Read Pro. 12:9
Proverbs is a Biblical guide about how to live your life. It seems to be written to everyone - Christian and non. This verse says that you are better off if you are hated and at least have a servant than if you are conceited and starving. I think this verse is speaking of humility. If you have a servant you at least know that you can't do it all yourself so your servant helps you. If you think too much of yourself and are trying to do life by yourself you are starving needlessly. The truth is that we are meant to be connected. We do need each other. We are a body with Christ as the head. We need both our arms and legs and all our other parts that are under our skin that noone sees. In fact, the parts that we don't see are the most vital. We can live without a finger, but we can't live without a heart. Sometimes we may feel despised by the world, or even our friends but we have a servant called the Holy Spirit who is our helper. We are never without his help or friendship. He is so much more than a friend. Remember the story of Jonathan and David? Jonathan loved David so much he gave him his undying loyalty. He even gave him his right to the throne. Jonathan is the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is here to help us get where we are destined by God to go.
Lord, help us to connect not only with your body but with your Holy Spirit. Thank you that we are not in this alone.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thurs.'s Devo - The Good and the Bad
Read Pro. 12:5-8
I've been a Christian since I was 6 so it is hard for me to remember what it was like not knowing God. The more I read the Bible I realize that God has always had a chosen race and then there are the wicked. The wicked are made for destruction. Their goal is deceit, murder, and perversion. They will never know God and were not made to. This is hard for us to understand if we believe that God is a good god which he is, but we have to read the whole scripture to understand God's ways. In Ps. 11:5 it says that God hates the soul of the wicked. Ex. 23:7 says that God will not justify the wicked. Hell is reserved for them. They have no inheritance in God so they have no future. On the other hand, God desires that all be saved and brought to the knowledge of him, he just knows who they are. We live in time but God does not and he sees the end from the beginning. He knows who are his and who are not. For those that he has chosen, he has given them his thoughts. Our house will stand and our inheritance will live eternally. By the word of our mouth, we will be delivered from the evil intents of the wicked.
Lord, help us to walk as your chosen people, called out of this world to do your works for your glory.
I've been a Christian since I was 6 so it is hard for me to remember what it was like not knowing God. The more I read the Bible I realize that God has always had a chosen race and then there are the wicked. The wicked are made for destruction. Their goal is deceit, murder, and perversion. They will never know God and were not made to. This is hard for us to understand if we believe that God is a good god which he is, but we have to read the whole scripture to understand God's ways. In Ps. 11:5 it says that God hates the soul of the wicked. Ex. 23:7 says that God will not justify the wicked. Hell is reserved for them. They have no inheritance in God so they have no future. On the other hand, God desires that all be saved and brought to the knowledge of him, he just knows who they are. We live in time but God does not and he sees the end from the beginning. He knows who are his and who are not. For those that he has chosen, he has given them his thoughts. Our house will stand and our inheritance will live eternally. By the word of our mouth, we will be delivered from the evil intents of the wicked.
Lord, help us to walk as your chosen people, called out of this world to do your works for your glory.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wed.'s Devo - The Virtuous Woman
Read Pro. 12:4
What is a virtuous woman? Proverbs 31 will give you a whole list but the meaning of virtuous is "a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, valor, strength. God told the kings of the Old Testament to not marry foreign wives because they would turn their hearts away from Him. As women, we have a dynamic power that can be wielded for good or for bad. If we use our power to worship God and follow his commands then we will love our families and be a positive power. Our husband will receive the necessary strength from us that he needs to complete his destiny and we will be blessed in ours. We will be a crown to him; the symbol of his authority. If we use our power to manipulate and get what we want when we want it we will be as decay to his bones. We will cause him to lose his strength and he will not be able to stand strong for his family. When we support our husbands and give them the authority they are meant to have in the family everyone prospers. There is nothing passive in the definition of virtuous so we are strongest when we obey and submit. That is not a very popular statement in this day we are living but the kingdom we are to live in is right side up; this world is upside down.
Lord, help us to see that taking the low road of humility is always the road to promotion.
What is a virtuous woman? Proverbs 31 will give you a whole list but the meaning of virtuous is "a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, valor, strength. God told the kings of the Old Testament to not marry foreign wives because they would turn their hearts away from Him. As women, we have a dynamic power that can be wielded for good or for bad. If we use our power to worship God and follow his commands then we will love our families and be a positive power. Our husband will receive the necessary strength from us that he needs to complete his destiny and we will be blessed in ours. We will be a crown to him; the symbol of his authority. If we use our power to manipulate and get what we want when we want it we will be as decay to his bones. We will cause him to lose his strength and he will not be able to stand strong for his family. When we support our husbands and give them the authority they are meant to have in the family everyone prospers. There is nothing passive in the definition of virtuous so we are strongest when we obey and submit. That is not a very popular statement in this day we are living but the kingdom we are to live in is right side up; this world is upside down.
Lord, help us to see that taking the low road of humility is always the road to promotion.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tues.'s Devo - Dig Deep
Read Pro. 12:3
Ps. 1 gives us a description of the blessed man who walks with God. In verse 3 it says that we are to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth fruit in our season; our leaves will not wither and whatsoever we do shall prosper. We are to have roots that are not moved. That means that when the storms of life hit us we won't be swayed and moved by them. Our roots get their strength and nourishment from the water which is the Word of God. This gives us the confidence to stand on God's promises until we see them manifest. That means that we don't give up or give in to what the devil has planned for us. If God has planned to prosper us and give us a hope then you can imagine what the devil has planned for us. Today's verse says that a man shall not be established by wickedness. Wickedness has no stability or hope. It is deceptive and will not hold us up under pressure. The devil will set you up for failure, but God's path is the road to success and a future. He loves us so much that he wrote eternity on our hearts so that we will always have hope.
Lord, may our roots go deep into the soil of your Word.
Ps. 1 gives us a description of the blessed man who walks with God. In verse 3 it says that we are to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth fruit in our season; our leaves will not wither and whatsoever we do shall prosper. We are to have roots that are not moved. That means that when the storms of life hit us we won't be swayed and moved by them. Our roots get their strength and nourishment from the water which is the Word of God. This gives us the confidence to stand on God's promises until we see them manifest. That means that we don't give up or give in to what the devil has planned for us. If God has planned to prosper us and give us a hope then you can imagine what the devil has planned for us. Today's verse says that a man shall not be established by wickedness. Wickedness has no stability or hope. It is deceptive and will not hold us up under pressure. The devil will set you up for failure, but God's path is the road to success and a future. He loves us so much that he wrote eternity on our hearts so that we will always have hope.
Lord, may our roots go deep into the soil of your Word.
Tues.'s Devo - Dig Deep 7-27-10
Read Pro. 12:3
Ps. 1 gives us a description of the blessed man who walks with God. In verse 3 it says that we are to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth fruit in our season; our leaves will not wither and whatsoever we do shall prosper. We are to have roots that are not moved. That means that when the storms of life hit us we won't be swayed and moved by them. Our roots get their strength and nourishment from the water which is the Word of God. This gives us the confidence to stand on God's promises until we see them manifest. That means that we don't give up or give in to what the devil has planned for us. If God has planned to prosper us and give us a hope then you can imagine what the devil has planned for us. Today's verse says that a man shall not be established by wickedness. Wickedness has no stability or hope. It is deceptive and will not hold us up under pressure. The devil will set you up for failure, but God's path is the road to success and a future. He loves us so much that he wrote eternity on our hearts so that we will always have hope.
Lord, may our roots go deep into the soil of your Word.
Ps. 1 gives us a description of the blessed man who walks with God. In verse 3 it says that we are to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth fruit in our season; our leaves will not wither and whatsoever we do shall prosper. We are to have roots that are not moved. That means that when the storms of life hit us we won't be swayed and moved by them. Our roots get their strength and nourishment from the water which is the Word of God. This gives us the confidence to stand on God's promises until we see them manifest. That means that we don't give up or give in to what the devil has planned for us. If God has planned to prosper us and give us a hope then you can imagine what the devil has planned for us. Today's verse says that a man shall not be established by wickedness. Wickedness has no stability or hope. It is deceptive and will not hold us up under pressure. The devil will set you up for failure, but God's path is the road to success and a future. He loves us so much that he wrote eternity on our hearts so that we will always have hope.
Lord, may our roots go deep into the soil of your Word.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Mon.'s Devo - The favor of the Lord
Read Pro. 12:2
We can walk or run in the favor of the Lord. We should live in the favor of God. When I went to pay the balance of the house I got at the Sheriff's sale I was to bring a certified check for the remaining 90% of the sale. I had my check and brought it the morning of the hearing. When I went to pay it they informed me that I was over $400 under the right amount. The lawyer was there and said I would have to forgo the sale since the hearing was in 10 minutes and the judge wouldn't wait. I told her I would be back and ran out the door to the bank down the street. I told the bank my plight and they had to rewrite the check and wait for approval. It was now 10 minutes past the time for the hearing to start. I took off my shoes and ran 3 blocks back to the court house, up the escalator and to the desk where I had to pay. That took an extra 7 minutes because they were in no hurry. I then ran back down stairs and into the room where the hearing was. I flew into the room and it was still in process. The lawyer turned around and I told her I had paid it. I was right in time. In fact the next house was mine. That was the favor of God. I told the devil he was not getting my house while I was standing impatiently at the bank. I didn't know how it was going to happen but I just knew God would work it out and he did. I realized after it was all over that I did bring the right amount....they just upped the price without telling me. The end of the verse says that God will condemn the devises of the enemy.
We can walk or run in the favor of the Lord. We should live in the favor of God. When I went to pay the balance of the house I got at the Sheriff's sale I was to bring a certified check for the remaining 90% of the sale. I had my check and brought it the morning of the hearing. When I went to pay it they informed me that I was over $400 under the right amount. The lawyer was there and said I would have to forgo the sale since the hearing was in 10 minutes and the judge wouldn't wait. I told her I would be back and ran out the door to the bank down the street. I told the bank my plight and they had to rewrite the check and wait for approval. It was now 10 minutes past the time for the hearing to start. I took off my shoes and ran 3 blocks back to the court house, up the escalator and to the desk where I had to pay. That took an extra 7 minutes because they were in no hurry. I then ran back down stairs and into the room where the hearing was. I flew into the room and it was still in process. The lawyer turned around and I told her I had paid it. I was right in time. In fact the next house was mine. That was the favor of God. I told the devil he was not getting my house while I was standing impatiently at the bank. I didn't know how it was going to happen but I just knew God would work it out and he did. I realized after it was all over that I did bring the right amount....they just upped the price without telling me. The end of the verse says that God will condemn the devises of the enemy.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Fri.'s Devo - The Learning Curve
Read Pro. 12:1
Are we teachable? I once heard that a good definition of meekness is being teachable. I love teaching and I love to be taught but I am not so fond of reproof. This verse says that if we love instruction then we love knowledge and if we hate reproof then we are stupid. That would make me stupidly loving knowledge - not a good mix. Being taught and being reproved both require us to be humbled. God promises to lift up the humble and not forget their cry for help. Jesus said that whoever humbled themselves as a little child would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. We will never be at the place where we know everything so we will always need teachers and we will never be perfect so we will always need rebukes. If we could just realize that knowledge and rebuke save us from many troubles. Heeding our teachers and receiving their rebukes make us wise and better people. Even Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered. So why should we think we would not have to do that too.
Lord, make us teachable and quick to repent. Forgive us of our pride and help us to walk in humility.
Are we teachable? I once heard that a good definition of meekness is being teachable. I love teaching and I love to be taught but I am not so fond of reproof. This verse says that if we love instruction then we love knowledge and if we hate reproof then we are stupid. That would make me stupidly loving knowledge - not a good mix. Being taught and being reproved both require us to be humbled. God promises to lift up the humble and not forget their cry for help. Jesus said that whoever humbled themselves as a little child would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. We will never be at the place where we know everything so we will always need teachers and we will never be perfect so we will always need rebukes. If we could just realize that knowledge and rebuke save us from many troubles. Heeding our teachers and receiving their rebukes make us wise and better people. Even Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered. So why should we think we would not have to do that too.
Lord, make us teachable and quick to repent. Forgive us of our pride and help us to walk in humility.
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