DEVOTIONS

It’s Still A Dog
May 7, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 11:20-22
They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    I was walking down the street the other day and saw a woman walking her dog. This was not so strange, except for the fact that the dog had on a sweater. Now it may have just been me, but it seemed like the dog was really moving fast and kept looking left to right, right to left, as if to say, “I sure hope none of my dog friends see me dressed this way.”

    Now I know, some of you dress your dogs this way, and I guess if it makes you happy to dress up your dog as children do their dolls, it never hurts anything. There actually might be some good to it if it is really cold out or something. However, one thing we need to remember is this, under that sweet little cardigan, there is still a dog. You can paint their toenails a rainbow of colors, give them a cute haircut which often costs more than your haircut did, and put ribbons in their hair. However, at the end of the day, they’re still dogs.

    What’s the point in all this? People are very much the same way. You can dress up the outside and clean up real nice. You might say all the right things and even go to all the right places. Nevertheless, if you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, under all that, you’re still lost.     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    The word “froward” means crooked or perverse. It refers to someone who is a fraud or phony. The meaning of the word “abomination” is something disgusting or something that makes one sick. When you put them together, you see people pretending to love the Lord when their life shows they don’t, makes God sick. Just as we bathe to wash off the grime of this world, we should also examine ourselves and ask for the washing of God’s grace from all sin to be sure we don’t stink before Him.

Will today be a day that you gain knowledge and
make changes that will be beneficial for all your days to come?

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 7, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    2 Kings 22-25
   Proverbs 11:20-22

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   2 Samuel 7-10
   Luke 23:27-56

Mad About Nothing
May 6, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 11:17-19
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

       Two men had been working together for months. While they weren’t best friends, they got along just fine. One day, one of the men overheard the other calling him by name and saying, “He thinks that we are friends, but we’re not.” Those words cut like a knife. He had never done anything to make this man dislike him. Not a single harsh word, not a cross look, nothing that he could recall.

    Day after day for weeks, he would see the other man in the shop, and as he walked by, he would smile and say, “Hey, how’s it going?” Out of courtesy, he would reply, “fine.” Yet, in his heart, he grew to hate it more and more. It bothered him so much that he started clocking in at the other end of the plant just to avoid seeing him.

    One day, at a family reunion, he was shocked to see the same man there. He thought to himself, “What? Why is this person at MY FAMILY REUNION? I hate him. He has no business here.” As he walked over to confront him, the man turned around and said, “Hey, how’s it going?” That was the breaking point. Frustrated, he replied, “Terrible, that’s how it’s going. What in the heck are you doing at my family reunion?” The man chuckled and said, “That’s funny. I was just telling a guy at work the other day who had asked me if we were friends, and I said, you thought we were friends, but we were not… we’re relatives.” Immediately, the man realized he had only heard part of the conversation and had been angry for weeks for no reason at all. Whom did it hurt? It hurt only him.

    Anger eats at us, and only us. “…He that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Anger and hate are like a cancer. They will eat away at you and cause all types of mental and physical problems. Forgiveness is truly a better way to go through life. Anger takes a lot of work to maintain, but forgiveness you can give over to God.

What may be eatting away at you
that you could turn over 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: May 6, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    2 Kings 18 – 21
   Proverbs 11:17-19

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  2 Samuel 4-6
   Luke 23:1-26

WEEKEND REVIEW
May 4 & 5, 2024

Proverbs 11:14

Where no counsel is,
the people fall:
but in the multitude of counsellors
there is safety.

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 17 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 10-11

WEEK 17 – 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 4, 2024
2 Samuel 1-3
Luke 22:35-71

May 5, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

May 6, 2024
2 Kings 18 – 2 Kings 21
Proverbs 11:17 – 19

May 7, 2024
2 Kings 22 – 2 Kings 25
Proverbs 11:20 – 22

May 8, 2024
1 Chronicles 1 – 1 Chronicles 3
Proverbs 11:23 – 25

May 9, 2024
1 Chronicles 4 – 1 Chronicles 6
Proverbs 11:26 – 28

May 10, 2024
1 Chronicles 7 – 1 Chronicles 9
Proverbs 11:29 – 31

May 11, 2024
Proverbs 11 – 12

May 12, 2024
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

May 6, 2024
2 Samuel 4-6
Luke 23:1-26

May 7, 2024
2 Samuel 7-10
Luke 23:27-56

May 8, 2024
2 Samuel 11-13
Luke 24:1-35

May 9, 2024
2 Samuel 14-15
Luke 24:36-53

May 10, 2024
2 Samuel 16-18
John 1:1-34

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

May 12, 2024
No Passages Assigned

Words Of Wisdom, Or Not
May 3, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 11:13-16
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

   

     In today’s world, there is a great need for counseling. With the fast-paced, complicated lifestyles that many people lead, it’s no wonder that we often seek the advice of others.

 

     There are numerous professionals attempting to fill this need, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, personal life coaches, analysts, pastors, counseling centers, and many more. These are just a few examples on the professional level. Additionally, family members, friends, neighbors, spouses, sometimes children, and other relatives often offer their input on various aspects of our lives. Employers provide guidance on how to succeed in the workplace, and the church offers spiritual guidance. Even the directors of programs or hobbies we engage in may provide advice on how to excel.

 

     Given the multitude of counselors available, one might think that the lack of counsel is not a problem. After all, it is said, “in the multitude of counselors there is safety,” and it may seem that you have many people counseling you.

 

     However, it’s essential to ask whether your counselors are seeking counsel themselves from God’s Word or merely offering advice based on their own opinions.

 

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Sometimes people turn to counselors when all they really needed to do was read the Word of God daily. He is the ultimate, mighty Counselor.

Where do you find good counsel?

 

 

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 3, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    2 Kings 14-17
    Proverbs 11:13-16

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
     1 Samuel 28-31
    Luke 22:1-34

 

What Did You Say?
May 2, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 11:9-12
An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Some people simply don’t know when to be silent. I understand that the phrase “Shut up” might not be politically correct or appreciated by some, but the reality is that some individuals never seem to grasp the art of knowing when to stop talking.

 

    While watching some of the court shows on TV, I’ve often witnessed people continuing to speak even after they’ve already won their case. This can lead to the judge hearing something that raises doubts about their credibility, ultimately resulting in the dismissal of their case.

 

    Several old sayings come to mind as I contemplate today’s verses. One is “Quit while you’re ahead,” while another advises, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, just don’t say anything at all.” However, I believe my favorites would be, “It is better to say nothing and let people think you are ignorant than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Sometimes, it’s wiser to remain silent and let others form their opinions about you than to engage in lengthy arguments or debates that might cause you to say something you didn’t mean or utter hurtful words out of anger. This can provide an opening for Satan, and it’s a pitfall that affects both Christians and non-Christians alike.

 

    Paul told the people in Thessalonica the same thing in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 & 12 where it says, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” Sometimes it’s better to just be seen and not heard.

 

     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   Our witness for Christ doesn’t always require the use of our words; it often begins with our actions and how we live our lives. By living for Christ each day, we prepare ourselves to share the gospel when the opportunity arises.

 

How might your life say something that your mouth could not?

 

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 2, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    2 Kings 10-13
    Proverbs 11:9-12

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   1 Samuel 25-27
   Luke 21