September 2024

The Credit Trap
September 24, 2024

 

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:17-19
  Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    It is easier than ever to get credit cards nowadays. Many credit card companies call, write, text, or in some way entice us, encouraging us to use their cards. Why are they so interested in us using these little pieces of plastic? It is because they know that the average person will run up more bills on these accounts than they can pay back in a month’s time. This is especially true during the holiday seasons. Then, when the accounts are not paid by month’s end, they get to charge you interest.

 

    Many people making payments to credit card companies are barely covering the interest monthly. Some are still paying off last year’s Christmas while charging ahead into this year’s holiday debt. Once someone is caught in this high-interest nightmare, it often seems impossible to get out. However, is that what they tell you in their promotions? Do they say, “Hello, we are offering you credit at an outrageous interest rate so you can buy whatever you want and pay us monthly for it until you die?” Well, of course, they do not say that. They tell you all about the benefits and the low interest for the first three months.

 

    Why do people often get themselves in this situation? Envy! Many times, it is because people see what the world has, and they want it, even if they do not need it. Our verses today refer to this very thing. “Let not thine heart envy sinners… For surely there is an end.” The Answer is in this verse as well. It says, “but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” To fear God is to honor and trust His ways. The rewards in life will be greater than anything purchased on credit can buy. That is when you will really discover your possibilitiese.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    I know some who say Christians should not be in debt at all. For many today, this seems impossible. Nevertheless, being a good steward of what God entrusts us with means, at the very least, keeping our debt to a minimum. Give people your time and love this coming Holiday Season. If that is not enough for someone, should you be buying them expensive gifts? Let’s not owe our life to the world. Why should we since we have given our life to God?

 

Has envy of others caused you to
overextend your life at times?

 

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: September 24, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Zechariah 1 – Zechariah 10
  Proverbs 23:17 – 19

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 3-4
  2 Co. 13

 

Say Something Nice For Once
September 23, 2024

 

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:14-16
 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    It seems that as parents and grandparents, we often hear more negative than positive things about our children and grandchildren. When they do or say something wrong, people are quick to point out their faults.

 

    Over the years, I have been accused of getting upset when I hear bad things about my children. In most cases, these people might not realize that I don’t get upset about hearing if my children or grandchildren have misbehaved; rather, I am tired of always hearing negative comments from them. Some individuals never seem to have a good word to say about you or your family, especially if you are part of the Pastor’s Family. People often take pleasure in pointing out all the negatives they can find. Do I defend my children to others more than I should? I don’t believe so. I love them, and I am going to be their greatest cheerleader. I have corrected them as necessary, even now, after they are grown and out of the house. However, I will stand up before the world to defend their honor.

 

    On the other hand, if you want to see an old man beam with joy, come and tell me about a positive thing my children or grandchildren have done. There’s nothing like hearing that they have done something good, which people have noticed.

 

    Solomon was conveying a similar message to his son. He said, my heart would rejoice if you do and say the right things in life. John also expressed this sentiment about his spiritual family in 3 John 3-4 when he said: “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Everyone loves to hear good things about their family. Everyone!.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Would you like to make your pastor happy this week? Find one thing about his family that you can compliment them on and tell him. Would you like to make God, your heavenly Father, happy this week? Do the same thing when talking to others about His children, the church. He is listening, you know!.

 

What might you have to say about God’s Church 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: September 23, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Habakkuk 1 – Haggai 2
  Proverbs 23:14 – 16

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 1-2
  2 Co. 12

 

WEEKEND REVIEW
September 21 & 22, 2024

Proverbs 23:12

Apply thine heart
unto instruction,
and thine ears to
the words of knowledge.

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 37 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 22-23

WEEK 37 – 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:

September 21, 2024
Pro. 30-31
2 Co. 11
September 22, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

September 23, 2024
Habakkuk 1 – Haggai 2
Proverbs 23:14 – 16
September 24, 2024
Zechariah 1 – Zechariah 10
Proverbs 23:17 – 19
September 25, 2024
Zechariah 11 – Malachi 4
Proverbs 23:20 – 23
September 26, 2024
Matthew 1:1 – Matthew 5
Proverbs 23:24 – 28
September 27, 2024
Matthew 6 – Matthew 9
Proverbs 23:29 – 32
September 28, 2024
Proverbs 23 – 24
September 29, 2024
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

September 23, 2024
Ecc. 1-2
2 Co. 12
September 24, 2024
Ecc. 3-4
2 Co. 13
September 25, 2024
Ecc. 5-6
Gal. 1
September 26, 2024
Ecc. 7-8
Gal. 2
September 27, 2024
Ecc. 9-10
Gal. 3
September 28, 2024
Ecc. 11-12
Gal. 4
September 29, 2024
No Passages Assigned

Can You Really Have It All?
September 20, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:10-13
 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    In America, we are taught that if we work hard and long, we can have anything we desire. This is partially true, and partially a lie. If you work for several hours a day and are diligent in your endeavors, you can often advance within the company for which you work. The money earned from that position would allow you to buy many of the toys the world dangles in front of us. However, you cannot have everything.

    You can never get those hours back that you put in to earn that money. I live in West Michigan near the lake. I cannot tell you the number of people I have seen who have worked hard to buy a nice boat to take their families out on. Then it stays parked all summer long because they are too busy working to pay the slip rental and upkeep to be able to take their family anywhere.

    Our worldly wisdom tells us to “get all we can, can all we get, sit on the can, and poison the rest so no one else gets any.” However, God’s Word tells us to seek another wisdom, one that is higher than our own—God’s wisdom.

    I am not implying that a person should not work to support their family and life. The Bible is very clear that if a man does not work, he should not eat. In other words, everyone should pull his or her own weight to the best of their ability. However, what God is teaching us here is that our job should support our life and family, but it should not consume our life away from our family. We need to be there to both correct and cuddle with our children while we still can. “Apply thine heart unto instruction.”     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     As you prepare for today, ask yourself, “How is what I am doing today showing my family that I’m using good financial and time management skills with them in mind?” They need to feel financially stable, loved, and emotionally secure. Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own wisdom. Let Him direct your paths. Life is more enjoyable with God in control.

What does living life mean to 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: September 20, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Micah 5 – Nahum 3
  Proverbs 23:10 – 13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Pro. 28-29
  2 Co. 9-10

You’re In Control
September 19, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:7-9
 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Those of us who have had to diet to maintain our weight know all too well the temptations of food. Yet, our well-meaning friends, thinking somehow that they are doing us a favor by giving us permission to eat, say things such as, “Go ahead and eat it, you deserve it,” or “Let’s worry about our diet tomorrow; today we’ll just eat.” Sometimes we are strong enough in the moment to say, “No.” Yet, at other times, and probably way too often, we give in to our desires and eat whatever is put before us. Knowing all the while in the back of our minds how hard it will be to make up for what we have just eaten, we do it anyway.

    Why do we do that? We do it because it is our nature to want to live for today and seek self-gratification. It’s not that we cannot ever have those days; we can. However, they should be prepared for, planned, and then enjoyed with no remorse. It is those unexpected moments that hurt us the most.

    Have our good-hearted friends carefully thought of our total well-being when they say, “Go ahead?” Well, not really. We must remember that they are not intentionally trying to hurt us. The fact is it is easier for them to want to see us happy now than to consider what it will do to our health and self-esteem later. Many times, after the friends have all gone and we are left alone with our convicting thoughts and over-filled stomach, we are actually miserable. What it all boils down to is this: we are the only ones who can control our actions and ourselves.

    Life as a believer is often the same way. People in the world who do not know Christ as Saviour tell others, “Live for today; life is too short to be miserable.” However, living for today with no eternal plans will cause them to miss the greatest joy of all: eternal life with Christ. Jesus has a plan for today that you can enjoy now, and if you will trust in Him, an eternal future that is even better. Which plan of life sounds best to you? In the end, you must choose.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Life is too short not to enjoy it. However, living life without Christ is not true joy. In fact, He said, “I came that you might have life more abundantly.” Christ brings real life, genuine joy, and a meaningful plan for the future. Choose Christ.

Who do you allow to control your 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: September 19, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Jonah 1 – Micah 4
  Proverbs 23:7 – 9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Pro. 26-27
  2 Co. 8