July 2024

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A Story Is Told
July 25, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 18:5-8
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Some people are skilled storytellers. They can enthrall you with tales of adventure or mystery, making you feel as if you are right there, living in the story. I enjoy listening to a talented storyteller weave their narrative. When a story is told masterfully, it can be as enjoyable as reading an excellent book or watching a suspenseful movie.

    Now, let’s imagine for a moment that the storyteller suddenly incorporates your name and life into the tale. They make it evident to everyone around that they are speaking about you. However, they twist the truth, and several of the details are outright lies. The narrative is thrilling, but it is far from the truth. This story being told portrays you as some heartless and terrible person.

    You stand up and exclaim, “Hey, that’s not true!” only to be told to sit down and be quiet. Others who are listening shout, “You’re ruining the story.” The person narrating the fabricated tale becomes emboldened by the crowd and starts distorting the facts even further, knowing that no one will pay attention to you and the truth. To the storyteller, the truth seems irrelevant at this point. What matters is that people are listening, and the story is captivating.

    This next statement may not surprise you, but liars have a propensity for lying. They relish spinning their tales of deception. The more people listen, the more outlandish their stories become. However, at some point, as they involve more lives in their web of deceit, people begin to realize that this person is a liar. Over time, fewer and fewer individuals will lend an ear to them. Even when they speak the truth, they are now suspected of fabricating stories. Their desire for attention at any cost has brought them shame and embarrassment. “A fool’s mouth is his destruction.”     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     You may not always be able to avoid encountering liars in life. However, you can choose to live in a way that renders their outlandish tales unbelievable. A strong and virtuous testimony will consistently outshine the falsehoods told by liars. Live your life for Christ, and trust Him to address the actions of liars.

How might you shine for Jesus 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: July 25, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 14 – Isaiah 19
  Proverbs 18:5 – 8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 21-25
  Acts 21:18-40

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

Who’s The Director?
July 24, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 18:1-4
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Many new books have been published over the years, attempting to guide people on a journey of self-discovery. “Self-esteem” has become a buzzword, and the underlying idea is that if you don’t feel good about yourself, it’s challenging to thrive in life.

    The unfortunate reality is that when most individuals reach the end of their quest for self-discovery, they often find themselves disappointed. An honest self-examination often reveals that, despite some unique talents and varying lifestyles, we are all fundamentally the same. Aside from material differences, we’re neither better nor worse than others navigating this vast world we call Earth.

    The pursuit of self-discovery is often driven by self-pride. Imagine spending a lifetime searching, only to realize that we are all inherently flawed creatures in search of truth. Real truth leads us to God. God’s Word tells us that people often don’t truly seek the truth; they prefer to embrace falsehoods. People desire to believe that somehow, they are superior or different from the rest of the world. Yet, the real path to understanding our value in life begins with inviting God into our lives. When we make God the director of our lives, He reveals our true purpose and potential. Isn’t that what we truly desire—not just to understand who we are, but to discover what we can become?

    It’s been said, “Life is a stage, and we are all actors upon it.” The question then becomes: Who is directing the ongoing drama of your life?

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Giving our heart to the Lord is a one-time decision. You only need to accept Christ as your Savior once to attain eternal security in that salvation. However, surrendering our life to God can be a daily challenge. Let’s humbly submit our hearts to the Lord today and say, “I am here today to serve You, Lord. Mold me into what You need me to be. Take the reins of my life today. Amen.”

Have you surrendered to God’s will for your life 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: July 24, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 10 – Isaiah 13
  Proverbs 18:1 – 4

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 17-20
  Acts 21:1-17

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

Listening To The Right Things
July 23, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:26-28
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    God allowed me the privilege of being the Pastor of a man named Bob, who has now gone home to be with the Lord. Bob had many wise sayings and jokes he loved to share with just about anyone who would listen. One of his sayings was, “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.” I know that is not a Bob original, but I’ll always remember him whenever I hear it.

    The Bible supports what Bob said too. It says that someone who is a good listener and does not feel the need to talk all the time is believed to be wise. It goes on to say that even a fool can be thought of as wise if they don’t say anything to prove otherwise. I have also heard it said that God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we ought to listen twice as much as we talk.

    Have you ever noticed that most intelligent people seem to be excellent listeners? Have you ever considered why that might be? It very well could be that the reason they are so wise in the first place is that they have listened and learned so much from so many. Being wise, though, is more than just listening. It’s also choosing who and what you listen to as well.

    In the world today, there is a flood of information out there. However, not all of it is beneficial information, as some of it will lead you astray from the will of God. Therefore, it is not only wise to listen but also to select the right people to be around, so you know you are hearing the right things. One thing is for sure, we need to learn to tune out the world a bit more and tune into God’s Word more often. It contains the wisdom for all the ages.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Finding a quiet time and place where you can be alone with God each day is truly rewarding. If you don’t already have such a routine, I’d encourage you to prioritize it in the days ahead. Set aside a dedicated time and place to be alone with God, where you can read your Bible, pray, and listen for God’s still small voice. You can trust that in your quiet place, you’ll be tuned in to the right things.

Are you careful about who and what you listen to?

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: July 23, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 5 – Isaiah 9
  Proverbs 17:26 – 28

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 13-16
  Acts 20

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

I Have Real HOPE
July 22, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:23-25
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Occasionally, you will hear people say things like, “I hope that comes true,” or “Hope for the best!” What they really mean by that is that they desire the best outcome, or they are wishing that it would come true. There is no assurance and no guarantee tied to their hope; it is wishful thinking at best.

    Our verse today says, “the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.” What it’s saying is that they run back and forth on this earth, trying one theory after another in an attempt to find some satisfaction. However, what they are seeking can only be found in an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.

    When the Bible speaks about hope, it is not referring to that kind of dreamy, wishful hope. Biblical hope is a sure thing. When you place something in a hope chest, you know the item is there. Your hope is for the day to come. That thing placed in the hope chest is sure, but what lies ahead in life and how you might use that item is still a mystery. So it is in our salvation. When I placed my faith in Christ, in doing so, I placed my life in His. At that very moment, my salvation became a sure thing. I no longer wonder if I will get to heaven when I die; I know that it is sure. My hope for eternity is no longer a wishful dream but a confidence in Christ and His Word. Jesus fulfilled any dreamy desires of eternal life, and all wishful hope is gone. Jesus became my answer to hope, and therefore He is my hope.

    Do I know what heaven will be like? Well, not completely. What’s ahead is still a mystery. However, my vision in life has changed. I now have a single focus: to know and grow closer to God. Life is much easier with only one thing to do.     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Edward Mote, a cabinetmaker who later became a preacher, one morning in 1834, on his walk to work, wrote a song that explains it quite well. It says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name…” All I can say to that is, AMEN.

What hope do you have in life?

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: July 22, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 1 – Isaiah 4
  Proverbs 17:23 – 25

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 9-12
  Acts 19:21-41

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

WEEKEND REVIEW
July 20 & 21, 2024

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good
like a medicine:
but
a broken spirit drieth
the bones.

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 28 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 17-18

WEEK 28 – 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:

July 20, 2024
Job 5-8 Acts 19:1-20

July 21, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

July 22, 2024
Isaiah 1 – Isaiah 4
Proverbs 17:23 – 25

July 23, 2024
Isaiah 5 – Isaiah 9
Proverbs 17:26 – 28

July 24, 2024
Isaiah 10 – Isaiah 13
Proverbs 18:1 – 4

July 25, 2024
Isaiah 14 – Isaiah 19
Proverbs 18:5 – 8

July 26, 2024
Isaiah 20 – Isaiah 26
Proverbs 18:9 – 12

July 27, 2024
Proverbs 17 – 18

July 28, 2024
No Passages Assigned

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

July 22, 2024
Job 9-12
Acts 19:21-41

July 23, 2024
Job 13-16
Acts 20

July 24, 2024
Job 17-20
Acts 21:1-17

July 25, 2024
Job 21-25
Acts 21:18-40

July 26, 2024
Job 26-29
Acts 22

July 27, 2024
Job 30-31
Acts 23

July 28, 2024
No Passages Assigned