DEVOTIONS

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

I Have Real HOPE
July 22, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:23-25
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Occasionally, you will hear people say things like, “I hope that comes true,” or “Hope for the best!” What they really mean by that is that they desire the best outcome, or they are wishing that it would come true. There is no assurance and no guarantee tied to their hope; it is wishful thinking at best.

    Our verse today says, “the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.” What it’s saying is that they run back and forth on this earth, trying one theory after another in an attempt to find some satisfaction. However, what they are seeking can only be found in an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.

    When the Bible speaks about hope, it is not referring to that kind of dreamy, wishful hope. Biblical hope is a sure thing. When you place something in a hope chest, you know the item is there. Your hope is for the day to come. That thing placed in the hope chest is sure, but what lies ahead in life and how you might use that item is still a mystery. So it is in our salvation. When I placed my faith in Christ, in doing so, I placed my life in His. At that very moment, my salvation became a sure thing. I no longer wonder if I will get to heaven when I die; I know that it is sure. My hope for eternity is no longer a wishful dream but a confidence in Christ and His Word. Jesus fulfilled any dreamy desires of eternal life, and all wishful hope is gone. Jesus became my answer to hope, and therefore He is my hope.

    Do I know what heaven will be like? Well, not completely. What’s ahead is still a mystery. However, my vision in life has changed. I now have a single focus: to know and grow closer to God. Life is much easier with only one thing to do.     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Edward Mote, a cabinetmaker who later became a preacher, one morning in 1834, on his walk to work, wrote a song that explains it quite well. It says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name…” All I can say to that is, AMEN.

What hope do you have in 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: July 22, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 1 – Isaiah 4
  Proverbs 17:23 – 25

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 9-12
  Acts 19:21-41

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

WEEKEND REVIEW
July 20 & 21, 2024

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good
like a medicine:
but
a broken spirit drieth
the bones.

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 28 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 17-18

WEEK 28 – 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:

July 20, 2024
Job 5-8 Acts 19:1-20

July 21, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

July 22, 2024
Isaiah 1 – Isaiah 4
Proverbs 17:23 – 25

July 23, 2024
Isaiah 5 – Isaiah 9
Proverbs 17:26 – 28

July 24, 2024
Isaiah 10 – Isaiah 13
Proverbs 18:1 – 4

July 25, 2024
Isaiah 14 – Isaiah 19
Proverbs 18:5 – 8

July 26, 2024
Isaiah 20 – Isaiah 26
Proverbs 18:9 – 12

July 27, 2024
Proverbs 17 – 18

July 28, 2024
No Passages Assigned

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

July 22, 2024
Job 9-12
Acts 19:21-41

July 23, 2024
Job 13-16
Acts 20

July 24, 2024
Job 17-20
Acts 21:1-17

July 25, 2024
Job 21-25
Acts 21:18-40

July 26, 2024
Job 26-29
Acts 22

July 27, 2024
Job 30-31
Acts 23

July 28, 2024
No Passages Assigned

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

Happy, Happy, Happy.
July 19, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:20-22
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    You know, it has long been a documented fact that happy, smiling people seem to be healthier and live longer. In fact, there was a study done one time that concluded people who smile live longer than people who do not smile.

    Stop reading this just for a minute and go look in the mirror. By the looks of things, it sadly appears that some of you might not make it through this day!

    I have long said Christians ought to be the happiest people in the world. We have so much more to look forward to.

• If something were to happen to me today, and my life were to end here on earth, God 
   says I have a home waiting for me in heaven.

• If I live through this day, God says He will never leave me nor forsake me.

• If I am hurting physically or spiritually, He is my Great Physician.

• If I am lonely or distraught, He is always ready to listen and, through the power of the
  Holy Spirit, whisper sweet peace to me.

    Why shouldn’t we be happy? Our text today says; “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:”.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” If you are feeling down, try this. Get out an old hymnbook, find the peppiest song you can, and start praising God. It may surprise you that in just a few minutes of following this practice, you will find joy once again. Try it!

So what song did you choose?

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: July 19, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Song of Solomon 5 – Song of Solomon 8
  Proverbs 17:20 – 22

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 1-4
  Acts 18

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

A Friend In The Fight
July 18, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:16-19
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Which of these two scenarios do you think would be easier: to fight with someone you don’t like and devise a plan to outwit and beat them, or to overcome an intense passion within our own self? If we are all honest, we would have to say that fighting our own self-will is the hardest battle of all.

    To overcome my own selfish desires and live for Christ and His desires may, at times, seem difficult. Learning to forfeit our own will may often come through years of trial and error. It sometimes takes days, weeks, and even months of prayer, asking the Lord for strength and wisdom to give up and overcome these strongholds in our lives.

    Sometimes we find our best friendships are developed during such times. In a time of great trial, a friend may come alongside and share their struggles with you. Christ, who is our best friend, brought this person to you. He knew they had a piece of wisdom you needed at this time in your life.

    Old age does not always bring wisdom. Many kings and rulers, who were not righteous men, used their power and might to topple nations. Yet they never learned how to control their internal desires within themselves. Ultimately, their own selfish passions and cravings would often be what would destroy them, and many times hurt the lives of those around them.

    True wisdom is found in a long-lasting relationship with God. Like any other relationship, this takes time. It takes commitment to one another. It takes an understanding of the other’s desires. It takes love for one another. God knows you perfectly already. We just need to get to know God better. A long, slow walk with God in the midst of a trial brings contentment, which is simply incomprehensible to a lost world.     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     You can take your chances and make deals with man, or as our passage says, strike hands with the world if you want. However, the ends of all matters are in the hands of God. I will take my chances and place my life in God’s hands.

Where will you place 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: July 18, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Song of Solomon 1 – Song of Solomon 4
  Proverbs 17:16 – 19

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Esther 5-10
  Acts 17

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

Keeping A Lid On Life
July 17, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:13-15
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Have you ever tried to put toothpaste back in the tube once it has been squeezed out? I guess it can be done, but it’s never easy. However, the question might be raised, “Why did you squeeze so much out that you feel you need to put any back?” It may have just been carelessness. Possibly, you left the lid off after its last use and then accidentally leaned on it and…Oops. Maybe you were about to squeeze a small amount out, and someone scared you. You lost control for a split second and…splat. Could it be you were in a hurry and didn’t realize how hard you squished the tube’s sides and… Plop…out it came.

    Life can often be like that sometimes. Carelessness will cause us to say or do something that causes just a little trouble at first, but if not properly dealt with (if we don’t put a lid on it), it may cause years of problems. It could be that people come into our life and distract us from the calling God has for us. We get out of God’s perfect will, and life seems to be one struggle after another. Then again, it may be that we pressed ourselves too hard and pushed ahead of God, and now the struggles of life seem to be piled on our plates all at once. Oh, how we would like to put things back in order. However, rewinding life’s “Oops” moments are often like putting toothpaste back in the tube.

    We may not always be able to redo those things in life; nevertheless, we can always learn from them. Sometimes if we’re careful, we can scoop up that spilled toothpaste and still use it. In the same way, we may have to live with the results of our actions in life, but God will forgive us from the penalty of sin if we only ask Him to. He will scoop up what’s left of our lives and use it for His glory if we let Him.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Sin is a trap. It entices you toward itself and then lies, telling you there is no hope of escape now that you’re here. Sin is a problem in life, but God has a solution to sin’s grip on us. The solution is belief in Jesus Christ and living by His Word. It helps us keep a lid on life to avoid the oops, splats, and plops.

What may be a oops, splat, or plop in your life
that you need God to Clean up 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: July 17, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Ecclesiastes 7 – Ecclesiastes 12
  Proverbs 17:13 – 15

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Esther 1-4
  Acts 16:25-40