Knowing God - He Looks at Actions

Matt 7:21

 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

The Lord is revealing His place as judge here.  He is establishing that our words do not define who we are but our actions.  Our God is the One who decides who enters the kingdom of heaven.   There is much ‘preaching’ these days about words – positive words, faith-filled words and words of life.  It seems like the message people are getting today is aimed at rewriting a script we are all supposed to memorize and say.  The Lord is dealing with choices in this verse.  Our God is looking at what we actually do or don’t do.  Our God is seeking if we are seeking to do what He wants us to do or what we want to do.  It is not just calling Him our Father that establishes a father/child relationship, but it is in submission to Him that manifests our true colors as children of God. 

Proverbs - Scaling the City

Proverbs 21:22

A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,

and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

To be the wise women that the Lord wants us to be we must never approach any walled cities in our lives or relationships in haste.  We must scale the city.  This means going around the problem seeking the Lord to show us where we might attack the problems and find the strength of the confidence thereof.  We must not go with our first instinct in warfare but approach our Commander and Chief – Jesus Christ for a total run down on what we are facing and what approach He deems the most penetrating.  Sometimes it may take fasting or seeking counsel in order to pull down strongholds.  Usually something we may feel bound by has some sort of false confidence within it.  We need the Holy Spirit to illuminate this and show us how to take the sword of truth to the false confidence found there.  We must wage a good warfare in the Spirit and know that our God is mighty in battle.  Let us be women who surround a situation in prayer daily, if not more, that needs to be conquered.  As we scale these ‘cities’ we will see the King of Kings conquer and His will done on earth as it is in heaven. 

Proverbs - Righteousness Will Lead Us

Proverbs 21:21

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy

 findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Righteousness is something to follow after.  This means that righteousness leads.  As we seek to pursue doing that which God says is right we are on our way to finding life, righteousness and honor.  The other key ingredient in this verse is following after mercy as well.  Mercy is being able to extend favor when judgment might be more appropriate given certain actions or attitudes.   When we follow what is right we most likely will face opposition and the results we would like may not always be evident in the situation.  We must have mercy on those who respond as such and continue to follow what is right loving those around us who may challenge or oppose us.  If we can focus on doing what is right and not expecting others to do the same, we will find life, righteousness and honor.  Sister, take heed to yourself and have mercy on those who might do otherwise.  Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and the works He has foreordained for you to walk in.  Get your eyes off of others and run your course with fervor and focus.

Knowing God - God Designed Women to be Influential

                                                  1 Tim 3:11

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

When the Lord Jesus builds His church He knows the material requirements to create a structurally sound entity.  In First Timothy, the Lord goes over the character qualities for men in certain leadership positions.  He also includes what the wives are to be made of.  The Lord knows that men are influenced by their wives and that the church will be functioning at its highest level when the wives of the leaders are women of the caliber He knows is necessary to be the helpers suitable for ministry leadership.  Women have always had great influence.  Consider Eve.  Consider Abigail.  One used their position to influence a situation towards doubt and compromise, the other prevented unnecessary bloodshed and harm.  The Lord is looking at the team in ministry.  Women must realize the Lord is looking at them when He is raising up their husbands.  

Knowing God - God Gives Rest

2 Chron 20:30

 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.

The Lord is able to give rest round about.  He can quiet our enemies and let us enjoy seasons with minimal conflict and turmoil.   Many of us think this is something the Lord should always do, but it will not be the case.  This truth should help us get through those turbulent seasons knowing that the Lord will most likely give us a season of rest soon and should also help us enjoy those resting times to the fullest.  We can always ask the Lord to give us or someone we are praying for, rest round about, but remember we are asking NOT demanding.  Lord, thank you that you know what seasons we need to produce the most lasting and abundant fruit for you to be glorified!

Proverbs - Don't Be Hasty with Consumption

Proverbs 21:20

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

A wise woman knows how to ration and save.  Those Girls' Scout cookies are not consumed in the first hour they are purchased.  That extra money is not spent immediately on something that catches her eye.  She knows how to take something she values and rations it out to enjoy it much longer.  The foolish woman is impulsive and out of control.   She spends and spends and doesn't set that which is of value before the Lord seeking how He would have it used or rationed.  We should be like the wise virgins the Lord taught us about.  He said that their lamps were full and their wicks were trimmed because they did not know what hour the bridegroom was coming.  Putting money aside for future car repairs, or saving up for our children’s college education is wise.  Let us be those women who have resources set aside because we know how to wait on the Lord.

Knowing God - He Determines What is Evil and How to Deal with Us

Judg 13:1

 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

The Lord determines what is evil and He determines how He will handle us when we, as His people, do what is evil in His sight.  He is not evaluating our choices in the light of our own standards and reasoning.  It is HIS sight that determines whether we are doing evil or not.  Here we see that the Lord allowed His people to be vulnerable and conquered by their enemies because of their evil doings.  When we find ourselves weak in the presence of our enemies it would be wise for us to first ask our Father in heaven if any of our actions are being dealt with.  It may not be due to this but we do see that the Lord has dealt with His people like this in the past.  Sometimes we are blinded to our own wickedness and it is at times of great defeat that we are more teachable and open to learning His ways.  We have a heavenly Father that disciplines us for our own good and from a heart of love.  Stay in a place of humble reverence and be open to His dealings with you.

Proverbs - Contentious Women - YUCK!

Proverbs 21:19

It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Here is another verse for us women specifically. How precious of the Lord to give us specific wisdom and truth.   I take it as having a personal spiritual trainer!  The word dwell here refers to the place someone resides.  Our families do not need us to be contentious or angry.  We do not have the liberty to let it all out on them.  They are not punching bags given to us to take our best shots at.  In our homes, above all other places, we must aim to have that sweet and gentle spirit which is of great value in the sight of God.  When a child leaves his toys out or our husbands forget a bill, anger will not produce the environment in which these behaviors can be transformed.  We have every right to share our frustrations in a kind way, believing that God is at work in all of our lives transforming us day by day.  People don’t have to change on our schedule to our standards.  We should give those consequences to our children but with love and a desire to train them, not to torture them.  We should be able to communicate our insecurities about the unpaid bill but with a desire to reverence our husbands not to reprimand them.  We could drive our children far from our homes and our husbands to close down emotionally if we continue to contend and insult them.  May our homes be a place where goodness and grace dwell richly in the knowledge of Him.

Knowing God - God Cares About Those Left Behind

Isa 38:1

 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

The Lord Cares About Those Left Behind

The Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah to warn him of his impending death.  With this warning came a command.  This command was not about Hezekiah’s relationship with God but his affairs with men.  The Lord was telling Hezekiah to get his finances in order, position people for responsibility and prepare them for his departure.  Preparing a trust or will and being sure that our families are taken care of when we face death are some of the ways we could obey this sort of command to Hezekiah.  The Lord took care of our debt and provided salvation so that when we die we have nothing to worry about.  He has left some of the provisioning and care of those we love to us to take care of.  How precious our God is to know that when someone dies, those left on earth need to sense they have been thought of and cared for.

Proverbs - Wicked Ransom

Proverbs 21:18

The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

Sometimes we can find ourselves in a position where we look like we have done something wrong while the wrongdoer looks like they did something right.  This can be a bit frustrating.  We are told in this verse that the wicked will be a ransom for the righteous.  A ransom is something given that lets someone out of captivity.  When people do the wrong thing, God is not mocked.  They will reap what they sow.  Give the Lord the time to work His righteous judgment and the Lord will use the wickedness of the wicked to set you free from being held captive by the wrong judgment.  Their works will eventually come to light and  your righteousness will shine through.  Don’t be discouraged by the immediate.  We have a God who is, and was, and is to come.  He is working and He will use the sins of others to prove you to be walking with Him.  Don’t grow weary in well doing.  In due time you will reap if you do not give up.

Proverbs - Wine and Pleasure

Proverbs 21:17

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man:

he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

The statement here goes against everything that the world tells us as women we should love.  We are told to love pleasure.  We are told to love rich food and pleasure.  The Lord is telling us that if we are like this we will be poor and not rich.  This type of love is where we pursue pleasure as a first priority.   How many times have we thought, “What do I want to do?”, “What sounds pleasurable to me?” We would most likely be better of saying “What would you want me to do Lord?”  He has pleasurable things planned for us but they are way better than what we might seek for in our strength and timing.  Let us love the Lord and just enjoy pleasure.

Knowing God - The Lord Goes Before Us

Ps 68:7

                  

 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

                                                 

The Lord Goes Before Us and is With Us

The Lord went through the wilderness and before His people in the wilderness.  When we are going through unfamiliar territory, the Lord goes before us and marches with us on our journey.  Our God is a God of fellowship.  He is our guide and He travels alongside us.  We can trust that the Lord is ahead of us and navigating the course with His foreknowledge.  We can enjoy the fact that we don’t travel alone either.  Our God is a God who leads and marches with us.  What a wonderful truth to hold on to when we don’t know our way or feel isolated in strange and new territory.  He is with you.  He goes before you.

Knowing God - He is Near as He Hears

Prov 15:29

 The Lord is far from the wicked:

but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

The Lord Is Near and Listening

Here the Lord lets us know that having Him hear our prayers is likened to having him near to us.   There were no phones in bible days.  The act of listening meant, being in the very presence of the one who was speaking.  Being in the presence of the Lord is absolutely wonderful but have you considered that He is in your presence as well?  He hears the prayers of the righteous.  He is attentive to our petitions, praise, concerns and words.  He is not far for those He considers righteous.  He is listening and He is near.  You don’t have to wait for Him to answer the phone.  He hears.  He is near.

Proverbs - Wandering

Proverbs 21:16

The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding

shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

This is quite the warning.  We can wander out of the way of understanding.  Wandering is not jumping off the path.  It is a casual stroll that causes us to not keep our eyes on the path and lead us to a distracted pace.  This could cause us to be in places we should not be in.   A soberness and alertness is necessary to stay in the way of understanding.  It is so important to stay in the way of understanding.  Those who do not want to understand are equated with the congregation of the dead.  Let us not wander over there.  

Knowing God - The Lord Will Speak to Men

Jer 4:3

      

 For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

The Lord Will Speak to Men

In the process of warning His people, the Lord specifically speaks to the men.  He tells them to break up their fallow ground and not to plant among thorns.  The Lord decided on gender and He knows the roles we each play in His plan.  Men are crucial to the flow of His will in the church and in the home.  Men need prayers and men need to take their roles very seriously.  Many of the New Testament commands and directives are made specifically for men.  It is important for the men of God to be in tune with His voice and respond in zealous obedience at the whisper of His leading.  If you are a gal, take some time to pray for the men of your church, family and country.  If you are a man, be sure to respond quickly and dutifully to all He tells you.  The Lord will speak to men.

Proverbs - Joy to Judge

Proverbs 21:15

It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

We should find it a joy to judge things.  To judge things is to discern what is right and what is wrong.  We should rejoice in looking for what the Lord wants us to do.  When we are wondering if something is righteous, wicked or perhaps a bit compromising we needn’t be overwhelmed or bothered with this.  We should find it a joy to do judgment.  It is so fun to seek the Lord and find out what He wants to do.  

Knowing God - The Lord Cares About His Servants

1 Tim 3:6

 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

The Lord Cares About His Servants

                                                                  

This is one of the things that the Lord tells us an elder/pastor should not be.  He is not to be new in the things of the Lord and in ministry.  The Lord warns that position without experience can cause pride.  He lets us know that pride can lift us up and makes us vulnerable for the devil to come in and start condemning us once we find out that position is difficult and filled with traps our adversary sets for us.  We learn from this verse that the Lord has qualifications for different things.  We learn that God knows what we can handle and what we can’t handle.  We have a God who has reasons for waiting to use us in certain ways.  What a wonderful God.  He doesn’t just care about the job getting done but He cares about those who are working for Him.  I am so glad that promotion comes from the Lord and when I am passed over for some sort of position I can trust that the Lord has my best interest in mind.

Proverbs - Anger and Gifts

Proverbs 21:14

A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

We have all had someone angry at us at one time or another.  Sometimes it was due to something we did that provoked them to anger and other times it might have been linked to a response they had in dealing with you that wasn’t necessarily justified.  Either way, the Lord is letting us know some key things in dealing with someone who is angry.  First of all we see the word ‘secret’.  We need to deal with this situation as quietly and behind the knowledge of all those involved as possible. When someone is angry with us we might be tempted to rally others to soothe our wounds and make it public rather than keeping it secret.  The word ‘gift’ implies being ready to give what it takes to make the relationship right.  A gift is something we give to someone that they don’t earn.  When facing anger, we might be tempted to run and close up from that person.  The Lord is our shield and we don’t need to fear what man will do or say to us.  We should pray for them and ask the Lord how we might give them something in secret.  We should seek God for just the right gift to put in their bosom, that which they would embrace in order to pacify their anger.  Anger is like a fire and we can be used by the Lord to help diminish and put out the anger.   Remember to seek the Lord for this gift and be sure to give it quietly without any sort of pomp.

Knowing God - He Wants All to Know

1 Sam 17:46

….. that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

David was telling Goliath that he was going to be killed and the reason was that all the earth would know that there is a God in Israel.  God wanted everyone to know that He was in Israel.  He not only wanted the Philistines to know this, but ALL the earth.  This victory was for Israel to recognize God’s presence in their lives as well as their enemies.  Oftentimes we, as God’s people, can forget that God is in our midst.  Goliaths can intimidate us but Goliaths may be in our lives not just to show the enemy who God is, but so show us who God is.  The Lord wants to use the battles and victories in our lives to remind us that He is in our midst.  Have you paused after a victory and stood in awe of your God?  Have you ever seen a ‘Goliath’ slain and been humbled at seeing the Lord fight on your behalf?  This victory was intended for ALL the earth to know this.  You and I learn about God this many years later when we read this recorded victory.  Lord, use the battles in our lives to remind us of Your presence.

Proverbs - The Poor

Proverbs 21:13

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,

he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

The Lord wants us to be sensitive and ready to help those who are in need.  This shows a compassionate heart and a willingness to be a tool in His hand.  When we are moved to meet a need we remain in a place of compassion and sense the value of every person.   The poor are in a place where they are lacking.  If the Lord has given us a way to meet a need we must be open to filling those needs.  Stopping our ears at the cry of the poor means that we don’t even listen or attempt to understand their plight or need.  Maybe we have our own high-minded ideas of why someone is poor and what they need to do to change it.  We should take each case individually and not stop our ears at their cry.  We should listen and seek the Lord for how to respond.  This verse tells us that if we stop our ears, then we will not be heard.  There would be double standard and we would find out that if we are not willing to listen, it is hard to find others who will listen to us as well.  A tenderness of heart is very important in order to cultivate other relationships filled with this type of compassion and concern.

Knowing God - He Gives Boldness

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Jesus gives us boldness.  It is not the credentials of a well educated theologian that gives boldness.  It is not the number of years that we have named the name of Christ that gives us boldness.  It is not the well rehearsed orations when challenged that gives us boldness.  It is Jesus Himself that gives us boldness.  Spending time with Him gives us a boldness and surety that no other form of preparation can give.  Our Lord Jesus awaits our fellowship and gives us confidence when we spend time with Him.  As He speaks to us and listens to us a relationship is established that transcends all other commitments and loyalties.  When we spend time with Jesus, a fortitude and resolve resonates from our lives enough to make others notice.  Jesus gives this sort of boldness and only His presence has such power.

Proverbs - Consider the House of the Wicked

Proverbs 21:12

The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

Wicked people can be rather discouraging at times.  When we see the choices, destruction and reaping, we can hang our heads down in weariness.  We may even want to ignore them and try to live in the safety of our dwelling places enjoying a home where we are seeking to do that which is righteous in His eyes.  The Lord wants us to consider the house of the wicked.  He wants us to learn from their bad examples.  How are their marriages?  What is the climate of their conversations like?  How are their long term relationships?  What about their financial standing?  Is there joy there?  Are things more important than people?  Are people listened to?  Do the children sense the love God has for them?  Even if the house of the wicked seems to flourish at first the house will be overthrown for its wickedness.  Men are like grass and the glory of man like the flower of the grass.  The grass withers and the flower fades away but the man who does the will of the Lord shall abide forever.  

Knowing God - He Blinds Eyes!

2 Kings 6:18

 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

                                                                  

We learn so much about our God through the great events in the Word of God.  It is much safer to read the Word and discover who the Lord is rather than think on our own and decide who He is.  Here we see that the God who opened Elisha’s servant’s eyes is the same God who blinded the enemies of His people.  Our God is able to do both and He will lead us to request the right thing at the right time.  Our God is able to blind the enemy in much the same way as He blinded Pharaoh’s army from seeing the Israelites that one night at the border of the Red Sea.  What a great thing to ask Him to do.  Lord, blind the enemies of our children that they might not come into their lives.  Lord, blind the enemy from my marriage and finances.  Lord, blind the enemy from being able to set such strategic traps before me today.  Our God opens eyes and our God blinds eyes!

Proverbs - Punishment AND Instruction

Proverbs 21:11

When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

As moms we must train our children in the way that they should go.  Sometimes we focus a lot on punishment.  We may take one of our children who is carrying on like a little scorner and punish them.  This is appropriate.  If they are mouthy, insubordinate, disrespectful or disdainful, a punishment is well suited and they should grow in their understanding of right and wrong.  The second half of this proverb may be the part many of us could be lacking in when it comes to training our children.  The Lord tells us in this verse that when the wise is instructed he receives knowledge.  When our children are walking in wisdom, we need to take the time and instruct or teach them about their wise choices.  We should point out how a choice they made resulted in good fruit or show them why the Word of God was proven right by their actions.  We can also take the opportunities to instruct them deeper in the wisdom they are displaying.  This will result in knowledge being received and they will have this knowledge from which to make future wise choices.  Punishing the scorner is good but let us not forget to instruct the child making wise choices.

Knowing God - The Lord Opens Eyes

2 Kings 6:17

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

When this young man looked around he was very afraid.  The enemy far outnumbered him and Elisha.  Elisha could see things that this young man couldn’t.  How often we can see things those younger than us can’t!  Elisha asked the Lord to open this young man’s eyes to see the heavenly realm.  The Lord answered Elisha’s prayers and opened the young man’s eyes to see the strength and assistance the Lord was providing.  Our God is able to open the eyes of those we love that are full of fear.  Our God is able to open the eyes of those younger than us to see His glory and might.  God loves to open eyes that they might see.  The Lord opens eyes that might otherwise remain closed to all that He is doing.

Proverbs - Dealing with the Wicked

Proverbs 21:10

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

When we are dealing with wicked people we just have to know that they usually don’t have our best interest in mind.  This should protect us from becoming involved in a business dealing or partnership with the wicked and not hang our mouths open when they desire evil.  The wicked need to be forgiven and receive a new nature created after Him who loves them.  He must change their desires and show them how to love their neighbor.  When we see someone wicked, let us not be surprised.  Let us be cautious and caring.  Let us bring their souls before the Lord and ask Him to reveal Himself to them.  

Knowing God - The Lord Gives Sentences

Jer 4:12

 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.

The Lord Gives Sentences

                                                                  

Jeremiah was going to give a sentence or judgment from God to His people regarding their actions.  Our God is the One who has every right to pronounce judgment on us.  He will tell us what is right and He will tell us what is wrong.  It is not up to our own standards or the society in which we live.  God is the Judge and it is He that determines whether things are sin, compromise or idolatry.  I fear our culture encourages believers to inwardly determine their own standards.  It is God, who reigns on high that determines what grieves His heart and creates winds that parch and trouble our lives.  We are the created ones.  He is the Creator.  It is the Lord who says what sexual sin is, what gossip is and every other form of sin that Christ died for.  Have we become so arrogant that we think our own understanding is to be that which determines righteousness?  Be open to the Lord’s sentencing.  Listen to the Jeremiahs in your life.  Our God is worthy and alone judges righteously.

Proverbs - Let's Keep Our Homes 'Nice'

Proverbs 21:9

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop,

 than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

Here is one of those proverbs that contrast one thing with another.  It is better to be on a roof of a house than in a beautiful home with a brawling woman.  Wow!  These ‘women’ verses really hit us between the eyes!  Something we can learn from this is to be sure that we don’t make having a beautiful home our goal at the expense of being an angry or controlling woman.  The home will not be a beautiful home if the keeper of the home is angry or contentious.   A man will try to work late, stay at his family’s house or church if he comes home to a woman who is nagging, angry or unkind.  Children will want to be at other people’s homes if their homes are filled with arguing and cruel words from their mother.  Keep your home nice but keep yourself nice first.  Don’t allow yourself to incur debt that leaves you stressed and blaming in order to make a home look gorgeous to the eyes.  Remember that your disposition is very much the defining factor to have your house become a home.

Knowing God - The Lord is NOT a Deceiver

Jer 4:10

Then said I, Ah, Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

The Lord is NOT a Deceiver

                                                                  

Jeremiah was a prophet of God.  He heard the Lord speak to him and yet came to the Lord and concluded at this point that the Lord was deceiving His people.  Why would Jeremiah do this?  It might have been because the promises of peace and restoration were not going to happen until after great discipline and chastening.  Jeremiah had heard both the promises and warnings but somehow only remembered the words of comfort and redemption.

Sometimes we may conclude the wrong thing about God because His promises may not happen in the manner of timing we would prefer.  God is not a deceiver.  God is truth and God is light.  Our God is faithful and our God says what He means and means what He says.  His timing and His ways are His domain.  We dare not tell the Lord He has deceived us because things aren’t happening in the way we thought they should have.  Hold on to His promises because He is a God of truth.  He has not deceived you nor will He ever.

Proverbs - Consistent Work is Good

Proverbs 21:8

The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

When someone is froward it means crooked and unpredictable.  We need to avoid being women who are always changing our minds, convictions and disciplines.  We want to be pure women whose work is right.  We do good things that are needed and don’t need a whole lot of hoopla to sense accomplishment and purpose.  Making the bed is noble because we are doing it in love and faithfulness.  Washing the dishes is right because we are making an environment where our family can feel taken care of and loved.  Buying milk is good because the Lord wants our family to open the refrigerator door and see His provision.  Washing the clothes and folding them is good because we are reflecting the God who loves to wash us from sin and have us start each day with his clean mercies in our lives.  We are not to be fickle, foolish women always having to be entertained by some new venture.  We are to be pure women whose work is right.

Knowing God - The Lord Justifies

Isa 50:8

 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

The Lord Justifies

The Lord is the One who justifies us.  He decides what is right and He decides what is wrong.  If people think we are wrong and the Lord says we are justified in our actions, we are justified.  If people say we are justified in what we do but the Lord says it is wrong, it is wrong.  When others contend with us and challenge us, it is of the upmost importance to be in a place where we have sought God’s judgment on the matter.  When others oppose us and God says we are justified in what we do, we can gently forgive and resist the opposition and not be so easily shaken or confused.  The Lord wants our lives to be lives that He builds according to His leading and laws.  We will not suffer needless self doubt when we have sought the Lord on a matter and are walking in obedience to Him.

Proverbs - We Must Think to Do

Proverbs 21:7

The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

Wicked people don’t want to judge matters.  They don’t want to find out what the best thing to do is and they just want to hurry up and take what they want rather than seeking the Lord on His mind on the matter.  When we buy things on credit or spend money allocated for something else, we are taking that which is not ours.  God gives us a certain amount of money and we are accountable to judge where this money should go.  It is not left to us to hastily use it as we desire but rather judge matters and appropriate our funds in the way He deems just.  We have been called out of this wicked world into the kingdom of Jesus Christ.  He is the righteous judge.  He will show us what He has given us money for.  We must not refuse to do judgment but rather lay our finances out and see where we are at.  Bring them into the light and make some hard decisions guided by God’s wisdom.  

Knowing God - The Lord's Voice Produces Stable Ground

Gen 1:9

 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

The Lord’s Voice Produces Stable Ground

When God created the earth as we know it, He spoke things into being and He spoke things into placement.  God’s Word was used to create and establish boundaries.  The words of God moved the waters into one place and allowed the dry land to appear making inhabitable places for man He was to create.  God’s Word still has this power and authority today.  He can speak to those things in our lives that, like the waters, may be covering things that have great potential and the ability to cultivate and enjoy.  When we place ourselves in His Word, whether by individual reading and studying or with other believers under pastoral teacher, we invite God to speak to things in our lives and make them take their proper place.  Our lives can be so overwhelmed by the waters of responsibility, affliction or other floods of events that we may find ourselves drifting and unable to stand.  The Word of God will move those things over in our perspective of reality enabling us to stand and look at them without being drowned or moved by them.

Proverbs - Lies and Treasures

Proverbs 21:6

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a

vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

Sometimes the truth will cost us money.  When we have to point out to a clerk they undercharged us or that, in fact, gave us back too much change, we will lose financially.  This is where we find out what god we serve.  Our God does not allow us the getting of treasures by a lying tongue.  He warns us that if we are dishonest in financial matters we will be tossed back and forth seeking death.  Oh how He loves for His people to represent Him, the Truth, in all their ways.  He is glorified in those who are in a place where His value system is of far greater worth than the greatest dollar amount imaginable.  We will be tempted to do this and we must open our eyes and find the way of escape.  We will feel the benefit of our gain and be tempted to believe it is worth it.  It is not!  Our tongues are intended to speak things that keep us in the light.  When we speak the truth we can discern His will in financial dealings so much easier.  When we lie, we cloud our ability to know if the path taken is from our loving God or perhaps something intended to choke His life out of us.  Lord, help us value pleasing you more than any treasure offered.

Knowing God - God Directs Our Emotions

Jer 31:16

Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

                                                                                               

The Lord is telling Jeremiah to stop crying.  Jeremiah often wept at the state of God’s people and the unnecessary trials and devastation they went through due to their neglect of the covenant they had with the Lord.  Here the Lord is saying that there is a time to stop crying and look forward with confidence that they will return to Him.  There is a time to cry and there is a time to mourn.  The Lord will tell us when these responses are good and appropriate.  Perhaps you are weeping when you should praise.  Perhaps you might be crying when you are supposed to be standing in confidence.  Listen to your God.  He has made our emotions and He knows what sort of expression is appropriate and beneficial for the situation you are facing.  Our God is a God who can counsel us even when we should weep and when we ought not.

Proverbs - Diligence Produces Good Thoughts

Proverbs 21:5

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;

 but of every one that is hasty only to want.

In order to abound with plenteousness we are instructed to be diligent women.  Plenteousness means plenty - plenty of time, plenty of resources, plenty of ideas and plenty of means.  Here we see that our work ethic will actually produce a right way of thinking that leans towards being able to see bounty where otherwise we might not recognize it.  When we take our thoughts and plans to the Lord and work hard in what we do, we become women who come up with ideas we are not too lazy to try.  The opposite is true as well.  If we are lazy we tend to be hasty.  We charge this or put a halfhearted effort into that and we end up wanting or lacking.  Remember that our diligence in matters helps us have a good mind that can see all that the Lord has given us.  Remember that if we are hasty or impulsive we are going to lack in the long run.

Knowing God - The Lord Opens Eyes

2 Kings 6:17

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

The Lord Opens Eyes

Elisha could see something that the young man couldn’t.  How often the ‘young men’ in our lives can’t see what we may see.  Instead of trying to persuade the young man to see it, Elisha prayed.  Then, the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw.  Our God is able to open eyes to see things that they couldn’t see before.  He illuminates perspectives and spotlights things that are often hidden in the shadows of distraction and deceit.  The Lord heard Elisha’s prayer for this young man and He will hear ours as we ask Him to open the eyes of those we love.  What a faithful and personal God we serve.  May He open our eyes and those around us to all that He is and is doing in our lives! 

Proverbs - These Three Things

Proverbs 21:4

                              

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

We are told that these three things are sin.  What are these three things? 

I.  A high look

·        A high look is a haughty look.  This can be in our facial expressions or even in a tone of our voice.

·        We mustn’t look down on people for any reason.  We shouldn’t look down on people because of their weaknesses. 

2.  A proud heart

·        The meditations of our heart can be downright ugly.  We can have a heart that measures all others against our own standards and be deceived in that our heart is not right against God’s standards.

·        A proud heart exalts its case and is consumed with its own injuries and wounds at the expense of being concerned about others and pleasing God.

3.  The plowing of the wicked.

·        Plowing is digging up dirt to plant seed.  The wicked like to take good ground and break it up so that it becomes vulnerable to wicked suggestions.

·        We must not partner with this cause and stir up problems to make our homes or people vulnerable to demonic suggestion and ideas.

Sin results in death.  This could be death of a sweet moment, death in a relationship or if continued in without changing – eternal death.  Oh Lord, help us have a humble look, a lowly heart and a settling effect on those around us.  Let us be like You, Lord Jesus.  You were God but you humbled yourself to be a servant.  Help us walk in our day with a heart that seeks to serve and the ability to speak to winds and storms around us bringing a calm and stillness so that others can hear Your voice and rest in you. 

Knowing God - He Speaks Through the Prophets

Dan 9:10

Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

The voice of the Lord is equated with the laws He set before His people through His messengers.  Do you need to hear His voice? Read His Word aloud.  Do you need His voice to reassure you that you are going in the right direction?  Do what His written Word says.  Do you need to hear His voice calm you and comfort you?  Take His Word into your heart and value His written Word’s promises.  Do you need to have His voice give you direction?  Observe what His written Word says you should do.  The voice of the Lord is set before us and beckons us to walk in the direction from which we hear it.  We hear His voice through the voice of those He has sent.  

Proverbs- Better Than Sacrifice

Proverbs 21:3

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Sometimes we can overreact to a situation and not give the appropriate judgment or response.  When we come down hard on our children or husband and then find out that we actually misjudged the facts, we may be inclined to make it up to them.  Maybe we give our child more computer time, or cozy up to our husbands and try to sacrifice something to make up for our poor judgment.  They would much rather want us to react with good justice and judgment the first time than try to make up for it with sacrifice. 

This is how the Lord looks at things too.  Sacrifices were given to the Jewish people by the Lord to cover sins that they would commit.  These were given to provide a way to get things right but never to become that which should be an excuse to do things wrong.  Even the finished work of Jesus Christ which does more than cover our sins, but cleanses them, is not to be treated so lightly as to excuse a casual attitude towards judgment and justice.  The blood of Christ is made available to us and yet it is such a costly provision we don’t want to spend it recklessly upon the debt of sin incurred in careless actions. The Lord desires us to seek to do justice and judgment in all the matters we face and this is acceptable to the Lord.  

Proverbs - He Ponders Our Hearts

Proverbs 21:2

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

To know that we generally think our decisions are good is wise to know.  Every way of our lives seems right when we evaluate them according to our own understanding.  This warns us that our judgment and evaluation is not always true to the core.  Here the Lord tells us that the Lord ponders the hearts. The word ponders here means to balance or measure out by weight or dimension. The Lord puts our hearts on a scale and measures them by His own value system.  We must not just bring our actions before Him, but keep our hearts sensitive to the Lord’s value system.  When the Lord measures our hearts He weighs the weight and measures the dimension.  He looks at what is heavy on our hearts and how much we open or close our hearts to the things that are before us. .  A great place to be is in a place where we are crying out the Lord to search our hearts and cause us have hearts that are like His.  Taking the time to sit before the Lord when we make that meal, or clean the house and ask the Lord to weigh our hearts and put in what we need and take out what shouldn't be there.  Our God is able to show us things within us that we might not know are there.  He is able to help us not be hard on ourselves when we have weights that are too much and to move upon us when our hearts are neglecting weightier matters.  Let us not trust our own eyes, let us spend the time to quiet our evaluations and listen for the Lord’s evaluations. His scales are always balanced and His judgments are righteous.

Knowing God - He is Our Dwelling Place

Ps 90:1

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

The Lord is not just a God we connect WITH, but a God we can run INTO.  He has been a dwelling place for all generations.  He has been available for everyone to go into and live and move and have their very existence IN Him.  The place in which we dwell is to be considered home, safe and the place from which we gain fortitude and positioning.  The Lord, Himself, is to be that dwelling place.  We are not to visit God as if He were a distant relative we see on certain holidays or if we happen to be in the vicinity of their dwelling place.  We must dwell in the Lord.  Move in and stay there.  Explore every room.  Enjoy every square inch and find that His love and ways are unsearchable.  We will never exhaust the discoveries of His great love, wisdom and companionship.  Oh Lord, be the dwelling place for us and our children as You have been for every generation!

Proverbs - Those Who Rule Over You

Proverbs 21:1

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

                              

Authority is directly under the influence of the Lord.  We must remember that our God is the King of kings and He is over all that are over all.  This does not mean that those in authority always make godly decisions but because the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, God will use their decisions for His purposes.  Our God is able to take any sort of decision and work it together for good. Like a river can go around obstacles and continue its course, the Lord takes His purposes around the stones of a king’s decisions and brings His will to its final end. This is why we must not resent authority but embrace the decisions that are handed down as tools in our God’s hand.  Our husbands, pastors, managers and even police officers are in the hand of the Lord.  When a certain boundary or restriction is put upon us, it would be good for us to present it to the Lord seeking how He wants to use it for our good.  This way we do not have to resist authority or feel helpless in the ramifications of authority’s decrees.  We can sense the safety and supremacy of our Lord.  We should pray for authority and then, unless they ask us to do something contrary to God’s Word, submit to their leadership trusting our Lord’s ability to use them to take us places we might never have gone without them.