Proverbs - Laziness and Excuses

Proverbs 20:4

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

The Lord tells us in this verse that a sluggard has reasons for not doing work.  They don’t just admit to being lazy they have a reason.  The Lord points out that it is not a legitimate reason but more of an excuse.  When farmers farm, they farm in all kinds of weather.  Sometimes they find that the more extreme weather conditions actually require a more diligent attentiveness to the crops than comfortable climate conditions.  A sluggard will look at the immediate conditions and make a decision on how they will be impacted in comfort as opposed to the requirements and need of the matter.  We, as women, must not be sluggards coming up with ‘reasons’ why we don’t take care of the immediate.  Here we see that when this sluggard makes such a decision, they are impacted later by their laziness at the moment.  If we don’t get to the dishes after dinner, we may find ourselves overwhelmed the next day.  If we don’t shop when we need provision, we may find ourselves lacking in the next few days.  So many of us do not see that if we are lazy in the moment, we will end up lacking in the future.  Comfort and ease are not to determine our priorities.  A godly woman will work willingly with her hands and is not afraid of hard work.  If we do this, we will find ourselves enjoying our future.  We will laugh at the future and not be afraid of times to come.  We must not be sluggards and instead of taking the time to figure out why we shouldn’t tackle the task at hand, we need to just do it.  Do it heartily and be women who build our homes and not be afraid to do the work we have before us.

Knowing God - He is Our 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.

KJV

Knowing God - He Chooses Us Due to Our Weaknesses

                                                           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 - Cease From Strife

Prov 20:3

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:

but every fool will be meddling.

It is an honor for us to cease from strife.  When we suddenly stop arguing, and refrain our lips from commenting, we will contribute to our honor.  To make it easier for a child to honor us we need to be women who cease from strife and meddling.  We need to not badger our children and argue over every point.  When our children begin to be unreasonable and argumentative it is an honor for us to cease.  Cease means to stop in the middle of something.  We can stop mid-sentence if we must.  We can stop before the words even leave our mouths and we can cease from allowing our minds to even think of that quick comeback.  This is an honor although we may be tempted to think being quiet will make us look bad.  We must believe God.  It is an honor to cease from strife and avoid meddling.

Knowing God - He Will Fight for 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.

Proverbs - Angry Authority

Proverbs 20:2

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

Authority is to be respected and submitted to.  When we provoke someone in authority over us to anger we sin against our own soul.  We create an environment that is oppressive and troublesome for ourselves.  People in authority over us have been given, by God, the ability to make decisions that affect our lives.  This is why we must pray for those in authority and seek to honor them.  This includes government authority, husbands, supervisors, landlords, pastors, parents and ministry leaders.  When we are considering our actions or words that will directly impact those over us, we must remember that if we choose to live a way that will provoke them to wrath, our very souls will be troubled.

This is a good truth to teach our children.  If they provoke us or their fathers to wrath, oftentimes the punishment will be much more severe than needed because of the heightened emotion.  They need to speak respectfully and not walk deceitfully so that the infraction can be dealt with in calm matter rather than the heat of being caught off guard or deceived. 

Proverbs - Alcohol and Wisdom

Proverbs 20:1

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:

and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Drinking alcohol is a dangerous liberty.  It is almost like playing on train tracks.  Sure, they are fun and offer a lot of entertainment but if you are lulled to a lack of awareness, a train could approach and take you out in an instant.  If you fell on the tracks and were knocked out a train could overtake you and your life would be over forever.  Is it worth the risk for the temporary enjoyment it may bring?  Here the Lord tells us that wine is a mocker.  It makes fun of us and puts us in situations in which we are often the fool.  Strong drink can intimidate us like an angry rage-filled man.  It can begin to tell us what to do, what to say and keep us from being able to do that which we want to do.  We also learn in this verse that wine and strong drink deceives many people.  It is not wise to be deceived by the taste, effect or social environment alcohol desires offers us.  There are so many other choices for taste that do not impair or affect our judgment.  Sister, don’t allow yourself to be mocked.    Don’t let alcohol rage against you and don’t be deceived.  To be under the influence of anything other than His Holy Spirit puts us all in a very vulnerable place.

Knowing God - He Does NO Sin

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 - What's a Scorner?

Proverbs 19:29

Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

We have seen a bit about scorners the last few days.  Let us review some of the things that the book of Proverbs has to say about being a scorner.  Remember, a scorner is one who mocks at things and takes serious things lightly.

We are scorners when we aren’t willing to take in a rebuke and let it work in us.

·        Prov 13:1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

We are scorners when we are looking for an answer for something but truly only for that which we want to hear and not objective wisdom itself.

·        Prov 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

We are scorners if we only want to be around people who tell us we are right and we don’t desire a good challenge to our ways.

·        Prov 15:12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

We are scorners if we are proud women dealing in anger with people.

·        Prov 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

We are scorners if we tend to be illicit contention and division in groups of people.

·        Prov 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

A scorner causes human relationships to be ugly and full of repulsion.

·        Prov 24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

Let us take a look at these warnings and take heed that we be not scorners.  If we know someone else who fits this description, we now know how to pray for them.  Pray for them to not be a scorner any longer.  

Knowing God - He Has Power Over Death

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 - Weighing Opinions and Friendships

Proverbs 19:28

An ungodly witness scorneth judgment:

and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

Judgment is to look at something objectively weighing the evidence and removing our own wishful desires from the situation.  We must be willing to look at situations with a righteous judgment and not be one who scorns judgment.  We can’t be women who rush into decisions or say what we feel regardless of whether we have judged them to be right.  We ought not be silly, foolish women who prattle off our opinions and desires using them as a guide for our lives.  We must be godly and evaluate matters against the objective source of God’s Word and His standards for our lives.  We may feel like throwing judgment out the door but we must NOT obey these feelings.  We must settle in our hearts to assess matters with His mind and judgment.

Devouring is a word that implies consuming something in a hasty, non discretionary way often taking in more than is needed or enjoyed.  Ladies, do you have friends who devour sin?  Do you have people in your life that consistently take in sinful information and make choices in a reckless, speedy manner?  Be careful!  There are wicked people and we must be able to discern who they are.  We must not join ourselves with the wicked but rather pray for them and be alert when spending time with them.  When someone devours food, the food can get all over the table, the ground and even those around them.  If we become companions of the wicked, some of this iniquity might spill over onto us.  Let us be made aware of this through the counsel of this proverb. 

Knowing God - His Words Are 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 - Who Is Teaching You?

Proverbs 19:27

Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

Cease means to stop what we are doing.  Is there any sort of instruction you are receiving that can cause you to err from the words of knowledge?  There is instruction that is good and there is instruction that is not.  When we choose books, television programs, movies, friends or other sources of input, we must know whether the instruction we receive could cause us to err from the words of knowledge.  Sometimes we may have to submit ourselves to a drought of input from familiar sources and over compensate with good, godly input.  Then we could add one at a time and see what sort of impact each source has on us. Do we feel frustrated?  Does this sort of entertainment choice leave me feeling hopeless after I watch it? Does this music start to motivate me to spend time and money on things that don’t really matter?  It is very important that we have the input that produces the character of Christ and the quality of life that walking in the words of knowledge produces.  Cease to hear any instruction that causes you to err from the words of knowledge and be aware….new instruction can sneak in at any time.

Proverbs - Honoring Parents

Proverbs 19:26

He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother,

 is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

The Lord is very clear about honoring our parents.  No matter how old we are it is vital that we seek to honor our parents, whether they are alive or dead.  The way we speak about them, think about them or speak to them, we must not be people who dishonor our parents.  Even if they have made mistakes we must not be anxious to reveal their weaknesses but be truthful with honor.  Even when we are older we must not waste our fathers or chase away our mothers.  We can always improve in this.

Our children also need to know that reverence and honor are not options in our households but expected from them.  We are training them to submit to authority and honor those who are over them in position.  Wasting a father is being oppressive to him.  Our children are not come against their fathers.  We back up our husband’s standards for the home and by our examples of submission to those standards and reinforcements to our children we protect our home from shame and reproach.  To chase away a mother is what a child will do when they isolate themselves or say things that are so hurtful a mother pulls back and protects herself from his or her hurtful comments.  We must not do this.  Even if our child is pushing us away, we must stay committed to that child in love and affection.  This will help protect our home and offset his or her wrong responses.  We can respond in such a way that even the natural effects of a child’s lack of honor can be compensated and balanced out by parents who redirect the flow of the home by their resistance to these outcomes.  Authority has great influence and in the Lord, we are armed and able to impact the outcome of our relationships with our children.

Knowing God - He Pleads with EVERY Generation

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 - Smiting and Reproving

Proverbs 19:25

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

Our children can be scorners sometimes and we must be willing to smite them.  .  There has to be consequences for scorning and it will help our other children know that scorning is inappropriate and will not be tolerated.  Scorning is to scoff or make fun of.  Our children must not mock serious things and if they do, they must experience some sort of reprimand in order to know that it is wrong and to cause others around to know that it is not His way for us.

As we correct our children when they are off, they will have understanding and they will actually understand knowledge rather than just repeat it.  Reproving someone involves a determined explanation of what was wrong and how it might be brought to the level that the Lord would want for their lives.  Reproof is to be done with great mercy and tenderness and yet firm on the standard for which the correction is given.  We, as mothers, must be open to the Lord’s reproof and how He does this to us, that we might follow His example in this way.   Then we will understand knowledge and be able to instruct our children in the way they should go because we have been instructed ourselves.

Knowing God - God Gives 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

Proverbs - Eating, Laziness and Shopping

Proverbs 19:24

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom,

 and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

A lazy woman finds herself overwhelmed with the smallest of tasks.  Here the Lord is equating laziness with not using our own hand to feed us.  This could be likened to the fast food escape so many of us may be tempted to rely upon.  Although this convenience has its place, we must be concerned that we don’t make this a practice because we have procrastinated and been lazy to plan, shop and prepare meals for our families.  When we go shopping it would be wise if we can financially, to buy more than one of the same item so that we could be prepared for a future meal. This will protect us from the lies of the flesh telling us it is too hard to go to the grocery store and pick up that one item.  It is much wiser if we are women who are prepared for those meals with cupboards and freezers that have what we need.  When we wake up in the morning our desire should be to prepare food for our household and have our children and husbands feel safe and taken care of.  We should work willingly with our hands and not eat the bread of idleness. 

When we prepare a spaghetti sauce or some other meal, consider preparing a double batch and freezing it so that on those hectic days there are steps of meal preparation that can be avoided but not denied due to laziness or slothfulness.  If you have become lazy in this, find a sister to keep you accountable in this duty.  Even if you are single, you can eat better and feel taken care of when you put your hand to your mouth rather than rely on some institution to feed you all of the time. 

Being keepers at home will actually adorn the gospel and put to silence the accusations of a world without Christ.  When others see the love and care we have for our family, they will begin to see our God’s nature who feeds the birds of the air.  When we are diligent in our ministry at home, we avoid the traps and snares the enemy has for us in our slothfulness and apathy.  Our home will reflect our God who gives us our daily bread and the times of meal preparation and clean up can be used to pray for our family and those that need intercession.  

Knowing God - God's Heart is for the 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 - The Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

The fear of the Lord is to be consistently concerned with what the Lord’s evaluation of situations is.  We need to be in a place where we are always attentive to the Lord’s rightful position in our lives.  He is the One we get our total and complete authority from.  It is His value system, His priorities and His purposes we must be concerned with.  This will lead to life.  Our choices that are in line with His will brings life and the natural decay of a life lived apart from His influence will not occur.  We will abide satisfied when we walk in the fear of the Lord.  We will enjoy what we have when we are looking up.  We will not be visited with evil.  We will be so enthralled with the Lord and our relationship with Him that even if evil came knocking on our door, we won’t hear it and let it come in and visit.  We will be abiding satisfied and content because we are enjoying the fellowship we have with Him.  When we are full we don’t hunger for other things.  Oh Lord, cause us to desire to please and honor you more than any other sort of desire that we might have life, abide satisfied and not be visited with evil. 

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 - Poverty is Better Than Dishonesty

Proverbs 19:22

The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

When we don’t have everything we would like it can make us humble and grateful.  We appreciate the food someone might make for us, or maybe the time someone spends with us.  When we are lacking certain things we desire and are content with where we are, we are tender to those who may not have certain things and will look out for how we might meet those needs.  The lack of anything we desire is a good place for us to be. This leaves us dependent on the Lord as our Father and keeps us in a place where we are asking Him for certain things and then trusting His final decision on the matter.  If we go about getting things we desire through wrong means, God says that it is better that we would be without than to lie and get what we want.  We cannot fudge numbers on loan applications, we cannot represent ourselves falsely to get a job, we cannot milk the welfare system to get more than an honest compensation and we cannot misrepresent our situation to get pity or attention that we may desire.  Let us rejoice in the lack of certain things we desire today knowing that the Lord can use this to make us kind and patient with others and let us be adamant in representing only the truth in all our financial dealings.

Knowing God - He Notices You!

Luke 8:47

                         

 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet.

NIV

This woman had been suffering for twelve years with female problems.  She had gone to doctor after doctor to the point that she spent all of her money.  She might have felt that no one understood or knew all that she had gone through and was going through.  Her ailment was unknown to the person standing next to her, but she was well aware of her affliction.  When she reached out to Jesus, He responded.  This woman did not and could not go unnoticed by Jesus.  Sister, do you feel like your infirmity is something you carry alone?  Have people grown weary or have they become numb to your pain and your lot?  Jesus hasn’t.  He notices you…you are a woman that cannot go unnoticed as you reach out for Jesus in your long term affliction.  Come.  Tremble.  Fall at His feet.  He wants to honor your faith in Him.  He loves you.  You are not unnoticed.

Proverbs - His Counsel Stands

Proverbs 19:21

There are many devices in a man's heart;

 nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

We can ponder over a situation until we are consumed by it.  Solutions, coping mechanisms, quick fixes and conclusions can flood our hearts as we approach a difficult situation.  We can make plans about our future, conclude the cause and effect of a situation and think we actually have the ultimate authority in our lives.  This is not true.  It is the counsel of the Lord that shall stand so we ought to seek His advice concerning all matters.  He is our Maker and He has wisdom and ideas that are sure to match the weight of a situation.  As we come before Him in prayer, seeking His counsel, we can pour out our own devices and ideas.  The key is to be sure to know that His counsel is what we need and seek through it all.  This will allow us to hear Him and have our lives built and led by the One who really does know what is best.  No matter how we may think we may have the best idea, a woman with humility of mind will quietly consider she may not have the ultimate solution to a problem.  A humble woman will implement her strategies in a cautious way seeking to be open to any redirect from the Lord.   Let us remember that whether it is something we think of or someone around us makes plans that affect us, we must remember that the counsel of the Lord shall stand. 

Knowing God - He is Able

2 Cor 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,

 may abound to every good work:

“And God is able….”  If we just stopped at this point reading this truth, we would find ourselves in a great place of courage and revelation.  God is able.  God is mighty and desire’s to show Himself powerful.  His abilities are what we, as mere men, need to focus on, worship and draw from.  Whatever things we face, internally or externally, should have to face the ability of God.  Whatever obstacles position themselves around us, must be confronted with the ability of God.  What are some things the Word of God reveals about God’s ability?

Luke 3:8 – God is able to make sons of Abraham from stones

Acts 20:32 – God’s grace is able to build us up

Romans 4:21 – What He promises He is able to perform

Romans 14:4 – God is able to make us stand

Ephesians 3:20 – God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or think

Hebrews 2:18 – God is able to help those who are tempted

God is able.  Take some time today to enjoy all that God is able to do.  Remember that He is much more powerful and clever than you and I have yet to perceive.  Whatever may be intimidating you today is no match for the God who is able!

Proverbs - Hear Counsel!

Proverbs 19:20

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Sometimes we can be women who just think we know things based on years of experience.  It is true that we have learned some things but God’s ways are much higher than ours and we will never exhaust His wisdom and instruction.  This is why consistent bible study, personal and going to church is so important.  This is why asking godly friends for advice is so needed.  We want to be wise women so we must be women who hear counsel and then receive instruction.  We can’t just hear it and if we don’t hear it we won’t be able to receive it. 

Another truth is here for mothers.  Proverbs is directed to help the young man as we saw in chapter one.  This truth here tells this young person to hear counsel and receive instruction so that they will eventually get it and be wise as they grow up.  Moms, we must be giving counsel and instruction to our children. Counsel is advice concerning a specific situation with standards and values attached to it.  Instruction involves steps of obedience that can be taken to go towards that counsel.  Sisters, when our children do something wrong or find themselves in a dilemma, we would do well to give counsel AND instruction.  This type of combination has the potential to cause our children to be wise when they grow up.  Is there one or the other that you find yourself weak in?   Ask the Lord to help you give both.  He is our Helper and He is the best Counselor and Instructor we can have!

Knowing God - God Speaks Our Name

Ex 3:4

 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said,

Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

God Speaks Our Name

The Lord saw Moses turn aside to see this bush that burned with fire.  When the Lord saw this, the Lord spoke Moses’ name twice.  The experience changed from a curious investigation of a physical phenomenon to a relational dialogue with God Himself.  The Lord is calling our names today.  When we ‘turn aside to see’, the Lord knows He has our attention and moves us away from what originally caught our attention and towards a place of hearing His voice.  In our busy society we often ‘drive thru’ the presence of God, hoping to chow down our spiritual fast food to hold us over.  This may happen at times, but should not be our regular way of eating.  We must be a people who ‘turn aside’.  Turn aside from the television.  Turn aside from the computer.  Turn aside from our works and quiet ourselves to hear Him say our name too.  “Dolores, Dolores”, He may say.  “Karen, Karen”, He beckons.  “Audree, Audree!” He addresses.  When we hear this, let us be like Moses and say, “Here I am!”

Proverbs - Anger

Proverbs 19:19

A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment:

for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

If we are women who are going to punish people with our anger we will suffer punishment.  Anger is usually rooted in pride and considering our plans and feelings as if they are the most important.  We must humble ourselves in order to not react with wrath.  Wrath does not produce what God wants done in a situation.  If we sense that boiling blood coming on, we should put a hand over our mouth, go somewhere fast, and humble ourselves before the Lord praising Him and thanking Him that no matter what just happened, He can work it together for good.  When we are angry we are basically declaring that we don’t trust God with the situation and our judgment is upon the situation. 

Another part of this proverb tells us that if we deliver people from the consequences of their wrath we will have to do it again and again.  If our husbands or children do something out of anger we must let them reap the consequences so that they may see the error of their way.  Sure, we can come alongside and help them but never deliver them.  If we apologize on their behalf or try to make amends apart from them, we will only contribute to the problem.  Wrath – anger with punishment – is God’s alone and the sooner they see the destruction from such a position, the sooner they might cry out to God for forgiveness and deliverance.

Knowing God - The Lord Sees You Spotless

Song 4:7

 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

The Lord Sees You Spotless

                                                                                

Here we learn about the Lord’s love for His bride.  He tells His bride that we are all fair and there is no spot in us.  What matters most is the Lord’s view of us and not ours or anyone else’s view of us.  When we are in Christ, all things are new.  Old things are passed away and we are new creations in Christ.  We have been clothed in His righteousness and when we come into the presence of our God He affirms that we are fair, beautiful and there is not spot in us.  He calls us His love.  Do you know that you are the Lord’s love?  Are you looking for the favor, acceptance or approval of someone other than the Lord?  You will be frustrated, confused and desperate if this is your state.  You can stand on God’s judgment of you if, indeed, you are in Christ.  He says there is NO spot in you.  Walk in His righteousness today.  Enjoy His favor.  Consider His great love and acceptance towards you.  You are fair.  You are His love.  There is NO spot in you.

Proverbs - Disciplining Your Children and Teens

Proverbs 19:18

Chasten thy son while there is hope,

and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

To discipline our children is to love them.  We must not listen to their responses and change the course of our decisions because of their crying or complaining.  There is hope for our children while we have the opportunity to guide and order the standards by which they live up to.  We must take full advantage of this and make decisions based on prayerful consideration of what the Lord is leading us to do to train them in the way that they should go.  We must not change course because of their whining or how difficult it may be for us to keep them on this path.  God has put us in charge and all authority has been given by God.   We will lead them in ways they will not naturally choose and this is the way it is supposed to be.  If they knew what they were to do, God would not have given parental authority.  Stand strong, young mother and endure the crying of your child if you know you are implementing good discipline to produce character.  Stand strong, mother of that teen, and remember your time of parental guidance is coming to a close, use this time to lift up the standard in love and don’t grow weary of their reasoning and resistance.  Our soul must be guarded from the responses of our children so that we don’t give up on what the Lord has told us to do.  Let us chasten our children while there is hope and realize that they will thank us when they are older.

Proverbs - It is Wise to Help the Poor

Proverbs 19:17

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

With all of the reasoning in our society as to how people may end up with a lack of finances we can lose our heart of compassion.  Sure, there is a time to help fix the root of a problem, but there is time to care for the immediate need.  Our hearts should be tender to the needs of others.  When we see a need, we should hope that our hearts are moved with compassion and that we would be open as to how we could be part of His plan for meeting it.  When we have financial problems one of the best things we can do is to give to someone who is in more need than ourselves.  The Lord will pay us according to this verse.  It seems like a strange solution but one that our Maker has established.  The Lord tells us regarding looking out for the poor:

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. (Ps 41:1-3) KJV

Here we see that when we consider the poor and their needs, the Lord will deliver us, preserve us, bless us, keep us alive, protect us from our enemies, strengthen us and help us when we are sick.  How wonderful this is!  Have you considered the poor?  Do you know someone around you that is in need?  Consider them and what you could do to make their load lighter.

Knowing God - He Has Chosen Us

2 Chron 29:11

 My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.

                                                         

King Hezekiah is instructing the Levites in their place in God’s kingdom.  The Levites had been negligent in their calling and the king called them in to remind them and stir them up in their calling.  He tells them that the Lord had chosen them.  The Lord chose them to stand before Him, to serve Him, minister to Him and burn incense.  Hezekiah was detailed and clear in exhorting the Levites to no longer neglect any or all of what the Lord had called them to do.  The Lord chooses us as well.  He sends reminders when we, like these Levites, begin to become negligent in the positions of influence and responsibility He has given us.  When we neglect the assignments the Lord has given us, it will not only affect us, but the entire kingdom around us.  This might be a good time to bow your head, recommit your life to the Lord, ask Him to help you not be negligent and seek to be faithful in all He has chosen for you.  The Lord has chosen us, let us responds with faithfulness and fervor.

Knowing God - The Lord Submits Evidence

Rom 8:16

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,

 that we are the children of God:

The Lord Submits Evidence

How wonderful for the Lord to do this!  The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.  These words ‘bear witness’ means to ‘corroborate with evidence’.  The Holy Spirit points out and labels pieces of evidence in order to convict us that we, indeed, are ‘guilty’ of being His children.  How does He do this?  He might show you fruit in your life that was never there before you had Christ dwelling in your heart by faith.  He might show you a desire within you that you would never have had before you were born again.  He might cause you to notice a lack of desire for sinful things you once were actually enslaved to.  What evidence have you seen in your life that shows you are God’s child?  This is one of the works of the Holy Spirit.  He is the best attorney convicting us, not only of sin, but of being God’s child.  Thank You Lord for giving us Your Holy Spirit to show us concrete evidence to combat the accuser of our brethren and internal lies that seek to persuade us that we do not belong to You.  We love you Daddy!

Proverbs - How To Avoid Decay

Proverbs 19:16

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul;

 but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

Keeping God’s commandments involves continuing in them.  Have you found yourself slacking on certain standards the Lord has directly commanded you to keep?  We need life and it is in keeping His commandments that life begins to penetrate our days.  If we despise God’s ways, or treat them lightly, death starts to occur.  Our days will begin to take on a sense of withering away and the life He intends to give us eludes us.  Even today’s proverb must be taken as something worth keeping.  We could speak this truth today to our hearts and watch life begin within our spirits.  We can say, “I keep your commandment today and consider whatever you say as a treasure.”  We can write down a promise or something we heard at church on a card and put it on our desk or counter and enjoy meditating on it.  We can consider God’s commandments as more authoritative than any other mental voice trying to direct our thoughts.  As we cherish our time in His Word, as we choose to want to be instructed in His ways, our souls will be guarded from the course of decay and weariness.  

Knowing God - He Rolls Away Our Reproach

Josh 5:9

And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

The word ‘Gilgal’ means rolling.  The Lord had taken His people out of slavery, through the wilderness and now welcomes them to the land of promise.  He gives this place a name that will always remind His people of what He has done in their lives.  Isn’t that interesting?  The Lord names a place as a reminder.  Do you have certain places that serve as reminders to you?  Have you seen the Lord roll away things out of your life and set you in a new direction?  Is it a new job?   Could you have begun a new relationship?  Is there a new healthy habit the Lord has set up in you?  Do you find yourself blushing at things you used to think were acceptable?  Perhaps you find yourself having disciplines and commitments that are in great contrast to the ‘Egypt’ you used to live in.  Rejoice in your ‘Gilgals’.  He has rolled away your reproach and has promised lands for you!