Knowing God - God Makes Us Valiant

Ps 60:12

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

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

Proverbs - A Lying Tongue

Proverbs 26:28

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it;

and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

When we lie to someone we hate them.  We are not giving them what they think they are getting.  We are like a corrupt businessman giving someone goods they didn't even want to buy.  When we are tempted to lie to someone thinking we are doing them good, we must know this truth.  You are hating the one you are lying to.  Lying tongues afflict people.  They feel hurt, wounded and deceived.  Sure, truth can hurt but it doesn't afflict.  Affliction goes on and on, a wounding truth can be dealt with.  If you love someone, be sure you don’t lie to them.  

Knowing God - He Wants to Be Believed

Num 14:11

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

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

Proverbs - It Comes Back to You

Proverbs 26:27

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:

and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

This truth is not like karma.  Karma is doing something wrong and having it come back to you in an unrelated sense.  This truth tells us that if we dig a pit we will fall into that pit that we dug.  God tells us that if we roll a stone, that stone will fall upon us.  God is not mocked.  Whatever a man plants, he shall reap.  If we plant watermelon seeds we get watermelon.  If we plant to our fleshly nature we will reap the flesh with all of its ‘wonderful’ fruit.  If we try to injure someone by our own plans these plans will backfire on us and we will end up being hurt by the very plans we created.  Sister, do not plan destruction for another.  Do not repay evil for evil.  The Lord is the judge and He is the only legitimate one to deal with men’s sins.  You don’t want to fall into that pit.  You don’t want to have that stone roll back on you.  Forgive and commit yourself to your faithful creator.  

Knowing God - God Gives Skills

Ex 31:3

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

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

Proverbs - Wicked Lips

Proverbs 26:23

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Our hearts can be quite wicked and the words that come across our lips can burn and wound.  Many a show has exalted the wicked woman with flattering lips.  We must be cautious to be sure that our hearts are seeking to love and our lips are seeking to build up.  Otherwise we may come across one way initially and end up delivering nothing but empty promises and hurtful judgments.  We must be sensitive to the power of the tongue and consistently guarded by the Lord’s leading when speaking.  Be open to the convictions of a wicked heart and get it right by confessing it and receiving his forgiveness and cleansing.  A potsherd is a piece of a broken clay pot.  If this piece was covered in silver, the silver would disguise the true substance of the object.  Let us give words that are like apples of gold in settings of silver rather than potsherd covered with silver dross.

Knowing God - He Wants His House Filled

Luke 14:23

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

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

Proverbs - Repeating Stories

Proverbs 26:22

The words of a talebearer are as wounds,

and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Getting on the phone or going out to lunch and telling another woman the play by play account of your life is a common practice for women.  This is not to be with the woman of God.  She does not tell the stories of conversations and relationships to another.  She handles her relationships with care and keeps confidences and conversations in the appropriate boundaries.  She doesn’t tell another what someone else said and did unless the Lord is leading her to in order to breed unity and admiration.  Her conversations are rooted in the Lord and what He is doing with the person and relationship at hand.  If she repeats something she risks hurting the person across from her without her even knowing it.  It is best to avoid bringing other names and situations into a current conversation.  Love the person in front of you and enjoy the moment.  This will decrease the likelihood of injury and pain.

Knowing God - God Determines Truth

2 Tim 2:13

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

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

Proverbs - Contentiousness is Fuel

Proverbs 26:21

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire;

so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Here we are warned again about putting out the fire of strife.  Being contentious will contribute to the fire of conflict.  Being contentious means being argumentative and contending for our positions.  We ought rather leave things and allow the Lord to fight for us.  State what needs to be said and drop it.  If we go on and on we will be like burning coals and wood to fire.  Be quiet within and quiet without. Settle your soul and let the peace of Christ reign and rule in your hearts.  Don’t be that contentious woman.  Don’t be that hot burning coal.  Watch the fire of strife begin to diminish and resolution take place because you chose to not be contentious.

Knowing God - The Salvation of the Lord

Lam 3:26

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

The Salvation of the Lord

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

Proverbs - No Words - No Fire

Proverbs 26:20

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:

so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Wood helps a fire continue and retain its strength.  When there is conflict and strife between people we can help put it out by not telling others about it.  A tale bearer is one who repeats what happens to another.  By not talking about the conflict we can help diminish the strife and put it out.  We might be tempted to tell someone and pull them into our world but we are told here that this will only fuel the fire of strife and division.  The next time we want to tell someone the details of some conflict, maybe we should envision a wildfire and reject the temptation to speak.  

Knowing God - His Works Are Marvelous

Ps 105:5

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

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

Proverbs - Joking Can Injure

Proverbs 26:18-19

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Our culture enjoys teasing and joking.  Sometimes these can be very funny.  For example:

First Person:  Knock, knock

Second Person:  Who’s there?

First Person:  Control Freak.  Now you say “Control freak who?”

Jokes can really lighten things up and bring joy to our days, but teasing someone else has its inherent dangers.  We are told in this verse that saying something in jest is like a crazy person throwing hot coals, arrows and death.  When a crazy person throws something it could go anywhere.  It could hit something and it might not.  This is how it is with jesting and tricking another person.  It might wound them and it might not.  People come with a lot of baggage and previous wounds.  If our teasing hits them in a tender spot, they will be wounded.  Every time we joke around and then have to tell someone that we were kidding, we risk injuring someone.  Is it worth it?

Knowing God - He Has Plurality

Gen 3:22

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

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

Proverbs - Getting Involved in Conflict

Proverbs 26:17

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

We can find ourselves passing by a conversation and notice that there is some sort of misunderstanding or conflict.  Sometimes there is a temptation to get involved and put our two cents in.  The Lord is warning us that if we do this we might very well be bitten by it.  Strife that does not belong to us is not to be brought into our lives.  If we are an overseer and there is strife, it belongs to us and we must be peace keepers.  If we sense the Holy Spirit leading us to come and mediate, we must obey.  But if we just feel pulled into something because of a subject or relationship, we would be best to pull back and not take the dog by the ears.  It would be better to pray on our own that the Lord will intervene and avoid unnecessary dog bites.

Knowing God - He is a God of Boundaries

Ps 104:9

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

He Set Boundaries

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

Proverbs - Laziness Makes Us Unreasonable

Proverbs 26:16

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

When we are lazy we are unreasonable.  When we are lazy we are not thinking clearly and responsibly.   The flesh is in control.  When we work hard we tend to think more clearly and look at things in a more reasonable way.  We understand the responsibilities that others have because we are taking care of our own.  We avoid unnecessary arguments and verbal conflicts because we are busy with the task at hand.  When we work diligently we feel accomplished and aren’t depending on others to make us feel affirmed and worthy.  If you find yourself a bit unreasonable, check out your work ethic.  Sometimes this is linked to an unreasonable state of mind.

Knowing God - He Can Walk Contrary to Us

Lev 26:23-24

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

The Lord Could Walk Contrary to Us

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

Proverbs - Fixing Food is a Good Thing

Proverbs 26:15

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom;

 it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

Here, a slothful person is one who is even lazy to do that which involves feeding himself.  This could translate sometimes into the ‘fast food’ mom.  She sits around and thinks, “What am I in the mood for?” and then counts on a restaurant to purchase and prepare food for her and her family.  Sure there are times on the run or even for fun that we can enjoy eating out but a slothful woman is one who patterns her meal times away from her own labor and depends on others to do this task.  A godly woman prepares food for her household and gives them the sense that she loves them and nurtures them.  When we give food to our family we create a bond between us and them.  It demonstrates our love in putting our own effort and thought into it.  We can show we know what their favorites are and instead of having the food in paper or on a restaurant’s plate, we can serve it on plates that remind them of home.  Even Jesus prepared the fish for his disciples after he rose from the dead.  Ladies, don’t be slothful concerning food.  Your family will thank you for it.

Announcement

There will be a brief interruption in these posts as I won't have access to the internet for 7 days.  Feel free to look back over some in the past and revisit these truths.

Knowing God - He is the Best Story Writer

Heb 12:2

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

He is the Best Story Writer

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

Proverbs - Sleeping and Slothfulness

Proverbs 26:14

As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

Sleep is a blessing.  The Lord gives His beloved sleep.  We must be sensitive to when He is giving us sleep and when we might be loving it too much.  Sleeping in should be reserved for illness, times of refreshment from a long night and catching up from busy times.  The godly woman rises before the rest of her household so they feel taken care of and that she is setting the tone of the day.  It is not a godly woman’s pattern to sleep beyond the rest of her household.  She gets to bed at an appropriate time and starts her day preparing food for the family and seeking her God in the morning on their behalf.  She can greet her children and husband with joy and welcome them into the day that the Lord has made.  If we keep going back to sleep when we sense the Lord calling us to arise, we are being slothful.  Let us wake up and be the keepers of the home He has called us to be.

Knowing God - He Has Done Everything to Make Us Fruitful

Isa 5:4

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

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

Proverbs - Excuses, Excuses

Proverbs 26:13

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

Laziness tends to make excuses and place the blame on others.  Usually when we are trying to get out of some task we can predict the obstacles we will face and justify our procrastination.  Ladies, it is time we grow up in this.  Let us now speak all of the angles of the next task we are to do.  Let us approach work with a willing heart and willing hands.  Let us know that hard work is necessary to make a happy home.  It is good for our health.  It keeps our bodies active and our minds content.   Life is not about ease and entertainment.  The labor of a righteous woman is sweet.  The building the Lord wants us to do involves physical effort as well as spiritual pursuits.  Stop making excuses and walk in those works that the Lord has for you today.

Knowing God - The King Works Salvation

Ps 74:12

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

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

Proverbs - Self Confidence Creates Fools

Proverbs 26:12

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Self confidence is a highly esteemed attribute these days.  God wants us to be God-confident.  Self confidence causes us to be fools.  We will be blinded to possible mistakes and other options.  When we are humble in our estimation of our understanding we can be wiser and receive advice and direction that enables us to build our homes strong.  In the midst of conflict it is a wise woman who considers that her understanding may be misguided.  She is a woman who says to herself, “What if I am missing information?”  She is also one who wants to know the truth and not just give her take on matters.  She is seeking to love and find the answer that would most glorify the Lord.  She knows that she is one person and others have resources and perspectives she does not have.  Let us not be wise in our own conceit, becoming foolish women tearing down our homes with our own hands. 

Knowing God - He Returned in Power

Luke 4:14

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

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

Proverbs - Inner Changes

Proverbs 26:11

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

When we find ourselves acting foolishly we must not just cease from being foolish.  We must ask the Lord to give us a heart for wisdom.  Our inner man needs to change.  We must ask the Lord to help us incline towards wisdom so we don’t go back to the familiar folly we are used to acting out.   Attitudes, words and financial decisions can all be guided by foolish guidelines and we might just be a little too comfortable with them.  When we are a bit tired or lack a sober mindset, we might just go back to the way we used to handle things.  Lord, create in us a clean heart!  Lord, help us recognize our old man as dead and help us reckon ourselves alive unto You!  Protect us from returning to bad habits and let us be women who are walking according to the wisdom you so generously give.