Proverbs – Page 14 – Be Still…

Proverbs 3:1-8 – Trust in the Lord

When I think of Proverbs, I always think of Chapter 3, verses 5 and 6. I have clung to this truth many times in my life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Brilliant. It’s a verse I should plaster all over the house, including my morning affirmations. My other life verse, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is equally powerful to me.

Do you have your own favorite Bible passages that have given you support, hope, encouragement, solace over the years?

Proverbs 2:12-22 – Wisdom Will Save You

Read Proverbs 2:12-22

When we let wisdom lead the way, we are able to avoid many unhealthy choices in our lives. In today’s reading, we see two particular examples of this, evil people and the immoral woman. Being a woman myself, the example of staying away from the immoral woman doesn’t speak to me like it would a man.

Evil people, on the other hand, are everywhere, and this example does speak to me and should speak to you. Who came to mind when you read those words? Have you known someone who twists words and takes pleasure in doing wrong? I have a picture of someone for sure. Yes, I want to keep my distance.

Proverbs 2:1-11 – Benefits of Wisdom

Read Proverbs 2:1-11

If you are looking for an instruction manual for life, the book of Proverbs is full of those treasures. This chapter begins with some great, easy-to-follow guidelines. Listen to wisdom, concentrate on understanding, cry out for insight as needed. Through your search, you will gain knowledge of God.

Wisdom comes in two ways – as a gift from God and as a result of our earnest searching. “For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” I don’t know about you, but to me that is a huge blessing. We gain wisdom as we grow closer to God and spend time in his word.

Proverbs 1:20-33 – Time to Meet Wisdom

Read Proverbs 1:20-33

Wisdom has a bit of an attitude, don’t you think? And yet, she is wisdom. We shouldn’t question her or her motives. Was it helpful to see wisdom personified? I could almost hear wisdom saying, “I told you so.” Not that wisdom has that kind of a snarky tone to her message.

But wisdom does try to intervene and help us. There are all kinds of word pictures here to support that idea: wisdom shouts in the streets, in the public square, by the gate, etc. Wisdom even calls to us “so often” and reaches out. What happens? We ignore wisdom and try to do things our way.

Proverbs 1:8-19 – Listen to Your Parents

Read Proverbs 1:8-19

I was a rebellious youth who tried to appear “squeaky clean”. Looking back, I was really two different people. I guess that was my way of testing the waters. What path did I want to take? While I was a bit of a wild child doing things I shouldn’t, I was also a youth leader at church whom everyone thought was pretty special. There was conflict inside. Yet, I was pulling off the charade nicely, in both directions. Who was I really?

My parents were always looking out for my best interests. But I somehow felt “controlled,” so it was hard to want to obey. In fact, my mother warned me about a boy I liked. I should have listened. I married him and spent the next 15 years of my life in fear. As an abused woman, I watched my children suffer, and I pled to God over and over to be forgiven and free. If only I had listened to mom.