Hello Sweet friends,
Today’s Reading … Proverbs 16-24, 1 Kings 5-6 and 2 Chronicles 2-3
Does anyone else start craving fortune cookies as they are reading Proverbs? It feels like each verse could be typed up on one of those tiny pieces of paper that are tucked inside a fortune cookie and read after a yummy dinner of sesame chicken and rice! In my own life, I think that this is the book I am most often quoting with the premise of, “somewhere in the Bible it says…”
While the ease of memorizing a verse form Proverbs is great for hiding His Word in our hearts, I do think there is a risk here of not keeping Scripture in context. The warning light in my heart goes off when I start thinking, I want that!!
“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3
-I want my plans to be established!
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
-I want my children to go on the path I choose for them!
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4
-I want my house to be filled with precious and pleasant riches!
I also tend to think, How can I be like that?
“The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.” Proverbs 17:14
-I want to walk away from quarrels in my day before they break out!
“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.’ Proverbs 21:23
-I want to guard my soul from troubles!
When I just look at Proverbs, isolated from the rest of Scripture, I shift my focus from Him to me. These Holy Inspired words quickly become either a wish list or a to-do list on my heart. Instead of drawing me closer to God, my sinful and self-sufficient nature takes hold and, if I am not careful, my “I got this” attitude takes the reigns.
In contrast, when I read the Proverbs in light of the rest of Scripture my perspective changes entirely.
-If I commit my works to the Lord, it will be His plans that are succeeding. I am only a vessel.
-My child is actually His child and it is God’s path that I want for each of their lives.
-Only Christ can build a home, only the Holy Spirit can sustain it. I do not know what true riches are unless He reveals that to me.
-I do not have the strength to love well enough to walk away form a quarrel, only by the power of God can that happen.
-It is the Holy Spirit who guards my tongue as he dwells in my heart and mind.
The truth, I am totally dependent on God in every area of my life. Each Proverb reveals another way in which I need Him.
Lord, everyday, all day, please make us aware of our total dependence on you. Amen.
Love you all,
Kinsee
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
