Daily Devotions in Proverbs

To Share, Or Silencee
May 16, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 12:13-16
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

      Over and over, Solomon has attempted to show his son the difference between the wise and the unwise. The contrasts clearly seen in these verses are set between those whom he calls fools or wicked, and those recorded as the wise.

 

    Here, we’re told that the words of the wicked will display their heart. They believe they are right in their own eyes and are harsh toward those around them. They lash out and belittle others, hoping that in doing so, they might appear wise or mightier. Rather than being a help to an injured soul, they make things worse with unwise counsel.

 

    Solomon also says that the wise and prudent person is exactly the opposite of all this. Often being hard on themselves, they seek and accept counsel from those around them, knowing there are others wiser than themselves. Rather than exposing someone and their faults or sins, they will often accept the ridicule of others while concealing the hurt for another.

 

    Do you remember in Genesis chapter 9, the story of Noah and his sons? Ham went in and saw his father’s shame. Instead of covering his father, he went to tell it to others, behaving as though he thought he was somehow superior in character to his own father. Shem and Japheth, on the other hand, would not look upon their father but walked in backward to cover Noah’s dishonor.

    The heart of a person can often be seen by what they will or will not share with others.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Do you have information about someone that could make for an interesting story? Ask yourself, if this were shared about you, how would you feel? God encourages us to help, not harm one another. Gossip not only damages the reputation of others but also diminishes the respect others have for the person spreading gossip.

 

Take a moment to consider
what speaks more about your Christian character:
your willingness to share
or your decision to remain silent?

 

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: May 16, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   1 Chronicles 23-26
   Proverbs 12:13-16

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   1 Kings 3-5
   John 4:39-54

Dig For Joy
May 15, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 12:9-12
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Before I was saved, I used to hang around a crowd that lacked real understanding of life. Our lives were devoted to the pursuit of what we thought was fun. We wanted nothing more than to always have fun and party. It never seemed to matter if we were evicted from our homes, lost our cars, were reported to the credit bureau for unpaid bills, or owed lots of people money. No matter who was hurt in the process, as long as we were having what we thought was fun, we believed we were happy.

    However, when I received Christ as my Savior, things changed. Now, I was not only concerned about others but also about my testimony and who Christ was in me. I desired to be a good example to those around me. I realized that I was not really having fun before; instead, my lack of self-control was masking my frustrations with life with the sins of the world.

    Satan had been giving me a false sense of joy. Alcohol and drugs had numbed me to reality. When the party was over, and everyone was gone, I always felt so alone and empty.

    Our text today said; “He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.” Now as I live to be a good testimony of Christ in me, God also has brought so much joy and satisfaction to life. Real Joy, Real Life.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Some will treat Bible Study the same way. Not willing to dig into the Word, they can’t understand why they get little joy from its pages, while others around them find such happiness in the study of the Word. Do you remember your childhood and the sandbox? Digging was half the fun of being in the sandbox. Get into God’s Word, begin to dig, and you will find the treasures buried there. It’s a little work for a lifetime of joy. LET’S DIG!

What treasures have you found lately in the Word of 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: May 15, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    1 Chronicles 18-22
   Proverbs 12:9-12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   1 Kings 1-2
   John 4:1-38

What Are You Thinking About?
May 14, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 12:5-8
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand. A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Sometimes people wonder why it’s important to guard what we see and hear. As a pastor and friend, I have recommended that people listen to godly music that ministers to their hearts. I often hear responses like, “Oh preacher, it’s just music.” When I suggest reading or watching something more wholesome than certain novels or TV programs, I hear, “But I really like them, I’ve been watching or reading them for years.”

    So, why is what we see and hear important? Well, ask yourself: Is what we watch on TV or read in romance novels better or worse today than it was years ago? The obvious answer is worse. Why is that? It’s because we have learned to accept or tolerate more and more garbage over the years of watching and reading. Our minds have become conditioned and contaminated by the world’s escalation of filth.

    Our verses today say that the thoughts of a righteous person produce right words and right actions, leading to right rewards. Part of that reward is that other people trust honest and upright individuals. However, it also states that the thoughts of the wicked produce poor advice, corrupt actions, and questionable lifestyles. They too eventually receive just rewards, including the fact that nobody wants to be around someone who lies or is always trying to hurt or destroy someone else.

    What we feed our minds is as important as what we feed our bodies. Our thoughts and behaviors are being developed daily by what we feed our minds.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    In the computer world, there’s a saying, “garbage in… garbage out.” You’ll also get bad information if you put the wrong information into the computer. Your results will reflect what’s put in. In speaking about the greatest computer the world has ever known, our mind, God said it this way in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: …”

What are you thinking about?

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: May 14, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    1 Chronicles 14-17
   Proverbs 12:5-8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   2 Samuel 23-24
   John 3

Fire, Fire
May 13, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 12:1-4
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     On TV, I saw a raging fire on the west coast of the US burning out of control. The firefighters were not trying to stop the blaze; they were concentrating on making sure it did not spread much farther. They realized it was out of control and were busy trying to control the amount of damage it would do. To do so, they ignited a controlled fire around the blaze, large enough to burn everything in its path. Their hope was that when this raging inferno reached that point, it would no longer have anything to burn, and that the pre-burned area was too large for the flames to leap over. Fortunately, it worked. Yet, to control the fire, everything around it had to be destroyed.

    Often, people who believe they are right and will not listen to counsel are just like that fire. No matter what the facts say, no matter what the evidence of God’s hand at work says, no matter what, they believe they are right. It is not until everything around them has been destroyed that they begin to realize, in their unwillingness to learn, they have destroyed themselves. There is nothing left to consume. No one left to complain to or listen to them and their ideas. People avoid the destructive fire of a stubborn heart.

    Today’s verses say, “he that hateth reproof is brutish.” The word “brutish” in today’s verse means eaten up or self-destructive. Just as the fire was destroyed by fire, so will people who are unwilling to receive instruction destroy themselves by destroying relationships all around themselves.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    You might be asking, “If I realize that is me, and I am in the middle of it, how do I change?” Reach out to the mighty hand of God to pull you free. Ask Him to open your heart to the truth. Do not try to get God to get on board with what you are doing. Find out what God is doing and get on board with Him.

Do you beleive that God can change your heart if you yeild it to Him?

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: May 13, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   1 Chronicles 10-13
   Proverbs 12:1-4

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   2 Samuel 21-22
   John 2

WEEKEND REVIEW
May 11 & 12, 2024

Proverbs 11:18

The wicked worketh
a deceitful work:
but to him that soweth
righteousness shall be
a sure reward.

 

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 18 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 11-12

 

WEEK 18 – 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:

May 11, 2024
2 Samuel 19-20
John 1:35-51

May 12, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

May 13, 2024
1 Chronicles 10 – 13
Proverbs 12:1 – 4

May 14, 2024
1 Chronicles 14 – 17
Proverbs 12:5 – 8

May 15, 2024
1 Chronicles 18 – 22
Proverbs 12:9 – 12

May 16, 2024
1 Chronicles 23 – 26
Proverbs 12:13 – 16

May 17, 2024
1 Chronicles 27 – 29
Proverbs 12:17 – 20

May 18, 2024
Proverbs 11 – 12

May 19, 2024
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

May 13, 2024
2 Samuel 21-22
John 2

May 14, 2024
2 Samuel 23-24
John 3

May 15, 2024
1 Kings 1-2
John 4:1-38

May 16, 2024
1 Kings 3-5
John 4:39-54

May 17, 2024
1 Kings 6-7
John 5:1-27

May 18, 2024
1 Kings 8
John 5:28-47

May 19, 2024
No Passages Assigned