving and Knowing

                                                    Proverbs 10:8-9

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:

but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

                        We must be open to receive God’s commandments - to have them come in and become part of the fabric of our identity.  If we are quick to contend with the Lord on a matter we will fall in order that God is proven right.  Our own understanding is not the best support to be leaning upon.

                        When we don’t have anything hidden we can walk in a sure manner.  If we have hidden sin, hidden agendas or unconfessed attitudes, our steps will give us away.  Let us walk in the light as He is in the light and then have good fellowship with one another.  As you and I make choices uprightly, our paths will be straight and our steps sure.

Proverbs - Blessings on Our Heads

Proverbs 10:6-7

Blessings are upon the head of the just:

 but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

                        When we live our lives apart from the defining plan of God’s Word and what He says is right we have a very tumultuous existence without any rhyme or reason.  Our lives shake violently under the consequences and influences of sinful seeds sown without regard to our Lord’s will in individual choices we have made.  We must be a people who seek our God and want to honor Him with our choices. 

            Our mouths must be controlled by the Holy Spirit with our heart being filled with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to the Lord.  This will result in not having a wicked heart and help us avoid such unnecessary human conflict as a result of our own wickedness.

            The thoughts of others when they hear your name should bring blessing to their day as hopefully you are a link to their mind being stayed on Christ.  If you or I are forever meddling, gossiping or speaking of things we ought not, our names could very well turn the stomach of someone who hears it mentioned.  We must be just and in order to be just we must be lovers of truth, pleasers of God and not just loyal to men.  This will create scenarios where words will be spoken in order to please man and gain his approval only to result in conflict and inconsistency.

Knowing God - Holy, Holy, Holy

Rev 4:8

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Here we get a glimpse into heaven and we see these beasts saying day and night, “Holy, holy, holy…”  It is kind of neat to see that there are three ‘holies’ being said.  We could consider the fact that the throne of God would be that which exalts the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  This would make sense that there would be three expressions of ‘holy’ to our God.  The Lord has this praise going on at all times in His presence.  Isn’t it neat that we can join in at anytime and be a part of the ongoing worship time that is going on in the heavens?  Our God is holy.  He does ALL things so perfectly.  When we cry out and tell the Lord that He is holy, we declare how wonderful and perfect our Lord is.  Let us remember to worship the Triune God and realize that He is holy.  Let us join in with the unceasing praise and tell our God how holy He is.

Knowing God - He Rules over All

Ps 103:19

 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

The Lord’s kingdom rules over all.  It doesn’t matter whether someone believes in the Lord, His kingdom will still rule over them.  We may choose to ignore the laws of gravity and jump out of a building but the laws still apply to us.  We just didn’t want to submit to those laws so we suffered needlessly.  The Lord’s throne is established and what He says is sin, is sin.  What He says will destroy us, will destroy us.  The more we know of His ways, the more protected we will be if we submit respectfully and obediently to them.  The Lord is the One who determines right and wrong.  His kingdom rules over all.  Let us willingly come under His rule and enjoy the safety and protection His covering gives us.

Proverbs - Store Up in Harvest

Proverbs 10:5

“He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,

but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”

There are seasons in our lives and this proverb tells us that we need to gather in harvest. Whenever I found myself pregnant with another child I knew it was my time to gather as much spiritual input as possible.  I knew that once that baby came there would be ”sparse pickin’s” for a while with the nursing, ear infections, sleepless nights and devotion to that child.  Those were the seasons I went to every bible study, retreat and conference I could attend storing up truths that would hold me through the spiritually barren time I was about to face.  We never know when sickness or other demands will come upon us and we won’t be able to gather the Word of God as we might have opportunity now.  It is a wise thing to soak up His teachings, promises and instruction while the harvest is accessible and we have the time to do so.  Every wise woman builds her home and it is with the fine materials of God’s Word that cause that house to stand.

Knowing God - He is the God of ALL Nations

Ps 86:9-10

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

God is the God of ALL nations.  He is not a just a Jewish God.  He is not an American God.  He is not a Mexican God.  He is the God of All nations.  This is why we must be careful when interpreting His character in the light of our culture.  We must remember that He works in ALL cultures.  His Word is not to be preached to other nations with a cultural slant of our own.  The glorious news about Jesus Christ is that He came to save the whole world.  The message of salvation is not to be encased in a nation’s ideals but to presented in light of eternal truths applicable to ALL men EVERYWHERE!  Even the Lord’s covenant with Israel was intended to demonstrate to the nations that surrounded Israel how wonderful Jehovah is!  Rejoice today and maybe pray for some people in another country to know the good news of Jesus Christ and what He has done for them and their nation!

Proverbs - Diligence Pays Off

Proverbs 10:4

 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand:

 but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

                                   

                        Here is a principle that should help all of us feel a bit more empowered in the financial area of our families.  Sometimes if you are a stay-at-home mom you can sense a lack of contribution to the prosperity of your family.  Here we learn that our diligence will result in prosperity and any half-hearted attempts at keeping our home will result in lack.  I find this refreshing.  When we find ourselves lacking we can then ask the Lord to search us and see if we have been dealing with a slack hand in what He has asked us to do.  At times our family had run short on money.  These were times that I set about to be diligent in housework, laundry, preparing meals, cutting coupons, making the beds, showing up to commitments in a timely manner prepared, doing the dishes, mopping the floor, weeding the garden, schooling the children etc.. I have found that my employer, the Lord Jesus Christ rewards diligence.  Not only did I find myself so busy that I didn’t have time to contemplate what I didn’t have, but I found myself satisfied by consistent, diligent labor. In Eccl 5:12 the Lord tells us that “The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much.....”  The Lord is watching our diligence and will provide for us as we are faithful in what He has asked us to do regardless of whether we are being paid for doing it or not by someone else.  Lack can result from many different reasons but let us be sure that it is not from us dealing with a slack hand.