Knowing God - God Agonizes

Luke 22:44

 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus was agonizing the night before His crucifixion.  During this agony, he prayed more earnestly.  We learn from Him that agonizing times call for more earnest prayer.  We must find a place to pour out our hearts to the Lord; a place where we can cry out, weep and perhaps even raise our voice in His presence.  Agony is painful and agony can produce a great sense of being drowned or suffocated.  Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus took His disciples with Him.  In those times of agony, find a Garden of Gethsemane.  In those times of great trepidation, take some friends who love you and the Lord with you.  Pray more earnestly in order to get the strength you may need for what is about to happen.  Your will, will catch up to His when an earnest prayer is made in the midst of agony.

Proverbs - Lying About Someone

Proverbs 25:18

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul,

and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Lying about or giving a biased slant on someone is very serious.  Here is likened unto three different types of weapons, a maul(club), a sword and a sharp arrow.  We end up bruising our neighbor’s heart, piercing his heart and causing pain that penetrates and remains.  When we are speaking about someone we should think of our words as if we are using clubs, swords and sharp arrows.  These are never to be casually handled and thrown about.  They are to be used with purpose and not to hurt the innocent.  We are capable of this and we must be very cautious when speaking about another.  Let our words be those that build this person up and help the person listening to admire and love them.  Let our words be full of grace and kindness upon our tongue.  This way we won’t go around bruising, cutting and piercing someone by relaying the wrong message.

Knowing God - God Shuts the Lions' Mouths

Dan 6:22

 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths,

so that they have not hurt me,…

Daniel was in that lions’ den.   He was surrounded by these lions all night long.  The Lord didn’t deliver him from being thrown into the lions’ den.  The Lord has Daniel receive the punishment the king had authorized concerning those who would pray to any other god than the king.  The king’s law had to be kept.  The governing authorities had established this law and Daniel was subject to the consequences.  The law didn’t say that whoever broke this law should be eaten by the lions, but rather, that they would have to be thrown into the lions’ den.  Our God is not intimidated or obstructed by temporal governing powers.  Our God is the King of kings!  He had no problem allowing Daniel to receive the consequences.  He shut the mouths of the lions – ALL of them!  Our God can see us through some crazy consequences and shut the lions’ mouths.  Our God is not restricted by the laws of man in order to deliver us from any sort of crafty scheme.  Are you facing lions?  Trust that the Lord is able to shut their mouths.  You may have to have them around you for a while, but don’t worry about their ability to devour you – He can shut their mouths so that you don’t even see their teeth!

Proverbs - The Annoying Neighbor

Proverbs 25:17

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house;

lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

This is great relationship advice.  We shouldn’t overstay our welcome.  This includes calling a friend, hanging out with a friend or going to someone’s home.  It is our responsibility to pace relationships so that we don’t cause our friend to grow weary of us.  People can be a bit too much when there is just too much of them in our lives.  Marriage is different.  Children are different. Using the word neighbor here denotes a relationship outside of the home where the other person has their own home and family.  Before you pick up that phone to call that familiar friend, pray.  Ask the Lord if this is an appropriate time to call.  When you are at someone’s house be sensitive to yawns and stretches and initiate your departure out of love and concern for this schedule.  We want to help our friends love their neighbor as themselves.  Let us know when to withdraw our feet.

Knowing God - The Lord Speaks Sudddenly

                                                      Num 12:4                          

And the Lord spake suddenly

unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam,

The Lord spoke suddenly.  Miriam and Aaron were speaking about Moses behind Moses’ back.  Then, the Lord spoke.  He spoke to all of them at once.  He didn’t take it lightly that these two were deciding whether they thought the Lord should be using Moses.  They challenged his personal life and came to the conclusion that Moses couldn’t really be the man of God everyone thought he was based on their own analysis and conclusions.  Moses most likely didn’t even know they were talking behind his back, but the Lord heard it and addressed it suddenly.  The voice of the Lord can come suddenly especially when he is provoked.  It is good to know that the Lord is provoked when His servants that are doing what He asked them to do are judged wrongly.  The Lord will speak suddenly.  May we be attentive to hearing His sudden rebuke as well as avoid being a Miriam or Aaron in critiquing those He has directed.  

Proverbs - Too Much of a Good Thing

Proverbs 25:16

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.  Lusts are unbridled appetites.  Lust always asks for more and outside of the boundaries of self control.  We are told here that when we find something we enjoy we must stay very sober that we don’t take more than we should or we might just vomit from it.  The very thing that went down sweet will come up rancid.  If you sit down to eat something delicious, enjoy what is there and thank the Lord for it.  Don’t dream of seconds and what else is in the buffet.  Eat as much is sufficient for you.  If you find a hobby, enjoy it, but only spend the appropriate time in it or it will make you sick.  Anything we enjoy we should enjoy, but we must be cautious that a blessing doesn’t turn into bondage.

Knowing God - His Ways Involve Practical Ways

John 13:4-5

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poureth water into a bason,….

Jesus got up from the table after eating dinner and got things ready to refresh his disciples.  He took the necessary steps in preparing himself and all that he needed to be a source of refreshment to his disciples.  Jesus shows us that practical steps are holy steps.  When we get dinner ready, vacuum the living room or go to the market to buy milk, we are being like Jesus.  Jesus served his friends not just with deep wisdom and teachings, but in using his own hands to bring them comfort and cleansing.  As we go throughout our days seeking to be like Jesus, we can take great comfort in knowing that the practical is spiritual.  It is through the practical that so much of His love and care is experienced.  The Word was made flesh so that we might hear, touch and see God!  May all we have learned in the Word, come out through our fleshly lives.  As we serve those we love today, remember that you are following in His footsteps!

Proverbs - Wait on the Lord

Proverbs 25:15

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Long forbearing involves having patience and calmness with someone.  Even a prince with all of his authority could change his mind if you have endurance and a soft tongue.  Even if the answer has been given and feels like the situation is framed, the bone and structure could actually change.  Be careful not to be hasty in response to things.  Consider the fact that your God turns kings’ hearts and your God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, beyond all you could ask or think.  Wait on the Lord.  Look to Him to adjust something in the scenario.  If you wait on the Lord to do something you will renew your strength.  You will be able to wait with patience because you know that your God doesn’t slumber or sleep.  Then, as you have this long forbearing for a situation, you might just see a prince is persuaded and the direction change before you know.  Wait on the Lord, I say wait.

Knowing God - He Puts His Laws In Us

Heb 8:10

…I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:..

The Lord gave commandments in the Old Testament and orders concerning the building of the tabernacle and the temple.  The Lord tells us in Hebrews that these things were shadows of heavenly things and were intended to set the stage for a clearer understanding of what God wanted to do with His people.  We read in this verse that the Lord was planning on writing His laws in the hearts of the people rather than writing them on tablets of stone.  The time for this is at hand.  The new covenant gives us hearts of flesh that are no longer stone needing harsh etchings to put His ways there.   Those of us who are born again, now have new hearts with His DNA in them.  There is something within us that bears witness when things are of Him and there is something within us that is troubled when a stranger’s voice is trying to lead us.  We have God’s laws in our mind and in our hearts.  We are living in a time where our intellect and affections can be guided by His mind and His heart.  God said He would do it and most assuredly He has.  We should stop and thank Him for this deposit and trust that He will use this to protect and lead us.

Proverbs - Don't Overstate Your Abilities

Proverbs 25:14

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

When interviewing for a job or making ourselves available for a task, we should never overstate our abilities.  We will be like clouds and wind without rain.  Farming communities look to the clouds and wind as sources of water to help produce strong and healthy crops.  Those who hire us or use us will look to us to produce the skills and talents we have stated we have.  Let us be clear and honest with our experience and skills when others are looking to us to hold up our end of the bargain.  We don’t want to boast of a false gift.  Let us be plain and truthful in our assessment of our abilities.  If we are unsure of these things perhaps we could ask those we have worked for what they see as our strengths and weaknesses.  This way we can represent ourselves in a way that doesn’t leave room for us to feel overwhelmed by the expectations of those we serve.

Proverbs - Like Snow

Proverbs 25:13

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

When field workers are harvesting, they are laboring hard.  The sweat of their brow is more than obvious as they take their knives, bend down and cut down the stalks of grain.  They gather the stalks and join them into tall standing sheaves.  Then they come by and carry these bundles to the threshing floor and proceed with separating the wheat and chaff.  This is done with a winnowing fork and they bend over again and again throwing the stalks to the wind trusting the chaff to blow away and the good grain to settle upon the threshing floor. The laborer is hot and weary.  If a gentle snow would fall upon him, he would be refreshed and invigorated.  The Lord lets us know that when we are faithful messengers we are like this to those who send us.  If our husbands ask us to do something and we do it well and up to their expectations we refresh them.  If our children need us to get something at the store and we get the right thing in the right timing we refresh them.  If someone in authority over us asks us to pass on some information we must be careful to properly represent them.  Then we will be like snow in the time of harvest.  We will be a refreshment to those who send us. 

Knowing God - The Lord Makes Strength Fail

Lam 1:14

…he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

The Lord delivered His people into the hands of their enemies.  He made their strength to fall because that which they were seeking to find their strength in, could in fact, not hold them up.  He was letting their choices show themselves.  God is not mocked.  Whatever a person chooses to trust in, will show whether it is trustworthy.  God alone is to be our strength.  Our strength will always fall and it is much better if it falls under the Lord’s chastening than in a situation where the consequences might be even more devastating.  Make the Lord your strength today and when your own strength fails, turn to the Lord and say; “Lord, You are the strength of my life.”     

Knowing God - He Grafts In

Rom 11:22-23

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

There is a lot of debate about a believer’s security.  Can they lose their salvation?  Can their name be blotted out?  Can a believer, through sin or other situations, end up having an evil heart of unbelief and depart from the faith?  If we are saved by faith, but a believer no longer believes, is he still saved?  I will not begin to answer these questions here; rather I want us to look at the promise in this verse.  If someone comes away from not believing and believes, they shall be grafted in because GOD is able to graft them in again.  The truth here is about the Lord Himself!  He is able to do this.  He wants us to know that His mercy endures forever and He is willing that none should perish but ALL should come to everlasting life.  Our God loves to forgive, heal and restore.  He loves to make all things new.  What might seem impossible with men, IS possible with God.

Proverbs - Beautiful Reproving

Proverbs 25:12

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

A wise reprove is a person who knows how to help someone get something right in the eyes of the Lord.  They will be tactful, kind and uncompromising.  They will know the right timing and have scripture to support such words.  An earring is usually placed in the ear through a very small hole that has been pierced.  This earring must be placed in the exact opening and closed to remain and show its beauty.  When we must reprove our children, husbands or friends, we should handle it very carefully and seek to adorn their lives with the beauty of lasting wisdom.  This means that our opinions and thoughts are not to be the material from which our reproof is given.  Pure gold earrings do not bother the most sensitive of skin.  His words are like pure gold and suited for the most sensitive of hearers.  The key here is to place these words with care and gentleness.  Let us also seek to have our own obedient ear ready to hear any reproof our Lord sends our way.

Knowing God - God Makes Us Stand

Rom 14:4

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

When a believer judges another believer based upon individual conviction and conclusion, the Lord will defend that person if the person is not in error.  This verse is not talking about blatant sin but that which one believer has concluded is not at the level he or she thinks another believer should live up to.  We learn from this verse that the Lord is able to make him stand.  A believer does not have to defend himself to another believer when it comes to matters of conscience.  A believer answers to His own Master and it is His Master that will make him stand.  We don’t answer to everyone else’s expectations on our lives.  We are seeking to obey Jesus.  When you are judged or criticized, go to your Master.  Ask Him what He thinks of the judgment and then focus on pleasing Him.  When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs - Appropriate Words, Appropriate Timing

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

When a word is fitly spoken it is an appropriate word at an appropriate time.  We have all experienced at one time or another when someone said something that just hit the spot.  Maybe it was a perspective or a scripture or even a casual comment that addressed just what we were going through.  Some commentators believe this is referring to the carving of apples of gold set in a filigree setting of silver.  The golden apples would stand out upon the backdrop of silver.  One year my husband saw some ‘golden apples’ at a store.  They were made of brass but such was our budget.  He then bought a silver colored tray and brought them home.  He set them upon our coffee table and instructed us that this would be a reminder that our words were to be fitly spoken.  When I would walk by this visual I would submit my tongue and the meditations of my heart to the Lord.  I would ask Him to help my words stand out in a beautiful way and be placed by the Master Craftsman.  Lord, we ask You to be the Craftsman who would take our words today and place them right where they would be best set.  Let the words of our mouth be acceptable in Your sight O Lord and be beautiful to all those who hear them.  Be glorified in us through our speech today.

Knowing God - The Lord is the True God

Jer 10:10

But the Lord is the true God,…

If the Lord is the true God, there must be false gods.  The Lord is true, authentic, genuine and reliable.  Our God is truth and truth He speaks and gives.  We often believe so many lies or jump to so many conclusions.  When we come into His presence, we can anticipate truth; truth about His character, truth about ourselves and truth about what we hear and experience.  Our God is the true God and we have no need to fear or be shaken by the deceptive philosophies and gods of this world.  When we place our lives into the Lordship of the true God, we are safe, secure and settled.  He is reliable, unchangeable and consistent.  He is accurate, just and sure.  What a wonderful, true God we serve!

Proverbs - Go to the Person

Proverbs 25:9 -10

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself;

and discover not a secret to another:

Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

It is very tempting to repeat a matter to another when we feel we have been wronged.  We may want to go to someone and let them in on our injustice and offense.  The Lord is telling us to go to the person himself and don’t let others in on it.  If we tell someone else and not the person who offended us, he might hear of it and our reputation will follow us.  It is easy to call someone we might sense will take our side.  It can make us feel coddled and comforted.  As women who claim to serve the Lord Jesus, we should go to the Lord alone and debate our cause.  If we must seek counsel, may it be with someone with spiritual maturity who won’t just take our side because they like us but desire to see us please the Lord in our responses.  When hurts abound and our hearts might be wounded, be cautious who you tell and consider talking to your neighbor with whom you have conflict.  This will help your reputation and demonstrate your desire to live at peace with all men as much as lies within you.

Knowing God - He is Able to Keep Us

Jude 24

 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling,…

The Lord is able to keep us from falling/stumbling.  The word ‘keep’ here is a military term.  It means; ‘to guard, to watch’.  The Lord is watching over us and seeking to assist us in avoiding falling into sin or being deceived into choices that will destroy us and the relationships we are in.  The Lord does not give us commands and then sit back and watch whether we will obey. He comes alongside us and helps us walk in obedience showing us the way of escape.  So many times we try in our own strength to overcome destructive patterns without depending upon His grace and power to deliver us.  We must remember that it is God who is able to keep us from stumbling.  He is guarding us and protecting us.  When an opportunity comes to stumble, the Lord is there not allowing us to be tempted above the ability He has given us.  Don’t believe your adversary.  Don’t do it on your own.  He is able to guard us and keep us from stumbling.

Proverbs - Don't Be Quick to Contend

Proverbs 25:8

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

We shouldn't want to contend about something quickly.  We must be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to wrath.  We are told in this proverb that if we try to take a certain position quickly we might find ourselves in the wrong as the conversation goes along.  It is better to start with questions than our position on a matter.  We usually don’t have all the facts and have come to a wrong conclusion.  Let us ask questions hoping to discover the truth before we contend and strive about a situation.  There are things worth fighting for but it is so important that we search out a matter first.  With our husbands, friends and children we might start the conversation with a question before our judgment or opinion.  We can stop and pray with them before we talk so that the conversation is guided by the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Truth rather than the heated passions of men’s convictions.  Jesus often asked questions first and HE knew the answers already.  How much more for us to be those gentle and quiet spirited women, should we approach a potential conflict in humility of mind and not go forth hastily to strive.

Knowing God - God Listens With Strength

Ps 20:6

Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

Here we learn that God saves and hears us with the saving strength of his right hand.  God’s listening is not passive.  He listens with His strength.  He hears us with His power and ability to save.  When we pray we must remember that it is not some sort of therapeutic time to vent and have a God sit and listen to us with an open ear and yet an indifferent response.   God hears in a responsive way.  Our God uses His authority as we come to Him with our requests and burdens.  He hears from his holy heaven WITH the saving strength of his right hand.  Thank You Lord that You listen with the intent of responding.  Thank you that when we ask, you give.  When we knock, you open.  When we seek, you reveal.

Proverbs - Humble Yourself

Proverbs 25:6-7

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king,

and stand not in the place of great men:

For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

We are told by the Lord that we should not put ourselves in places of honor by own volition.  We are not to assume or desire a place of worldly prestige or position.  The Lord tells us to take the lower seat at a feast.  If we are asked to come up we are blessed.  It is better to humble ourselves and allow the Lord to lift us up.  When we go to a party or event don’t assume you have the head table.  When you are in the presence of anyone in direct authority over you don’t strive to sit by them or schmooze your way into an inner circle.  This could show that we are presumptuous and think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  Take the lower place and allow the Lord to lift us up.  It is better to be told, come up here than be asked to go to a lower place.  The Lord is trying to save us embarrassment and reminding us that truly we are but dust.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.  Don’t ever presume position or privilege.

Knowing God - He Deserves TRUE Worship

Matt 4:10

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Jesus rebuked the devil and quoted this verse to him.  Jesus authoritatively states that’s the Lord our God is to be worshiped and served.  True worship produces service.  When we love something we have some sort of relationship with it.  If we love ice cream, we eat it, unless a lactose problem exists!  If we love exercising we go and do it.  If we love shopping, we go shopping.   These are trite things and the love we have towards these things is a completely different ‘love’ than the loving worship we are to have for the Lord our God.  Jesus declares to Satan that He will not meet Satan’s challenges or leading because that would be worshiping Satan.  He declares that worship resulting in service is for the Lord our God only.   Lord, we worship You and desire our actions to reflect our worship and devotion to You and You alone!

Proverbs - Who Surrounds You?

Proverbs 25:4 -5

Take away the dross from the silver,

and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

Take away the wicked from before the king,

and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Authority always does better when there are not wicked influences surrounding it.  Like silver that contains dross and needs this removed to shine to its fullest, authority will shine given the right counselors and influences within its closest ranks.  We should pray for our husbands to have the right kind of friends and mentors and that the Lord would remove wicked and unreasonable men from their lives.  We must not be wicked women who try to manipulate their authority or influence them for evil or we are that dross discussed in this proverb.  Also, as mothers who have authority over our children, our closest friends should be righteous and sensitive to the Lord.  We need wickedness removed from before us.  Certain television shows, books or relationships may, in fact, need to be put away from us.  This way the throne of authority will be established in righteousness.

Knowing God - Jesus Executes Judgment

John 5:26-27

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Jesus has the authority to execute judgment.  He decides what is sin and what is right.   He determines how He will deal with us and our lives.  We are not our own judge and our own opinion of ourselves is not what stands.  This is why we must come before Jesus, worshiping Him and seeking to know His stance on everything.  He is a righteous judge and all of His judgments are rooted in love and truth.  We should, like the psalmist in Psalm 119:30, say; “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.” Jesus is the One we must come to and have our matters judged.  Are we being stubborn?  Are we wrong?  Are we doing the right thing?  Is this worth my time?  Do I need to make restitution for something?  Jesus is the One who executes judgment, let’s trust His call and choose the way of truth.

Proverbs - Dimensions

Proverbs 25:3

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

There are dimensions all around us. There is the height of heaven and the depth of earth.  There is the depth of the sea and the height of the mountains.  The heart of kings is similar.  Just as we are unable to fully experience the highest height and the lowest depth, authority has reasons for doing things we will not be able to experience from our vantage point.  This is why it is important to submit to authority as long as there is no conflict with the law of God.  Even kings don’t know why they do some of the things they do because the Lord turns the heart of the king in whatever direction He wants it to go.  Our husbands may make decisions for which we would demand justification.  This could be to our detriment.  The depth of their reasoning may even be too deep for them to put into words.  I have found that when I go along with the leading of authority, I am usually pleasantly surprised at the experience I receive.  We don’t have to understand, we have to stand under the authority in our lives and trust their hearts are too deep for us to fully search.

Knowing God - He Will Not Consume Us

Mal 3:6

For I am the Lord, I change not;

therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Many of us know the first part of this verse but it is the second part that deserves attention as well.  Because the Lord changes not, his actions will not be determined by our choices.  The ‘sons of Jacob’ was Israel – His people.  God will deal with us as children and we will face discipline because He loves us but, He will not consume us.  His dealings are not impulsive or out of spontaneous anger.  Our God changes not and the mercy He has shown us from the beginning, endures forever.  We don’t have to fear that our God will change or that His personality will suddenly take on unexpected traits.  When we read about our God from Genesis through Revelation we grow in the knowledge of a God who changes not.  Every time we learn something about Him, we can take it to the bank!  He changes not and because of this, we do not need to have any sort of paralyzing fear of how He will deal with us.  Because He changes not, we will not be consumed!

Proverbs - Search Out a Matter

Proverbs 25:1-2

These are also proverbs of Solomon,

which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

God has a right to withhold instruction until we are ready to receive it.  It is to His glory.  We may not be mature enough to process it or willing enough to obey it.  We see many instances in scripture where our finding is connected with our seeking.  It is in the search that our hearts are made ready to receive.  It is in the search that our focus becomes defined.  The Lord has called us kings and priests and it our honor to search out a matter.  This keeps us remembering that He is the King of kings and truly the wisdom we need descends from above and is not always within our beings.  The search creates the hunger where the answers satisfy.  The search creates a passion that will remain long after the answer comes.  You will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart.  He wants to be found and He wants to use the time of seeking in your life in a rich, lasting way.

Knowing God - He Gives Grace and Peace

Philem 3

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father ......

God is our Father, if we have received Christ and become children of God.  We are told over and over again that our Father gives peace.  It is from having Him as our Father that we have the peace we need.  Take a moment and read how many times our God wrote this to understand the fact that He really wants us to know this:

1 Tim 1:2  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father

2 Thess 1:2… Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father…

1 Thess 1:1Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father,…

Col 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father…

Phil 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father…

Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father,…

2 Cor 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father,…

1 Cor 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father,…

Rom 1:7Grace to you and peace from God our Father…

It is from the favor, or grace, we have with God as our Father that we have the peace and lack of restlessness we might tend to move towards.  Enjoy God as your Father today knowing that, the favor and peace we so need comes from Him!

Proverbs - Watch and Learn

Proverbs 24:30-34

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

This is a lesson for us to learn.  We need to be observant.  Watch people’s lives. This man walked by a field of a man who was lazy.  It was unkempt, overgrown and there was no protection around it from animals or thief.  He looked at it and considered it well.  He looked upon it and received instruction.  Look upon the fields of the lazy that you know. Consider them and receive instruction.  Instead of judging people; receive instruction.  Instead of gossiping about people; receive instruction.   People’s lives can teach us so much.  Here we learn that if we are lazy, our homes will be a mess.  Things will be growing in relationships that are choking out life and boundaries will be crumbling.  If we are lazy moms and not attentive to our children, the walls we have constructed might start to disintegrate and lose their structure.  We must be diligent in this calling we have received so that when people walk by our fields, they might stop, consider and receive instruction as well.

Knowing God - He Has Power Over All Flesh

John 17:2

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Jesus is talking, ‘praying’, to His Father here.  He has allowed this conversation to be recorded in writing for us.  He reveals to us that Jesus, Himself, has power over all flesh and that Jesus gives eternal life to as many as the Father has given him.  The word ‘power’ in this text means; delegated influence, magistrate and jurisdiction.  Jesus is the One whom we must call upon in times of trouble. Jesus is the One we must preach to others.  Jesus is the One that we must put our faith in.  He has the authority to give eternal life.  As we pray for those who have yet to receive eternal life, we should pray to Jesus and ask Him to influence those we love resulting in their salvation.   Worship Jesus.  Love Jesus. He has authority over ALL flesh!

Proverbs - Retaliation is Foolish

Proverbs 24:28-29

Be not a witness against thy neighbor

 without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me:

I will render to the man according to his work.

There might be a time where you might be tempted to come against someone because of a desire to retaliate.  We must not do to others as they have done unto us.  We don’t render to other people according to their work.  We should deal with others the way the Lord has dealt with us.  If we are born again, the Lord has extended grace and favor upon us even though we deserve judgment and rejection.  Let us extend this favor upon others regardless of how they treat us.  This is what makes us different.  Everyone loves those who love them.  Our credentials are wrapped up in how we treat people who do not love us or in fact have sinned against us. Don’t even speak with your lips what you want to do to pay someone back.  Use your lips to cry out to God for a forgiving heart and hope all things.  Then, you will truly shine as a child of God.

Knowing God - In Him is NO Darkness

1 John 1:5

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God is light.  He is not hiding things from you and me. There is not darkness at all in our God.  There are not secret temple rituals He wants us to be in.  There are no lost books with secrets only a few have discovered.  In Him, there is NO darkness AT ALL!  He doesn’t make it difficult for us to see Him and His ways.  He is plain and clear and to make it the most clear He sent His own Son in tangible flesh for us to know Him.  Our God is not toying with us with hidden messages that only the few can discern.  He isn’t shadowing that which He has clearly revealed.  He is light.  If something involves deceit and doing things in a way that is shrouded in secrecy, it most likely is not of God.  Oh, believer, enjoy His marvelous light today!  Know that your God, the Dayspring has shined on us in these days and enjoy taking steps on a well lit path He has made for you!

Proverbs - Prepare BEFORE

Proverbs 24:27

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field;

and afterwards build thine house.

The Lord is telling us that a source of income is of higher priority than what we can buy with that income.  Most people like what money can buy but not the work to make the money to spend.  This is a twisted and confused way to conduct our lives.  Credit works like this.  It promises us the ability to purchase something before we prepare the fields. Credit promises us comforts before we actually have the buying power to get them.  We must first get our fields ready and then consider our living quarters.  Work is a better pursuit than comfort and diligence than quick fun.  What a contrast to our society that is leaving families without houses because they are tying to create their own kingdom immediately without first stabilizing their income and work history.  There is nothing wrong with building our homes but there is an order to this.  We would be wise women to encourage our husbands in their jobs rather than focus on spending all that comes in.

Knowing God - He Sends Angels Because of Our Words

Dan 10:12-13

“…..I have come because of your words.”

An angel of God came to Daniel under God’s directive.   This angel had to fight a demonic angel to get to him.  The angels are servants of the Lord.  Here we learn that the angel was sent because of Daniel’s words.  The Lord hears our words and our words will have an effect on the Lord’s directives.  So many times we have not because we have not asked.  Sometimes prayer seems like we are just speaking in a venting sort of way for our own clearing of our thoughts.  This is not all that is happening.   When Daniel prayed, the Lord sent an angel BECAUSE of Daniel’s words.  This shows that our words mean so much to the Lord.  Our words are heard and our words are used by the Lord to bring about His purposes.  Have you talked with Him today?  Have you grasped that every time you speak to Him, He listens?  This angel came because of Daniel’s words.  What sort of spiritual warfare is looking for your words to bring about such a warring angel’s involvement?  Don’t underestimate the impact of your words before our God!

Proverbs - Good Friendships

Proverbs 24:26

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

People enjoy being around people who have wisdom.  It is great to be around someone who wants us to know what the right thing to do is.  This kind of friendship is one that flourishes because it is not based on human loyalties and favoritism but on a desire to please God.  This assures us that our friends are trying to give us the right answers not just the answer that they think we want to hear.  When a friend is seeking to help us do the right thing we can be confident they are praying for us and looking to the Lord to give us something that will be genuinely helpful and not necessarily what is comfortable.  Our lives will be built like a house upon a rock and we can have relationships with safety and consistency.  Oh that we would be slow to speak and quick to listen - quick to listen not only to our friend, but quick to listen and give a right answer.    

Knowing God - He Sends People Before Him

Luke 10:1

 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

The Lord appointed people and sent them ahead to all the places He himself would come.   This is an interesting fact.  The Lord will send His disciples before Him into people’s lives that He is intending to touch and come to.  Oftentimes we may have some sort of encounter with someone and wonder what that was all about.  Perhaps the Lord is about to get involved in their lives very soon and is sending us to make straight the way of the Lord.  Whenever we end up connecting with an unbeliever it might be good to tell them that we are sure that the Lord is reaching out to them because that is why He has sent us into their lives.  He is willing that none should perish but all should come to eternal life.  Our relationships are not random but ordained by the One who has come to seek and save that which is lost.

Proverbs - Rebuke Unto Blessing

Proverbs 24:23-25

These things also belong to the wise.

 It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Our judgment of character must be based on God’s standard of character and not upon our loyalty to the relationship.  We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  We should never condone sin and call it righteousness.  Oftentimes on the news or entertainment coverage, sin is exalted and declared as noble.  To avoid this we must stay close to God’s Word and make sure that if we need to give a rebuke we do in faithfulness to God’s standards.  It may be difficult at first but it shall be a delight.  Our consciences will be clear and a good blessing shall come upon us.