Daily Devotions in Proverbs

WEEKEND REVIEW
February 24 & 25, 2024

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart
with all diligence;
for out of it
are
the issues of life.

Work Week Devotions
Through The Book Of Proverbs

     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.

Thank you for joining us
as we journey together
Through Proverbs in 2024

WEEK 7 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 4-5

WEEK 7 – 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 24,
Leviticus 25
Mark 4:21 – 41

February 25,
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1
Bible In a Year
with Proverbs Study 

February 26
Numbers 15 – Numbers 17
Proverbs 5:6 – 9
February 27
Numbers 18 – Numbers 21
Proverbs 5:10 – 13
February 28
Numbers 22 – Numbers 25
Proverbs 5:14 – 16
February 29
Numbers 26 – Numbers 29
Proverbs 5:17 – 20
March 1
Numbers 30 – Numbers 32
Proverbs 5:21 – 23
March 2
Proverbs 5 – 6
March 3
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2
Old & New Testament

February 26
Leviticus 26-27
Mark 5
February 27
Numbers 1-2
Mark 6:1-29
February 28
Numbers 3-4
Mark 6:30-56
February 29
Numbers 5-6
Mark 7
March 1
Numbers 7-8
Mark 8:1-21
March 2
Numbers 9-11
Mark 8:22-38
March 3
No Passages Assigned

Like Taking Candy From A Baby
February 23, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 5:1-5
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Many of you will remember the old saying, “It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.” I believe we all know what that means, but just to clarify, it’s supposed to refer to something that’s very simple to do, like taking candy away from a baby, which is physically very simple. However, doing it without being noticed or caught, well, that may be quite another thing.

      If you do not believe me, try this experiment sometime (but only with the child’s parents’ consent, don’t just experiment with random babies). Take a large piece of candy that you know a baby cannot swallow and let the baby lick on it for just a few minutes. Now reach in and take the candy from the baby. Physically, taking the candy back should prove to be relatively easy. However, more than likely, you are going to have one loud, squalling baby on your hands. Furthermore, everyone around will be looking at you questioningly, standing there holding a gooey piece of candy which you just took from that innocent baby. If they do not call you a selfish pig, they will certainly be thinking it.

      Taking the candy is easy, but getting away with it is almost impossible. This analogy applies to real life when it comes to immoral behavior. You might be able to get away with it for a while, but eventually, it will catch up with you. You’ll be caught, and as a result, people are going to look at you like some sort of pervert.

    Sexual sin may seem harmless at first. However, when those thoughts are acted upon, it can lead to the destruction of the physical body with an untold number of diseases today. Even if that doesn’t happen, it will always wreak havoc on the conscience. It’s incredibly difficult to drive those thoughts from your mind once they’ve taken root. That’s why it’s always best not to let them in! Remember, Proverbs 5:3-5 says; For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   So how do we prevent those thoughts from driving us crazy? Don’t let them into your mind in the first place. To put it another way, don’t give candy to a baby if you might want to take it back.

 

Are you protecting your mind and your heart?

 

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 23, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   Numbers 12 – Numbers 14
  Proverbs 5:1 – 5

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 23- 24
  Mark 4:1 – 20

 

No, Don’t Go There
February 22, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:26-27
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Okay, I admit that I have watched scary movies from time to time. Some of those movies are just ridiculous. There’s little or no storyline or plot; it’s just hack and gore. Those are not good movies at all. However, every so often, you will come across a good suspense thriller—one that keeps your attention throughout the entire film. In those really good movies, it seems the director will always let you know what’s about to happen by showing you a glimpse of the danger awaiting the unsuspecting victim just behind the door or around the corner. Then, as the target of this impending danger walks toward the peril ahead, you find yourself thinking (or in some cases, yelling aloud), “NO, DON’T GO IN THERE!” You may even think to yourself, “Can’t they see what’s about to happen?” If you could, you would reach out, grab them, and say, “Listen to me, I know what’s ahead for you, and you do not want to go in there!” However, if you did, it would ruin the rest of the story the writer had crafted. It would not end as it was designed to end.

      God, in His sovereignty, has chosen to give us the freedom of will. We are allowed to choose what we will or won’t do and where we will or will not go. He too knows the dangers that lie ahead in life if we make the wrong decision. Additionally, He’s doing His best to guide us and help us understand that we must continually look at where we’re going.

       Our Proverb today encourages us to take a moment to consider our life’s direction. We need to plan for our future and ensure that God is at the very center of that plan. Once we’ve centered our life on God, we should not deviate to the right or left. We must resist evil temptations and maintain our focus on walking towards our Saviour, Jesus Christ.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Just as an infant takes steps toward the waiting arms of a loving parent, we too should walk on this earth with our focus on God.

As you walk through life, where is your focus 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 22, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Numbers 8 – Numbers 11
   Proverbs 4:26 – 27

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Leviticus 20- 22
   Mark 3

A “Values Vault”
February 21, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:23-25
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        We put up fences to guard our properties. We build large homes and buildings, equipped with locks on the doors and windows to protect our belongings. We put our money in a safe place, such as a bank or a vault. Why? Because all of these things are of value to us. So, what do we do to guard our heart?

      Here in Proverbs, we are told to keep or guard our heart. Why? Well, because it’s where all of life stems from. So how do we do that? How can we build a safe place for our heart?

      Glad you asked. The next verse tells us how to begin. Verse 24 says we should put away; “a froward mouth, and perverse lips.” To be froward is to be crooked or departing from what’s right. Do we really want to guard our hearts? Then we need to keep our conversations and our minds on what’s right. Don’t get sidetracked into thinking about things that are sinful and wicked. It also means we should not be mean-spirited toward others. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” God wants our minds on what’s right so our mouths will say what’s right.

      Do we want to guard our hearts? Verse 25 says to keep our eyes on the path before us, focusing on what really matters. Our eyes are wonderful tools given to us by God. Nevertheless, Satan likes to divert them to bring temptations our way. It happened to Eve. It happened to David with Bathsheba. Do not think for a second that it cannot happen to us. Be on guard.

     We must not let Satan drag us off course. We must build a “Values Vault” in which we guard our eyes, minds, and mouths, which will help us guard our hearts.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Matt. 6:33-34 tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and not to be overly concerned with tomorrow because, as we all well know, there will be plenty to deal with tomorrow already. So, let’s not worry about the future until we get there. Instead, let’s concentrate on walking the path God set before us today and let God help us in our walk.

How are you building a “VALUE VAULT” for your heart?

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 21, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 5 – Numbers 7
  Proverbs 4:23 – 25

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 18-19
  Mark 2

You Think I’m How Old?
February 20, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:19-22
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        I love going to the County Fair. The rides, the Caramel Corn, the Cotton Candy, they all seem to call out to me. However, there are also others calling out to me. It’s the Carnies who work the midway. “Play this for a buck and win a 50-foot teddy bear you can’t fit in your car.” There’s always someone yelling, “Guess your weight or age for a dollar; if I’m off by this much, you win something silly.” When they guess you’re 18 and you’re really 13, that’s great. You look mature. When you’re in your early 40s and you hear them say 55, that’s embarrassing.

      A comment like that could cause you to begin to feel old. Suddenly you become very aware of all the younger people around you. Don’t let your real age discourage you, though. Every year of life also brings with it real wisdom. You’ve experienced things that most of those younger folks have never seen.

       As people age, they may recall trying to teach their children how to do right. You may have even thought that your children didn’t listen and would probably never learn. However, now you see them with children of their own, and they’re teaching them the same things you taught them. It almost sounds funny hearing those words come out of their mouths when it seems like only a few years ago they argued with you about telling them the very same thing. Now, think back for a moment: Where did you receive the majority of your wisdom? Wasn’t most of it passed down to you from your parents or guardians? They received most of their wisdom the same way as well.

     The truth is always going to be the truth, even when culture changes. Right is always going to be right, and wrong is always going to be wrong. Oh, and by the way, I am always going to think I’m still young… at least young at heart.
 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     We too often disregard the wisdom of the aged. We hear it as the ramblings of an old person. Guess what? You’re getting closer to them than to your youth. They have much to teach us. We need to listen. I wonder if they think they are young yet too?

What was the last thing you remember learning
by listening to an older person in 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: FEBRUARY 20, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Numbers 2 – Numbers 4
   Proverbs 4:19 -:22

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Leviticus 15-17
   Mark 1:21 – 45