DEVOTIONS

Misguided Shopping Trip
March 21, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:11-14
(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Yak, yak, yak, when will they ever shut up? I am sure there are some people who feel that way during the sermons on Sunday. Some people just love to hear their own voice.

    In today’s verses, Solomon describes the temperament and character of a woman who is tempting a young man. She is described as loud and stubborn. The difference between merely liking to talk (and perhaps being good at it) and her nature is her evident stubbornness. I am sure we have all encountered such people, both women and men, who won’t listen to reason regardless of the advice they are given. They are determined to do whatever they’ve set their minds on.

    One of the issues in society today is people trying to be something other than what God intended for them. This woman wasn’t content with just being a wife. As Solomon says in verse 11, “…her feet abide not in her house.”

    Not only do we see that this woman is stubborn, but she is also deceitful. Solomon mentions that she’s without; her husband is gone, and she is out parading around as if she were single again. Next, we find her “in the streets.” In today’s terms, you might say she is out shopping. She appears to be everywhere except where God intended her to be.

    I know some might be saying, “Wait a minute, are you saying there is something wrong with shopping?” NO! That is, unless you’re shopping for something God says you are not supposed to have. This woman would not listen to reason. She was shopping for sin. Furthermore, she kept shopping until she caught someone and lured him into her sinful trap. This would have never happened if she had been content with what God had given her.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    God has created for us a meaningful life, and desires to fulfill it in us. Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Who are we to mess up God’s plans? Live for Jesus as He lives in you.

What is God’s perfect plan for 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: MARCH 21, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Joshua 16 – 20
   Proverbs 7:11 – 14

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Deuteronomy 9-11
   Luke 1:39-56

What Do Your Clothes Say About You?
March 20, 2024 

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:8-10
Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     “Clothes don’t make a man; a man makes the clothes.” Most everyone has heard this comment or a statement similar to it. However, is it true? Not always.

     If I describe a man dressed in black leather pants, a t-shirt, a black leather jacket, thick-soled boots, and a helmet, what comes to your mind? Be quick now, no fair thinking about it. Most of you probably said biker. Now, how about this: a man or woman in a finely pressed uniform with a badge above their heart. They have with them a flat saucer hat with a small badge above the bill of it. Around their waist is a holster with a pistol snapped shut on one side, and handcuffs on the other. Whom do you picture now? Most of us would say a law enforcement officer.

     What you wear does matter, whether you want to believe it or not. People get a mental picture of the type of person you are just by your appearance. You might say, “That is not fair,” and maybe it is not. Nevertheless, you have just proved to yourself, fair or not, it is true.

     In today’s verses, Solomon tells his son about a certain type of woman. The first description of her is the way she is dressed. He describes her attire as that of a harlot. He never tells us what this attire might be, and yet, each of us pictured in our mind what we think this attire might be. Fair or not, we did.

     How people perceive us on first impression is important, and it’s our choice. We can be comfortable in today’s fashion, yet modest in our apparel and appearance.   

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   Some of you might be saying, “What people think doesn’t matter.” Yet, God’s Word tells us we are to be a witness for Him in everything we do, including our testimony through appearance. Before going out today, stop in front of your mirror. What are people looking at? My prayer is that they see all of you as an example for Christ.

Can’t we all have our own taste, flare, and style,
while still being pleasing 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: MARCH 20, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Joshua 12 – 15
   Proverbs 7:8 – 10

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Deuteronomy 6-8
   Luke 1:1-38

 

Void Of Understanding
March 19, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:4-7
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Talking about some subjects in life presents itself as a bit difficult. It’s often hard to face discussions about sickness and disease. It is not always easy to talk about world tragedies, such as deaths from volcanic eruptions or earthquakes, which take hundreds of lives. It is uncomfortable for parents to talk about drugs with their children because they sometimes come off sounding out of the loop. While a parent may be thinking of marijuana and LSD, the youth are faced with crack, methamphetamines, or the latest designer drug.

     Therefore, instead of facing difficult issues, we often do the wrong thing and avoid them. Rather than putting ourselves in the uncomfortable position of not knowing about a subject, we just say nothing. The problem is someone is teaching the teens and youth of today. If we do not, the world will.

     Solomon talks to his son, a simple one who lacks understanding. They are not the mentally disabled, who sometimes cannot decide for themselves. Nor a child raised away from society, sheltered from the real world. This person just did not have any warning of the dangers of the world. Naive to the sin around them and the price paid because of sin. They are void of understanding because they do not know the truth.

     As hard as it is for us to talk with our children and friends about the price of sexual and social sins, we must reconsider the consequences. If we don’t tell them the truth, we can be sure Satan will tempt them with a lie.

     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     As you go through your day today, take a look around you. Observe all the people who are walking by: those in your class, in your lunchroom, at the restaurant you dine in, and neighbors on the streets where you live. See all your friends and your neighbors in the community. Has anyone warned them of the price of sin? Have you? If not, ask yourself this: Who will?

Will the Good News of salvation
shine through your life 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 19, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   Joshua 8 – 11
   Proverbs 7:4 – 7

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Deuteronomy 4-5
  Mark 16

Did I Say That?
March 18, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:1-3
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    As a pastor of a local church, I am responsible for feeding the flock with the Word of God every week. This means that in a year’s time, I will pray over, ponder, and prepare, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, approximately 52 Sunday morning messages, 52 Sunday evening messages, 52 Wednesday night messages, 52 Sunday School lessons, an occasional Men’s Bible Study, Retreats, Revivals I may preach, and outside ministry lessons and messages. With a few weeks off for vacations and others filling the pulpit during Revivals and Missions conferences, that works out to well over 200 speaking opportunities per year. So, when someone comes up and says, “Three years ago you were preaching on… (whatever topic) … and you said such and such, which really spoke to me, and I have never forgotten it,” sometimes I should confess, “Well, friend, that makes one of us.” Truth be known, I do not remember every word I say.

    Here is a major concern: even though I may not remember the exact words I have used, it’s evident that someone else may remember them well. This makes it crucial that what I say is right, to the best of my knowledge. Keep in mind that the 200-plus speaking engagements per year are only the preaching and teaching opportunities for which I had time to sit down and prepare the words I would say. However, I talk to people every single day. So now, let’s multiply that by 24 hours in a day and 365 days a year, and you come up with a lot of time and a lot of talking for which I am accountable.

    We are all responsible for all the words we say. When we tell our children to listen to us, we must be careful about what we say and be sure that they hear us correctly. Because they will listen to everything we say. It may seem as if they remember most of what we hoped they’d forget and forget all of what we wanted them to remember, but the truth is, they hear it all.

      

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    In Psalm 141:3, there is a great prayer for parents, and for preachers. “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”

What will people hear you say 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 18, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Joshua 4 – 7
   Proverbs 7:1 – 3

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Deuteronomy 2-3
   Mark 15:24-47

 

WEEKEND REVIEW
March 16 & 17, 2024

Proverbs 6:23

For the commandment is a lamp;
and the law is light;
and reproofs of instruction
are the way of life:

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 10 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 6-7

WEEK 10 – 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 16
Deuteronomy 1
Mark 15:1-23

March 17
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

March 18, 2024
Joshua 4 – Joshua 7
Proverbs 7:1 – 3
March 19, 2024
Joshua 8 – Joshua 11
Proverbs 7:4 – 7
March 20, 2024
Joshua 12 – Joshua 15
Proverbs 7:8 – 10
March 21, 2024
Joshua 16 – Joshua 20
Proverbs 7:11 – 14
March 22, 2024
Joshua 21 – Joshua 24
Proverbs 7:15 – 17
March 23, 2024
Proverbs 7 – 8
March 24, 2024
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

March 18, 2024
Deuteronomy 2-3
Mark 15:24-47
March 19, 2024
Deuteronomy 4-5
Mark 16
March 20, 2024
Deuteronomy 6-8
Luke 1:1-38
March 21, 2024
Deuteronomy 9-11
Luke 1:39-56
March 22, 2024
Deuteronomy 12-14
Luke 1:57-80
March 23, 2024
Deuteronomy 15-17
Luke 2:1-24
March 24, 2024
No Passages Assigned