DEVOTIONS

No, Don’t Go There
February 22, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:26-27
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Okay, I admit that I have watched scary movies from time to time. Some of those movies are just ridiculous. There’s little or no storyline or plot; it’s just hack and gore. Those are not good movies at all. However, every so often, you will come across a good suspense thriller—one that keeps your attention throughout the entire film. In those really good movies, it seems the director will always let you know what’s about to happen by showing you a glimpse of the danger awaiting the unsuspecting victim just behind the door or around the corner. Then, as the target of this impending danger walks toward the peril ahead, you find yourself thinking (or in some cases, yelling aloud), “NO, DON’T GO IN THERE!” You may even think to yourself, “Can’t they see what’s about to happen?” If you could, you would reach out, grab them, and say, “Listen to me, I know what’s ahead for you, and you do not want to go in there!” However, if you did, it would ruin the rest of the story the writer had crafted. It would not end as it was designed to end.

      God, in His sovereignty, has chosen to give us the freedom of will. We are allowed to choose what we will or won’t do and where we will or will not go. He too knows the dangers that lie ahead in life if we make the wrong decision. Additionally, He’s doing His best to guide us and help us understand that we must continually look at where we’re going.

       Our Proverb today encourages us to take a moment to consider our life’s direction. We need to plan for our future and ensure that God is at the very center of that plan. Once we’ve centered our life on God, we should not deviate to the right or left. We must resist evil temptations and maintain our focus on walking towards our Saviour, Jesus Christ.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Just as an infant takes steps toward the waiting arms of a loving parent, we too should walk on this earth with our focus on God.

As you walk through life, where is your focus 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: FEBRUARY 22, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Numbers 8 – Numbers 11
   Proverbs 4:26 – 27

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Leviticus 20- 22
   Mark 3

A “Values Vault”
February 21, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:23-25
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        We put up fences to guard our properties. We build large homes and buildings, equipped with locks on the doors and windows to protect our belongings. We put our money in a safe place, such as a bank or a vault. Why? Because all of these things are of value to us. So, what do we do to guard our heart?

      Here in Proverbs, we are told to keep or guard our heart. Why? Well, because it’s where all of life stems from. So how do we do that? How can we build a safe place for our heart?

      Glad you asked. The next verse tells us how to begin. Verse 24 says we should put away; “a froward mouth, and perverse lips.” To be froward is to be crooked or departing from what’s right. Do we really want to guard our hearts? Then we need to keep our conversations and our minds on what’s right. Don’t get sidetracked into thinking about things that are sinful and wicked. It also means we should not be mean-spirited toward others. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” God wants our minds on what’s right so our mouths will say what’s right.

      Do we want to guard our hearts? Verse 25 says to keep our eyes on the path before us, focusing on what really matters. Our eyes are wonderful tools given to us by God. Nevertheless, Satan likes to divert them to bring temptations our way. It happened to Eve. It happened to David with Bathsheba. Do not think for a second that it cannot happen to us. Be on guard.

     We must not let Satan drag us off course. We must build a “Values Vault” in which we guard our eyes, minds, and mouths, which will help us guard our hearts.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Matt. 6:33-34 tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and not to be overly concerned with tomorrow because, as we all well know, there will be plenty to deal with tomorrow already. So, let’s not worry about the future until we get there. Instead, let’s concentrate on walking the path God set before us today and let God help us in our walk.

How are you building a “VALUE VAULT” for your heart?

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: FEBRUARY 21, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 5 – Numbers 7
  Proverbs 4:23 – 25

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 18-19
  Mark 2

You Think I’m How Old?
February 20, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:19-22
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        I love going to the County Fair. The rides, the Caramel Corn, the Cotton Candy, they all seem to call out to me. However, there are also others calling out to me. It’s the Carnies who work the midway. “Play this for a buck and win a 50-foot teddy bear you can’t fit in your car.” There’s always someone yelling, “Guess your weight or age for a dollar; if I’m off by this much, you win something silly.” When they guess you’re 18 and you’re really 13, that’s great. You look mature. When you’re in your early 40s and you hear them say 55, that’s embarrassing.

      A comment like that could cause you to begin to feel old. Suddenly you become very aware of all the younger people around you. Don’t let your real age discourage you, though. Every year of life also brings with it real wisdom. You’ve experienced things that most of those younger folks have never seen.

       As people age, they may recall trying to teach their children how to do right. You may have even thought that your children didn’t listen and would probably never learn. However, now you see them with children of their own, and they’re teaching them the same things you taught them. It almost sounds funny hearing those words come out of their mouths when it seems like only a few years ago they argued with you about telling them the very same thing. Now, think back for a moment: Where did you receive the majority of your wisdom? Wasn’t most of it passed down to you from your parents or guardians? They received most of their wisdom the same way as well.

     The truth is always going to be the truth, even when culture changes. Right is always going to be right, and wrong is always going to be wrong. Oh, and by the way, I am always going to think I’m still young… at least young at heart.
 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     We too often disregard the wisdom of the aged. We hear it as the ramblings of an old person. Guess what? You’re getting closer to them than to your youth. They have much to teach us. We need to listen. I wonder if they think they are young yet too?

What was the last thing you remember learning
by listening to an older person in 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: FEBRUARY 20, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Numbers 2 – Numbers 4
   Proverbs 4:19 -:22

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Leviticus 15-17
   Mark 1:21 – 45

 

Misguided Mischief
February 19, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:16-18
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        As a young man growing up, I remember my mom saying things like, “that boy is trouble, you can see it by looking at him.” My dad would say, “Those people would rather cause trouble than eat.” I just thought my folks were old and didn’t want me to have any fun. In my mind, I reasoned, “how can you SEE if someone is trouble? and, come on, who would rather stir up problems than eat?” That made no sense to me, as I love to eat.

      Now I’m a dad. As my children brought home friends from school, I found that when I opened my mouth, my dad’s words came out. I opened it again, and I could hear my mom speaking. So, what brought about this change in me? LIFE! I had witnessed firsthand what some people are like.It’s about how they act, what they say, and their attitude. These things, combined with wisdom from years of life, help you discern this type of person.

       People who feel they have little hope or ambitions in life often do not try anymore. Instead, they unwittingly bring others down to their level of despair. Rather than being alone in their despair, they’ll make others fall, too. That’s sad but true. These are often very bright people who have taken the wrong path in life. They could be so much more, but they choose not to be instead.

      The Bible advises us to be cautious of and pray for these people. They have no good intentions for themselves or for you.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     How do you know if someone is a “bad apple,” so to speak? One way is by listening to your parents or those in authority around you. By the way, my parents were right most of the time. Later in life, as a parent, I also made the right calls for my children. The best way of all is to check them out against the Word of God. His word is ALWAYS RIGHT.

 

Are you being guided by God’s Word?

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: FEBRUARY 00, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Leviticus 26 – Numbers 1
   Proverbs 4:16 – 18

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Leviticus 14
   Mark 1:1-20

 

WEEKEND REVIEW TEMPLATE
February 17 & 18, 2024

Proverbs 3:33

The curse of the
LORD
is in the house of the wicked:
but he blesseth
the habitation
of the just.

Work Week Devotions
Through The Book Of Proverbs

     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.

Thank you for joining us
as we journey together
Through Proverbs in 2024

WEEK 6 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 3-4

WEEK 6 – 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

  February 17
Leviticus 12-13 
Matthew 28

  February 18
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

  February 19
Leviticus 26 – Numbers 1
Proverbs 4:16 – 18
  February 20
Numbers 2 – Numbers 4
Proverbs 4:19 -:22
  February 21
Numbers 5 – Numbers 7
Proverbs 4:23 – 25
  February 22
Numbers 8 – Numbers 11
Proverbs 4:26 – 27
  February 23
Numbers 12 – Numbers 14
Proverbs 5:1 – 5
  February 24
Proverbs 4-5
  February 25
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

  February 19
Leviticus 14
Mark 1:1-20
  February 20
Leviticus 15-17
Mark 1:21 – 45
  February 21
Leviticus 18-19
Mark 2
  February 22
Leviticus 20- 22
Mark 3
  February 23
Leviticus 23- 24
Mark 4:1 – 20
  February 24
Leviticus 25
Mark 4:21 – 41
  February 25
No Passages Assigned