Last night I sat with my husband and watched a movie. It was no ordinary movie, it was a documentary. While I did not agree with everything that was brought up in it, it did cause me to think and consider a lot of things. In the movie, the narrator has a problem and has no idea how to solve it. Instead of trying to do it himself, he searches for wisdom. He travels and asks men and women of different countries for answers to his problems. He listens to what they are saying and he takes away only that which he believes to be good and beneficial.
As I already said, I did not agree with everything, but at the end of the documentary, I was left with a desire to find out somethings myself. I wasn’t sure where to turn for my answer, so I did what I always do. I prayed. I gave my concerns over to the Lord and then I went to bed.
This morning, as I awoke, remembering all that I had seen yesterday and wanting to make a difference, I could think of nothing else, but to go to the word of God. I know that His word is always right and will always show me the way, so that is my safe place for answers. I know that I don’t have to measure whether it is good or not because it is the Lord’s message to me. He desires for me to live by it, so that’s what I choose to do. He wants the same for you too.
Today I am going to share the word of God with you. This is His wisdom, given to us. I want you to read it and think on what it says. Don’t just quickly read over it. Take your time and look at each individual verse, meditating on its message, as if your life and health depended upon the knowledge and wisdom that comes from it. Then as you go throughout your week, come back to this portion of Scripture and see how the word of God provides wisdom for you that is able to lead you and guide you on the right path.
Proverbs 16
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.
4 The Lord has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
9 A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
10 Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11 Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights in the bag are His work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14 As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives him on.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He purses his lips and brings about evil.
31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.
Now, that you’ve read it, I pray the you would ponder on it for the rest of the day. Think on the golden nuggets that God has provided in this 33 verse chapter of Proverbs. What stood out to you most? How can these words give you life, direction, answers, and guidance. That’s your job for the week. Seek to apply these words to your life and trust God in the process.
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