Daily Devotions in Proverbs

One Lie Feeds Another
June 20, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 15:13-16
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    When I was a little boy, my mother would often tell me, “Do not tell lies, because you will have to tell another lie to cover the first one, and then yet another to cover that one. You will end up telling so many lies that you will not remember the original lie you told. Then, when you get caught in your lies, no one will believe you or like you.”

    Those might not have been her exact words, but they are close enough. She could have just as easily quoted the commandments written in Exodus twenty, which say we are not supposed to lie. However, my mom knew there was more than just one reason, written in the pages of God’s Word, for telling the truth. In fact, she knew God’s Word is the truth.

    She was simply taking Proverbs 15:14-15 and putting it into her own words. “The mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness,” and, “all the days of the afflicted are evil.” A lie, once told, requires more lies to cover it up. A lie is an untrue story, born from the imagination of a sinful heart. It is the opposite of the truth and eventually unravels into foolishness. Each passing day after telling the lie becomes another twenty-four hours of trying to remember the lie and perpetuating its folly.

    By stark contrast, those who understand that God values truth will seek the wisdom and knowledge that only God can provide. As a result, they enjoy a clear conscience and the absence of the burden of remembering lies. This leads to days filled with joy and contentment, marked by a continual feast of delighting in the Word of God and living by its principles. The truth indeed sets you free.

     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Seek the truth. Tell the truth. Live the truth. Obey the truth. Furthermore, let the real Truth of God, His Son, dwell in you richly.

Is the truth important to you in all parts of 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: June 20, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Psalms 15 – Psalms 21
  Proverbs 15:13 – 16

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Chron. 23-25
  Acts 1

Something Smells Fishy
June 19, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 2:1, 2 & 5
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    What is an abomination? This word appears several times in the Bible, yet it is not commonly used today. According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, it means “to stink” and provides various examples, such as something filthy and unacceptable for worship, rotting meat, that which is detestable, or something disgusting.

    One of the examples is like water polluted by dead fish. Of all the examples for me, that one hit home. Let me share why. For many years, I have lived in Michigan, about two miles from the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. However, every year, with the thaw of Winter snow and ice by the Spring sun, comes the stench of dead fish. During the Spring, literally hundreds of thousands of fish wash up on the shores of the beautiful beaches. It is one of the most disgusting things to look at and smell. These once pristine sandy beaches and wonderful shorelines are completely ruined by these stinking dead fish. Someone must go and clean them up every year so that the shores of Lake Michigan can be enjoyable again.

    This somewhat depicts how the Lord sees the ways of the wicked. What God created to be beautiful and wonderful is destroyed by the filth and stench of a life of sin. Until the blood of Jesus is applied to that life and the sin is removed, it remains disgusting to Him. Underneath all the debris of the world and its sinfulness that it leaves on the shore of your soul, there is a wonderful person waiting to be enjoyed. Nevertheless, someone must clean it up. Someone needs to remove the abomination.

      

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Jesus died to cleanse the sin from the shores of your soul. However, you need to give Him permission to come in and do so. Once you invite Him to do just that, then He, and all those around you, will see the wonderful and beautiful you that He intended for you to be.

Does anything in your life smell fishy to God?

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: June 19, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Psalms 1 – Psalms 14
  Proverbs 15:9 – 12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Chron. 20-22
  John 21

Are You Really Listening?
June 18, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 15:5-8
A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Just as important as using the proper words and tone of voice when talking with someone is being a careful listener. I’ve seen children, and even some adults, put their fingers in their ears and go “lalala, lalala,” while someone is talking, as if visibly and audibly telling them, “I am not listening.” Sometimes, adults are a bit more subtle. While a person is talking to us, we look everywhere but at them, as if to convey, “What you are saying is not important.” Yet another poor listening skill is only partially listening to what a person has to say. As someone shares something meaningful, we only hear parts of it, then fill in the blanks and twist it in our minds to remember something completely different. Then, when we don’t seem to understand each other, we wonder why.

    It’s crucial to have not only good speaking skills but also good listening skills. When people come to share their hearts, we need to hear more than words. They may be looking for someone to trust and confide in, and all we see is someone doing a lot of talking. It might be that God brought them to you and needs you to listen and help. Then again, it may be that God has brought this brother or sister in Christ around to help you in an area where you are struggling. Instead of accepting their gesture with love, we get defensive about our private struggles. In our verses, it says if we will listen, fathers give instruction, and “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge.”

    Today’s verses also tell us God loves to listen to us. It says, “the prayer of the upright is his delight.” He is listening to every word, and enjoying the time spent with just you.

    Listening, just like reading and writing, is a skill that requires development. Are you currently attentive to your own heart?

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    How can we practice listening? Experts suggest that if you’re uncertain about someone’s statement, repeat it back to them in the form of a question. Let’s listen to God, and when in doubt, ask Him.

Are you listening to other?
Are you listening to yourself?
Are you listening to God?

 

 

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: June 18, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Job 37 – Job 42
  Proverbs 15:5 – 8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Chron. 17-19
  John 20

Choose Your Words Wisely
June 17, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 15:1-4
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    I remember as a child watching a movie that had a line in it which said something like, “To say what you mean, and to mean what you say are not the same thing.” For example, to say, “I see what I eat” is not the same as to say, “I eat what I see.” The same words are used, but the meaning is completely different. “To see what you eat” is logical and appropriate for a sighted person. However, to say, “I eat what I see,” well, that could have you in a field eating grass, just because you saw it.

    Words are very important. Not only are words important, but it’s also important how we use them in conversation. Our verses for today say, “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” Much too often, we as Christians speak before considering how this will affect someone else. In defence of this rudeness, we say things like, “Well the truth will always be the truth no matter what,” or I’ve heard, “I just don’t candy coat things, I give it to people just like it is.” While both of those statements can be good at times, there are times we need to think a bit before we speak. The Bible tells us to tell the truth. However, Jesus tells us to use the truth with Love. (Eph. 4:15)

    Love will always cause us to pause for a moment and ask ourselves the question, “How will the person I’m addressing or the one I am discussing understand what I am about to say and the way I say it?” We must always remember to be considerate and to love one another. If we do, then we will use the truth wisely to help, rather than hurt each other.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    In James chapter 3, we are warned about an uncontrolled tongue. Let’s begin today by using our tongue wisely. Let’s try to remember to first use it to speak with God before we speak with, or about others.

What steps might you take to
guard the hearts of others in your conversations?

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: June 17, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Job 31 – Job 36
  Proverbs 15:1 – 4

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Chron. 15-16
  John 19:31-42

WEEKEND REVIEW
June 15 & 16, 2024

Proverbs 14:26

In the fear of the
LORD
is strong confidence:
and his children shall have
a place
of refuge.

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 23 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 14-15

WEEK 23 – 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:

June 15, 2024
1 Chron. 12-14
John 19:1-30

June 16, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

June 17, 2024
Job 31 – Job 36
Proverbs 15:1 – 4

June 18, 2024
Job 37 – Job 42
Proverbs 15:5 – 8

June 19, 2024
Psalms 1 – Psalms 14
Proverbs 15:9 – 12

June 20, 2024
Psalms 15 – Psalms 21
Proverbs 15:13 – 16

June 21, 2024
Psalms 22 – Psalms 30
Proverbs 15:17 – 19

June 22, 2024
Proverbs 14 – 15

June 23, 2024 No
Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

June 17, 2024
1 Chron. 15-16
John 19:31-42

June 18, 2024
1 Chron. 17-19
John 20

June 19, 2024
1 Chron. 20-22
John 21

June 20, 2024
1 Chron. 23-25
Acts 1

June 21, 2024
1 Chron. 26-27
Acts 2:1-36

June 22, 2024
1 Chron. 28-29
Acts 2:37-47

June 23, 2024
No Passages Assigned