Read Pr. 22:14
I read every time the Bible used the term the "strange woman" and I found out she was a harlot who seduced anyone she could to follow her and fall into her pit. She was eloquent of speech, beautiful to look on, ravishing, flattering, preyed on the innocent and cost them their soul. She was dressed as a serpent in the garden and has taken many forms since then. She is out to kill, steal, and destroy anyone God has created, saved or not. She hates the human race because they were created by God in his image. She has no friends and even her demons fear her. She has a deep pit that the totally unrighteous will fall in and she will be cast in in the end. The good news is that we have been given authority over her and her demons and we can walk upright without fear of falling into her pit. I read today in Pr. 15 that the way of the righteous is made plain. If we walk in God's ways then we don't have to fear the devil or any of his schemes. Our plans are the Lord's and he will lead us in the way everlasting.
Lord, thank you for your promises. You never leave us or forsake us and you have equiped us for every battle we will face.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tues.'s Devo -Fearless!
Read Pr. 22:13
This verse describes the germ phobia that permeates our generation. I was reading in Genesis today about when Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant prayed to God that the woman that was suppose to be Isaac's wife would not only give him a drink but also his camels. The thought I had when I read it was "that wouldn't go over to well in our generation". Just think...the servant and the camels were all going to drink from the same bucket. And the well....had it been tested for contamination? I know there are more germs in the world today because of factories, chemicals and exposure but where is common sense and faith? Today's verse is about the slothful man that wouldn't leave his house because he was afraid there would be a lion in the street and it might kill him. It sounds so silly but so do our fears. If we trust in God we should have no fear except of God. What can man do to us? Kill us? Then we get to go to heaven. Hurt us? God can heal us. Intimidate us? We have the very spirit of God in us. If God be for us WHO can be against us.
Lord, help us to rise up and be fearless in the face of the devil and humble in your face. We want to walk in the authority Jesus walked in with the keys to the kingdom that Jesus died to give us.
This verse describes the germ phobia that permeates our generation. I was reading in Genesis today about when Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant prayed to God that the woman that was suppose to be Isaac's wife would not only give him a drink but also his camels. The thought I had when I read it was "that wouldn't go over to well in our generation". Just think...the servant and the camels were all going to drink from the same bucket. And the well....had it been tested for contamination? I know there are more germs in the world today because of factories, chemicals and exposure but where is common sense and faith? Today's verse is about the slothful man that wouldn't leave his house because he was afraid there would be a lion in the street and it might kill him. It sounds so silly but so do our fears. If we trust in God we should have no fear except of God. What can man do to us? Kill us? Then we get to go to heaven. Hurt us? God can heal us. Intimidate us? We have the very spirit of God in us. If God be for us WHO can be against us.
Lord, help us to rise up and be fearless in the face of the devil and humble in your face. We want to walk in the authority Jesus walked in with the keys to the kingdom that Jesus died to give us.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Mon.'s Devo- God's Storehouse of Knowledge
Read Pr. 22:12
Every invention has come about because God has allowed that knowledge to be released from heaven. He guards his knowledge in the storehouses of heaven and gives it out when he sees it is time. Then he creates people with the mental capacity to carry the plan. Man has been on the earth 6,000 years and God just gave man the ability to make a computer and the means to own one personally. The internet has drawn us so much closer and allowed us so much more power. God is all-powerful and has many more inventions even better and more complex than the computer. The second part of the verse says that God overthrows the words of transgressors. Pro. 18:221 says that 'life and death are in the power of the tongue' but God can intervene and make the words of the unfaithful have no affect. That is comforting seeing we cannot always be everywhere trying to hear everything someone says about us. Our words spoken with God's leading is superior to someone in the world making a proclamation or speaking a curse.
Every invention has come about because God has allowed that knowledge to be released from heaven. He guards his knowledge in the storehouses of heaven and gives it out when he sees it is time. Then he creates people with the mental capacity to carry the plan. Man has been on the earth 6,000 years and God just gave man the ability to make a computer and the means to own one personally. The internet has drawn us so much closer and allowed us so much more power. God is all-powerful and has many more inventions even better and more complex than the computer. The second part of the verse says that God overthrows the words of transgressors. Pro. 18:221 says that 'life and death are in the power of the tongue' but God can intervene and make the words of the unfaithful have no affect. That is comforting seeing we cannot always be everywhere trying to hear everything someone says about us. Our words spoken with God's leading is superior to someone in the world making a proclamation or speaking a curse.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Fri.'s Devo - Cast Out the Scorner
Read Pr. 22:10, 11
We don't use the word "scorner" in our society so I looked it up in the dictionary. It meant someone who acts with contempt, so I looked up "contempt". I was happier with that definition. It meant "the feelings or actions of a person toward someone or something he considers low, worthless, or beneath notice; the punishable act of showing disrespect for the authority or dignity of a court." If we find ourselves feeling that way we are to cast out those thoughts and seek peace. It is so much easier to see the bad in things and how we could make it better than to see the good in things and ways we could encourage. I found myself talking to a man the other day that had something bad to say about everything. I found myself wanting to get away from him. Looking back over the situation I wonder if I do that sometimes. We tend to look for things to complain about when we aren't content with our own lives. Verse 11 gives us some insight in how to change that. It says that if we love to have a pure heart then our conversation will be gracious and give us favor with the leadership. Encouraging words are like soothing oil especially in the world we live in today where many are fearful and hopeless.
Lord, we cast out the scorner in our lives and we seek to have a pure heart and to speak words of faith and encouragment.
We don't use the word "scorner" in our society so I looked it up in the dictionary. It meant someone who acts with contempt, so I looked up "contempt". I was happier with that definition. It meant "the feelings or actions of a person toward someone or something he considers low, worthless, or beneath notice; the punishable act of showing disrespect for the authority or dignity of a court." If we find ourselves feeling that way we are to cast out those thoughts and seek peace. It is so much easier to see the bad in things and how we could make it better than to see the good in things and ways we could encourage. I found myself talking to a man the other day that had something bad to say about everything. I found myself wanting to get away from him. Looking back over the situation I wonder if I do that sometimes. We tend to look for things to complain about when we aren't content with our own lives. Verse 11 gives us some insight in how to change that. It says that if we love to have a pure heart then our conversation will be gracious and give us favor with the leadership. Encouraging words are like soothing oil especially in the world we live in today where many are fearful and hopeless.
Lord, we cast out the scorner in our lives and we seek to have a pure heart and to speak words of faith and encouragment.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thurs.'s Devo - Rich or Poor
Read Pr. 22:7-9
If we are in Christ then we are the rich and we rule the poor. In the blessings God gave the children of Israel in Duet. 28 God said that if we obey his Word then he will open his treasure for us and the work of our hands will be blessed. We will lend to many nations and not have to borrow. The Lord will make us the head, and not the tail; and we shall be above only, and shall not be beneath. If we don't live by the Word of God then the curses go on and on: you can read them in Duet. 28. Our blessings are for us, and for us to share. We are responsible with what we have been given. If we have the heart of God then we will want to share and give to the poor. The poor are the destitute and the weak. If they are poor in physical needs then we can help them get back on their feet so they can provide for themselves. If they are poor in spirit then we can teach them how to live in the kingdom of God and still live on this earth. God promises to supply all our needs according to his riches in heaven and that is more than enough.
Lord, thank you for your provision and your abundance that you pour out so lavishly on your children. May we have that same heart of kindness.
If we are in Christ then we are the rich and we rule the poor. In the blessings God gave the children of Israel in Duet. 28 God said that if we obey his Word then he will open his treasure for us and the work of our hands will be blessed. We will lend to many nations and not have to borrow. The Lord will make us the head, and not the tail; and we shall be above only, and shall not be beneath. If we don't live by the Word of God then the curses go on and on: you can read them in Duet. 28. Our blessings are for us, and for us to share. We are responsible with what we have been given. If we have the heart of God then we will want to share and give to the poor. The poor are the destitute and the weak. If they are poor in physical needs then we can help them get back on their feet so they can provide for themselves. If they are poor in spirit then we can teach them how to live in the kingdom of God and still live on this earth. God promises to supply all our needs according to his riches in heaven and that is more than enough.
Lord, thank you for your provision and your abundance that you pour out so lavishly on your children. May we have that same heart of kindness.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wed's Devo - Train Up a Child Pt. 2
Read Pr. 22:6
Another way of looking at this scripture is to train up each child in the way he is bent. Every child comes with different gifts and personalities. I had 3 sons the first one was a typical type A first born. He excelled in everything he did and did it better than anyone else because he was driven. His youth pastor asked the youth what they wanted most and when it came to him he said "to win" with total conviction and that pretty much summed him up. My second born was much more tenderhearted and not so driven. He was born with natural abilities but had no desire to do better. He was intuitive and much more laid back. The third son came wanting to please his brothers. He had natural strength and talents too but a drive to excel in them. He was more withdrawn and to himself. Our job as parents was to see the strengths and gifts that God had given our sons and point them in that direction. They all went to different colleges and majored in different majors because they were different. They are such a mix of Dave and I it has been fun to watch. So if we find our child's unique gift then we can steer them toward developing that gift so they can use it for the kingdom of God. That is our goal: to help our children find their place in the family of God. If might mean moving to Africa or living next door. Whatever it is it needs to be God's plan and not ours.
Lord, we dedicate our children to you and your plan. Help us to be a help and not a hindrance in what you want to do in the lives of our children.
Another way of looking at this scripture is to train up each child in the way he is bent. Every child comes with different gifts and personalities. I had 3 sons the first one was a typical type A first born. He excelled in everything he did and did it better than anyone else because he was driven. His youth pastor asked the youth what they wanted most and when it came to him he said "to win" with total conviction and that pretty much summed him up. My second born was much more tenderhearted and not so driven. He was born with natural abilities but had no desire to do better. He was intuitive and much more laid back. The third son came wanting to please his brothers. He had natural strength and talents too but a drive to excel in them. He was more withdrawn and to himself. Our job as parents was to see the strengths and gifts that God had given our sons and point them in that direction. They all went to different colleges and majored in different majors because they were different. They are such a mix of Dave and I it has been fun to watch. So if we find our child's unique gift then we can steer them toward developing that gift so they can use it for the kingdom of God. That is our goal: to help our children find their place in the family of God. If might mean moving to Africa or living next door. Whatever it is it needs to be God's plan and not ours.
Lord, we dedicate our children to you and your plan. Help us to be a help and not a hindrance in what you want to do in the lives of our children.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Tues.'s Devo - Training Up a Child
Tues.'s Devo - Training Up a Child Pt. 1
Read Pr. 22:6
Training up a child is more than taking him to Sunday School. The word "train" in the Hebrew means to "narrow; dedicate; discipline". The road to salvation is narrow and so it the way to discipline a child. I have heard this scripture quoted so many times and I wonder if we really understand what train up means. It doesn't mean that if we are Christians, our children will automatically be. Adam's second son, Cain was a murderer. I don't think we will meet Cain in heaven. It does mean that if we model a godly life and teach him the way of the Bible that he will not be able to escape the salvation God has for him. You can't make your children choose Jesus but you can sure push them away trying. The best way to assure the salvation of your child is to dedicate them to God then live it in front of them, training them in how to pray and trust in God. Then you have to give them room to realize it for themselves. Some children take a long time deciding that is what they want for themselves and sometimes they have to visit the pit first. As wise parents we need to give them the space to do that. If we don't they will rebel when they leave and we will not be there to help them. That is when we pray and believe this scripture and leave it to God to bring them back. He is faithful.
Lord, help us to train our children in the way they should go and trust you to bring them to your salvation.
Read Pr. 22:6
Training up a child is more than taking him to Sunday School. The word "train" in the Hebrew means to "narrow; dedicate; discipline". The road to salvation is narrow and so it the way to discipline a child. I have heard this scripture quoted so many times and I wonder if we really understand what train up means. It doesn't mean that if we are Christians, our children will automatically be. Adam's second son, Cain was a murderer. I don't think we will meet Cain in heaven. It does mean that if we model a godly life and teach him the way of the Bible that he will not be able to escape the salvation God has for him. You can't make your children choose Jesus but you can sure push them away trying. The best way to assure the salvation of your child is to dedicate them to God then live it in front of them, training them in how to pray and trust in God. Then you have to give them room to realize it for themselves. Some children take a long time deciding that is what they want for themselves and sometimes they have to visit the pit first. As wise parents we need to give them the space to do that. If we don't they will rebel when they leave and we will not be there to help them. That is when we pray and believe this scripture and leave it to God to bring them back. He is faithful.
Lord, help us to train our children in the way they should go and trust you to bring them to your salvation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)