DEVOTIONS

Dollar For Dollar
August 7, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 19:17-20
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “Feed the Hungry,” “Help the Children,” “Starving in Africa.” It seems like every day there’s a new relief program for some people group somewhere in the world. People on TV, radio, in your mail, and email are all asking for help for these starving and hurting people. They are all telling the truth about these people; they do need help. However, millions of people daily within our own countries are also starving and homeless.

 

    It’s never a bad idea for anyone to help others in any part of the world. Nevertheless, I’m afraid that for most people, when they put a dollar in an envelope to feed a stranger, they miss out on the maximum blessings.

 

    If God were to return to us exactly what we give to the poor and needy, even with the right heart motive, what can you expect from a dollar? I guess you could expect a dollar from God!

 

    But what if you were to put your arms around someone and show them some love? If God returned to you exactly what you gave, what could you expect back from God? LOVE!

 

    And what might happen if you took a little time out of your schedule to donate it to a local shelter for the homeless? If you donate time, what would you get back? TIME.

    How about if you spent a little time praying for someone in need? What should you get in return for your prayer? You should get someone lifting you up to the attentive ear of God with your needs.

    So, for a dollar, you’d receive a dollar. For time, precious time. For prayer, sweet intercession with God. For love, the love of and from God in return. What would you rather have…? A dollar?

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Spend time with God today and ask Him how you can be a blessing to those who are currently less fortunate than you are. As my mom would say, “But by the grace of God, there go I.” We never know; it could very well be us one day.

 

What are you investing in 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: August 7, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Jeremiah 1 – Jeremiah 4
  Proverbs 19:17 – 20

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 27-32
  Rom. 2

 

What’s Driving You?
August 6, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 19:13-16
A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Almost every social gathering on TV and in movies depicts waiters delivering drinks to everyone, making it seem normal and acceptable. None of the characters on our screens appear to have any issues leaving the party and driving home after drinking. Consequently, many of our youth and adults think, “If they can do it, I am sure I can too.” HOWEVER, this is NOT THE CASE. Alcohol claims more lives each year than nearly any other substance. Often, those killed in alcohol-related accidents are innocent people who weren’t even drinking. They were merely in public, and someone whose faculties were impaired for a brief moment by alcohol or drugs (or both) took their lives. They may not have intended to, but the result is the same: a life lost.

    Magazines and other forms of public social media now openly showcase various forms of sexuality. In nearly every popular TV show produced recently, you’ll find a character involved in a homosexual lifestyle, or there may be openly gay individuals. This creates the misconception that such lifestyles are not inherently sinful and are no longer against biblical teachings. Over time, this erodes the moral foundation and the biblical Christian stance against these practices. There’s an old saying attributed to Adolf Hitler, which still holds true: “If you repeat a lie long enough, frequently enough, and loudly enough, people will believe it to be true.”

    The lyrics in much of the rock and rap genres are filled with hate. If someone walked up to us on the street and started talking about killing someone or assaulting a woman, it would send shivers down our spine. However, when these words are put to music, they become today’s greatest hits.

    These are just a few of the dangers facing our young people and adults today. How can we steer clear of these pitfalls? There is a clear answer in today’s text. “He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.”

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    It is essential to be mindful of the influences in your life. Hollywood, many TV programs, and the world, for the most part, are driven by sinful motives. Greed, advertising revenue, and a thirst for power often guide them. God’s way is always the right way.

Who or what are you allowing to guide 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: August 6, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 61 – Isaiah 66
  Proverbs 19:13 – 16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 22-26
  Rom. 1

Do Not Walk Away
August 5, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 19:9-12
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    What might cause a person who sees something that is good, finds something very precious, and has something extremely valuable, to turn and walk away from it? Then, after they have walked away, they begin to complain because they do not have it anymore.

    Right about now, you are probably saying, “What are you talking about?” Well, let me explain. Previously in Prov. 19:8, it says, “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul.” This means that if someone is to truly love their own soul, not their flesh and bone, but who they are inside, it would be because they’ve found something that is good, very precious, and extremely valuable to help guide and keep them in life. What might that be? It’s WISDOM!

    Yet thousands of people every year sit under the preaching of God’s Word, hear about a Saviour who loves them, who can and will help them, and then get up and leave the service the same way they came in. Then, when they get outside, after they have turned a deaf ear to what is good, very precious, and extremely valuable, they have the nerve to ask, “Why won’t God help me?” WAKE UP! He just tried to! Today’s verses say, “Delight is not seemly for a fool,” which simply means a foolish person will not find the Lord’s truths enjoyable. How sad not to enjoy the wisdom of the one who can help you most.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, or if you know Him but have strayed away, may I urge you to call on Him in prayer? Ask God to forgive you and then, enter into His loving care. God is loving, yet He is also just and cannot be near sin. Forsake the sin of this world and come to Jesus.

Are you walking away from, or near to 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: August 5, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 55 – Isaiah 60
  Proverbs 19:9 – 12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 18-21
  Acts 28:17-31

WEEKEND REVIEW
August 3 & 4, 2024

Proverbs 18:24

A man that hath friends
must shew himself friendly:
and
there is a friend
that sticketh closer
than a brother.

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 30 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 18-19

WEEK 30 – 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:

August 3, 2024
Psa. 11-17
Acts 28:1-16

August 4, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

August 5, 2024
Isaiah 55 – Isaiah 60
Proverbs 19:9 – 12
August 6, 2024
Isaiah 61 – Isaiah 66
Proverbs 19:13 – 16
August 7, 2024
Jeremiah 1 – Jeremiah 4
Proverbs 19:17 – 20
August 8, 2024
Jeremiah 5 – Jeremiah 7
Proverbs 19:21 – 24
August 9, 2024
Jeremiah 8 – Jeremiah 11
Proverbs 19:25 – 27
August 10, 2024
Proverbs 19 – 20
August 11, 2024
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

August 5, 2024
Psa. 18-21
Acts 28:17-31
August 6, 2024
Psa. 22-26
Rom. 1
August 7, 2024
Psa. 27-32
Rom. 2
August 8, 2024
Psa. 33-36
Rom. 3
August 9, 2024
Psa. 37-41
Rom. 4
August 10, 2024
Psa. 42-47
Rom. 5
August 11, 2024
No Passages Assigned

Friends… Who Needs Them?
August 2, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 19:5-8
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “Friends… Who needs them, right? I can do it myself. I can get along on my own. I don’t need anybody’s help. I don’t need anybody.” Have you ever heard anyone say anything like that? Maybe you have even said something similar. Possibly right after you, or an idea of yours, was rejected by someone. Maybe you were invited to a themed party, and when you arrived, you found you were the only one dressed a certain way. It could be you grew up feeling rejected by those around you, so now you feel you do not need friends and live your life keeping others at a distance as well.

    The problem is, if you are living this way, you are living a lie. We all do need friends. We cannot make it through life on our own. We need others in our lives. Also, it is inherent in us to want to be liked. We all seek other people’s approval.

    In the Bible Jesus often speaks of friends and family. God created Eve for Adam because He said in Genesis 2:18; “…It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” He later created the church for the same reason: that people might complement one another. I am not referring to people saying good things about one another, although that would be nice. I mean complementing one another’s lives with the talents and abilities each of us has, given to us by the Holy Spirit. He gifted each of us to bless one another.

 

    You know, what really makes a person poor? It is not the clothes they have or where they live. It’s not the amount of money they earn or the type of car they drive. What truly makes a person poor is having no one who trusts in them. It’s having no friend to encourage them or to pick them up when they fall. A person with few or no friends is indeed poor.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    How would you like to make someone rich today? If you think you can’t, you’re wrong. Go be someone’s real friend. You will be giving them something that all the money in the world can never buy. Introduce them to your friend, Jesus. Then you will have given them true, uncountable riches.

 

Are you going to share the wealth you have
in you and in 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: August 2, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 49 – Isaiah 54
  Proverbs 19:5 – 8

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 6-10
  Acts 27:21-44