DEVOTIONS

Your Inner Voice Said What?
March 27, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:24-27
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        How many times have you been told, or have you heard someone else being told to follow their heart? On the surface, this may sound like good advice. To follow what your heart tells you to do. Follow your dreams. Listen to your inner voice. However, the Bible often warns us against doing such a thing. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

      In our verses today, Solomon imparts his wisdom to his son, advising him not to allow his heart to be swayed by seductive women. Why? Because he emphasizes that even many STRONG men have fallen victim to such sexual sin. These aren’t individuals who are weak or easily deceived; they are powerful individuals who succumbed to the allure of this deceptive pleasure. Solomon doesn’t discourage following one’s heart; rather, he urges his son to steer his heart and not be misled by sin and its tempting falsehoods.

       How might we guide our hearts, you may be asking? When looking back into Jeremiah, where it warned about our heart’s weakness, it also says in Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” What caused the curse? A heart departed from the LORD. How might we keep our heart? Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” Blessed is the person whose hope is in the LORD.

      So, follow your heart, chase your dreams, and listen to that inner voice. However, do so only if your dreams align with fulfilling God’s will, if your inner voice is that of the Holy Spirit, and if your heart is grounded in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

   

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   The now-famous phrase “What Would Jesus Do” has helped many young people avoid making bad choices. Why not let it help us all? When we are faced with any type of temptation, we should ask ourselves, “What Would Jesus Do?”

 

Are you letting your inner voice lead?
If so, who is guiding your inner voice?

 

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: MARCH 27, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   Judges 9 – Judges 12
   Proverbs 7:24 – 27

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Deuteronomy 25-27
   Luke 3:23-4:13

 

Beware Of The Snare
March 26, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:21-23
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Just what is the definition of a TRAP or SNARE? When considering these terms from the perspective of an object rather than a deed, there are several answers. A snare can be a net that is baited. When any prey goes for the bait and has enough weight to trigger the trap, the net is either drawn up, taking its prey with it, or dropped down completely, covering, and entangling its victim.

      Another form of a trap is an open pit covered with a deceptive disguise. When anything walks on this camouflaged covering, it falls into the pit and is either killed by spikes at the bottom or entrapped until the maker of this trap returns.

      Today, we also have more modern devices that clamp two metal jaws shut to hold their prey. Some traps, which are less harmful, resemble cages. Once inside the cage, the door drops and holds its victim captive.

     According to the Encarta Encyclopedia, a trap is defined as “a device designed to catch an animal and kill it or prevent it from escaping, e.g., a concealed pit or a mechanical device that springs shut.”

    Most often, traps are designed for animals. However, we must be aware of the traps set for humans. They may not include ropes, pits, or steel jaws, but they achieve the same result. They ensnare the life of the victim, often holding it captive until death.

     In today’s verses, the enticement of fair speech from a seductive woman has lured an unsuspecting victim into such a trap. The author likens this situation to an ox led to slaughter, a bird caught in a snare, or a fool placed in stocks. Once trapped, the freedom and life once enjoyed are lost forever, unless someone sets them free.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     The wages of sin is death. This is true for all sin and all people. We would receive what we deserve if not for the mercy of God that sets us free. God is not only merciful, but His grace abounds for all who believe. 

Will you allow God’s grace to set you free from sin’s trap?

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: MARCH 26, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   Judges 5 – Judges 8
   Proverbs 7:21 – 23

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Deuteronomy 22-24
   Luke 3:1-22

What About The Goodman?
March 25, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:18-20
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Okay, today I will pose a simple question, one you could even ask your four-year-old, and they’d likely get it right. So, here’s the question: What is the opposite of good? Your answers may vary a bit. Some might say evil, others may use the word bad, and some might just get down to basics and simply say “not good.” However you look at it, the opposite of good is usually something with which we don’t want our name associated.

    Now, let’s turn to our verses for today. What does the temptress call the man of the house? Referring to her husband, she says the “goodman” of the house is gone. This man should rightfully be in her bed. The goodman seems to be an honest man, working to support his family. He’s an upright man with nothing to hide, nor does he try to deceive her, as he must trust her. Being respectful of his wife, he even lets her know when she might expect him home. She says, “at the day appointed.”

    If he, by definition, is the goodman, then what, by the same definition, would this make someone who falls for her temptation? You or your four-year-old have already answered that question. It would make them the evil, bad, or simply not good person. If you ask those who have fallen into the trap of sexual sin, they will tell you that this is exactly how they felt after committing this sin. Dirty, filthy, ashamed, and regretful are all words I’ve heard used to describe such feelings. Simply put, they felt like not-so-good people.

     So, how can you avoid feeling this way? Be the Goodman or Goodwoman to someone else faithfully.

     
 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    The grace of God is sufficient to cleanse and forgive us from all sin. However, the memory of sins committed lingers. It’s wonderful to know we are forgiven, but it’s even better not to need forgiveness. 

Will you strive to be a good person before 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: MARCH 25, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Judges 1 – Judges 4
   Proverbs 7:18 – 20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Deuteronomy 18-21
   Luke 2:25-52

WEEKEND REVIEW
March 23 & 24, 2024

Proverbs 7:4

Say unto wisdom,
Thou art my sister;
and call understanding
thy kinswoman:

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 11 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 7-8

WEEK 11 – 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:

March 23
Deuteronomy 15-17
Luke 2:1-24
March 24
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

March 25
Judges 1 – Judges 4
Proverbs 7:18 – 20
March 26
Judges 5 – Judges 8
Proverbs 7:21 – 23
March 27
Judges 9 – Judges 12
Proverbs 7:24 – 27
March 28
Judges 13 – Judges 17
Proverbs 8:1 – 4
March 29
Judges 18 – Judges 21
Proverbs 8:5 – 7
March 30
Proverbs 7 – 8
March 31
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

March 25
Deuteronomy 18-21
Luke 2:25-52
March 26
Deuteronomy 22-24
Luke 3:1-22
March 27
Deuteronomy 25-27
Luke 3:23-4:13
March 28
Deuteronomy 28
Luke 4:14-44
March 29
Deuteronomy 29-31
Luke 5:1-26
March 30
Deuteronomy 32–34
Luke 5:27-39
March 31
No Passages Assigned

A Tempting Scent
March 22, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:15-17
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        “Can you smell it?” The scent of a hot apple pie fresh from the oven. The aroma of a spring day just after a rain. Clothes that have just come in off the line with the crisp scent of a gentle breeze. So many things can bring about a wonderful sense of joy through a simple aroma.

      We are often influenced by the sense of smell. Perfume manufacturers understand this and spend thousands of dollars testing and blending different oils and spices to create a fragrance that will appeal to the masses. Not only does scent attract us, but it can also serve as a warning of danger in the vicinity. Natural gas companies add a strong odor to the gas they pump into homes to alert people to a potential leak in the line. Skunks emit a foul smell when they feel threatened and in danger. The odor of a skunk is often so pungent that it can make you sick when you encounter it.

      Smells, even unpleasant ones, can sometimes tempt us. I used to be a three-pack-a-day cigarette smoker. At the time of writing this, I have not smoked for well over 30 years. Most of the time, the smell of tobacco on someone’s clothes is unpleasant to me. However, occasionally, the scent of cigarette smoke can trigger memories. Why? Because it brings back thoughts of something I enjoyed for many years. I thank God I’ve never given in to the temptation. The freedom from that addiction that I enjoy today far outweighs any momentary pleasure a cigarette could ever bring me. Yet, the temptations are there, nonetheless.

      So how does Satan tempt us? The answer is simple: he will tempt us in any way he can!

     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     1 Peter 5:8 says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” I have found one of the best ways to guard against temptation is to keep my focus on Jesus. 

What will you focus on 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: MARCH 22, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Joshua 21 – 24
    Proverbs 7:15 – 17

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Deuteronomy 12-14
   Luke 1:57-80