February 2024

Come On, Just A Few More Steps
February 6, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 3:21-23
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        When we are toddlers, our mothers or fathers hold our hands and assist us in taking our first steps. Their strong and loving arms support each of our early strides. However, shortly after we could stand on our own, our parents began encouraging us to walk independently.

     Have you ever observed a scene where one parent holds a baby, while the other stands in front with their arms outstretched toward the child and says, “Come on, you can do it, come on,” encouraging the toddler to let go and take their first steps? What is the baby doing while walking toward the parent? Are they watching their feet? No. Do they look around at the sights along the way during this exciting journey? No. Do we see them stop to pick up things along the way? Once again, the answer is no. The baby is intensely focused, with their eyes fixed on the outstretched hands that are sure to catch them. They trust that they will reach their destination if they keep moving toward the loving voice and the safety of their parents’ grasp. If they look away, they often stumble. Nevertheless, someone helps them back up and sends them on their way again toward their destination. When they finally arrive, they are greeted with cheers, hugs, and love.

     God has set us free to walk through this world. We are certain to stumble if we take our eyes off God. Nevertheless, He is always there to lift us up once more. Our ultimate destination is the loving embrace of Jesus, as He welcomes home God’s children.    

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     As you read your Bible, listen closely, and you can almost hear Jesus saying, “Come on, you can do it, come on, just a few more steps.” We must never lose sight of the love and safety that lie ahead. How can we reach our destination safely? Listen to His instructions given in His Word. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look to Him, trust Him, and head toward those nail-scarred, loving hands.

 

Are we focused on the eternal goal
God has set before us?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: FEBRUARY 6, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Exodus 34 – Exodus 36
   Proverbs 3:21 – 23

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Exodus 27-28
   Matthew 23:23-39

 

Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding
February 5, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 3:16-20
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        If Solomon has been trying to teach us anything in the Book of Proverbs, it’s the importance of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. The Lord Himself employed wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in His creation of the world. God’s careful design of the waters and land, with precisely measured proportions, demonstrates how God, with His infinite wisdom, fully comprehended what He was creating for all time. Had we had larger oceans and less land on this planet, it would result in a more humid, rainy, and damp environment all the time. Conversely, more land and less water could lead to increased droughts. We have just the right balance to sustain ecological cycles. Without water, we would all perish, as we need it for our survival. Considering the projected population growth over the next 100 years, how much water will we require then? The answer: Just as much as we have now. The Lord had all these aspects meticulously planned before creating it.

     Without water, God could have never restarted the Earth’s population with Noah and his family. Without water, God could have never displayed a rainbow in the sky as a reminder to us and Himself that a global flood will never happen again.

     God placed each star in its place, and the planets in their orbits, and have been maintaining their balance throughout all these years. Isn’t it astonishing that none of the planets has ever broken out of orbit and departed? They likely won’t. Do you know why? God placed them there with a purpose. God is now, always has been, and forever will be in complete control.    

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   If God used wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to design, create, and control all that we cherish today, shouldn’t we also seek His wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to guide our lives? How wonderful it is that the God who fashioned the universe also created you and me and shares His wisdom, understanding, and knowledge with us through His Word.

What part of Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding
will you take with you today?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: FEBRUARY 5, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Exodus 30 – Exodus 33
   Proverbs 3:16 – 20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Exodus 25-26
   Matthew 23:1-22

 

WEEKEND REVIEW
February 3 & 4, 2024

Proverbs 3:5-8

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths.

Work Week Devotions
Through The Book Of Proverbs

     What a joy it has been to be with you this past week. I pray these WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS have been a blessing to you as well. To receive them daily in your e-mail box go to LIHWMinistries Sign-Up Page – Living In His Word Ministries and sign up. Each day these devotions will be delivered directly in your e-mail box.

      As previously mentioned, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we will only be publishing Devotional Thoughts Monday – Friday.

     On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying this week, and if we will be going into the following chapter the next week, we encourage you to read that chapter as well.       

There are never Devotions on Sunday.

As we Journey through Proverbs, if you have any questions
Please send them to LIHWDEV@LIHWMinistries.org

Also, you would be huge help and blessing if you 
might write a review on these devotions on
Review Work Week Devotions (amazon.com)
or 
Review Work Week Devotions Journal (amazon.com)

WEEK 4 – Day 6:

On Saturday, we suggest you re-read the Proverb we have written from this past week and the week to come.

Proverbs 2-3

WEEK 4 – Day 7:

Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastor’s heart. Whatever Scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT TODAY AND TOMORROW

February 3,  
Exodus 23-24
Matthew 22

February 4,  
No Passages Assigned 

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

February 5,
Exodus 30 – Exodus 33
Proverbs 3:16 – 20
February 6,
Exodus 34 – Exodus 36
Proverbs 3:21 – 23
February 7,
Exodus 37 – Exodus 40
Proverbs 3:24 – 26
February 8,
Leviticus 1 – Leviticus 5
Proverbs 3:27 – 29
February 9,
Leviticus 6 – Leviticus 8
Proverbs 3:30 – 32
February 10,
Proverbs 3 – 4
February 11,
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

February 5
Exodus 25-26
Matthew 23:1-22
February 6
Exodus 27-28
Matthew 23:23-39
February 7
Exodus 29-30
Matthew 24:1-26
February 8
Exodus 31-33
Matthew 24:27-51
February 9
Exodus 34-35
Matthew 25:1-30
February 10
Exodus 36-38
Matthew 25:31-46
February 11
No Passages Assigned

Can You Play A Harp?
February 2, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 3:12-15
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        I didn’t particularly enjoy my time in school. SURPRISED? Probably not. In fact, at some point, most children share a similar dislike for school. Many children see the purpose of school as simply a way to interact with others and earn passing grades to move on, at least until they enter the working world or go to college. It’s then that they come to realize that knowledge is a valuable key that can unlock numerous opportunities. In the workplace, they might observe individuals who have never worked in manufacturing telling them what to do. Why? Because these individuals are perceived to possess wisdom due to their knowledge.

     However, wisdom doesn’t stem from knowledge alone. While knowledge is essential, it must be complemented by the ability to apply it effectively. Imagine if I were to place you in front of a harp and declare, “This is how you must earn a living.” (For those of you who are harp players, picture it as a different profession like welding.) You might find yourself thinking, “I’m going to starve to death.” Why? Because even though you may have the physical capability to operate the instrument, you lack the knowledge of how to play it. Even if you possess knowledge about the string arrangement and the notes they produce, you still lack the practical wisdom required to apply that knowledge and play the harp proficiently. Merely knowing it’s a harp and understanding how the strings function doesn’t automatically grant you the wisdom needed to play this instrument. However, you can learn to play it! Through dedicated study, practice, and diligence, you can acquire the skills to play the harp. You might not become a concert harpist, but you could potentially make a living from it.

     That is what our passage is emphasizing today. Things are just things without both wisdom and knowledge combined. Life itself is meaningless if you have no knowledge of the Creator of life and the wisdom to apply His truths to your life.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     The old saying, “Money does not buy happiness,” holds true. Money or material possessions will never bring lasting joy into your life. Only God, the Creator of life, can provide genuine meaning and lasting, authentic happiness. Get to know Him and learn to savor life as He imparts His knowledge and wisdom into your life.

 

Can life be lived, really lived if there is no joy?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: FEBRUARY 2, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Exodus 27 – Exodus 29
    Proverbs 3:12-15

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Exodus 20-22
   Matthew 21:23-46

The Fruit Of Love
February 1, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 3:9-11
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Today, many people profess their love for Jesus, but their commitment falters when discussions turn to the money they’ve been blessed with by God. However, in the Old Testament, the Israelites who sought to honor God above all exhibited their faith and trust by offering Him their firstfruits. What did this entail? It didn’t mean that they went into the field, gathered ten baskets of fruit, and gave God just one basket or a mere tithe of the yield. Their faith in God ran deeper than that. What it signified was that they ventured out and, from the initial harvest, they dedicated all or the majority of their produce to God, believing that He would replenish their crops throughout the year. They gave God the very best. Could a famine have struck their land? Certainly. Nevertheless, they entrusted their firstfruits to God.

      I know, I know, some of you are saying, “Preacher, we live in the day of grace; we’re not under the law.” You are absolutely right. So, if people who hadn’t seen the Messiah, nor experienced the salvation He brought on Calvary’s Hill, placed their trust in His coming and offered Him their best, how is it that we, who have encountered the life-changing power of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, would want to give Him anything less?

     What did God promise in return for their faith in Him? He pledged to provide for all their needs and ensure they have enough. Some individuals might interpret this as a “get rich quick” verse, but God never said He would make you rich. He did say, “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” In other words, if you put your trust in God first, He will take care of your needs. If not, you may receive only what you sow, or even less.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     You’ll never outgive God. If you don’t believe me, try it. When you give with a heart filled with love for God, you will never be lacking in the love that God graciously bestows in return. It’s the fruit of love.

What are you sowing that God may harvest for you?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: FEBRUARY 1, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Exodus 23 – Exodus 26
    Proverbs 3:9-11

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Exodus 17-19
   Matthew 21:1-22