In Proverbs 8, God calls us to listen to Godly wisdom and make right choices rather than ones that would lead us astray. As we have been reading through Proverbs each day, I pray you are understanding more and more how to make right choices. There are several verses that have caught my attention as I’ve read each chapter. I know these verses are show me how I can gain understanding to make right choices. I have included them for you below:
Proverbs 1: 8 – 9 (HCSB) Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck.
Proverbs 2: 1, 5-6 (HCSB) My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, then you will understand the ‘fear of the Lord’ and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:1 – 2 (HCSB) My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days, a full like, and well-being.
Proverbs 4:4 (HCSB) “your heart must hole on to my words. Keep my commands and life.”
Proverbs 5: 21 (HCSB) For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes, and He considers all his paths.
Proverbs 6: 20 – 21 (HCSB) My son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching. Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck.
Proverbs 7:1 (HCSB) My son, obey my words. and treasure my commands.
You can definitely see a pattern developing in the verses above right? I think the theme is basically: Store up (learn, memorize, etc) God’s word and remember to put it into practice.
One example of using Godly wisdom I’d like to share is from my own life. After a small group Bible study one night, a couple and I were talking about the possibility of me developing a website for her business. We setup a meeting for the upcoming Sunday during our second service at church to talk about what she wanted on the website. It was a great start. Once the discussion was over and meeting was set, we all went our separate ways to prepare for Sunday’s meeting.
It was on the drive home that this incredible uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach came over me. Have you ever had that happen to you? That “gut” feeling when you know something is not right? I couldn’t get the conversation with the couple off my mind. I began to pray about the nights events and as I prayed the story of Jesus at the temple throwing out those who were buying and selling things for profit came to mind immediately followed by the scripture “My house will be called a house of prayer.” (Matthew 11:17)
I knew right then and there what I had to do. I resolved to call the couple the next morning and change the meeting to a different location. I felt much better once I did. It was by reading the Bible and hiding God’s word in my heart that I was able to think about the story of Jesus at the temple in Matthew 11.
Wisdom speaks, it’s up to us to listen and act on what we hear.
Verse 1 – Question: Did I receive or accept God’s word or did I allow my circumstances to push His words to the side and go my own way? In 2017 I can honestly say that there were times when I didn’t even stop to consider what God’s word had to say. In 2018, my goal is to be intentional about digging into the word of God and hiding what it says in my heart. I need to receive or accept what God says P-E-R-I-O-D. When I accept the truth and not try to strong-arm my own agenda so I can have my way, I gain understanding and knowledge and the Lord WILL GIVE ME wisdom. Furthermore, as I store or hide His word in my heart about even the littlest of things, He will also store up success (v. 7) for me and will be my shield as I walk along the path He has for me.
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