Understanding Wisdom
February 14, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:5-8
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Some of the wise comments my dad shared with me as I was growing up were: “nothing in this world is free,” “if you want something, you must work for it,” and “anything worth having is worth working for.” Buried deep within my father’s logic is what Solomon was saying in today’s Proverbs: Wisdom is the most important thing you can obtain. So, get wisdom.

      How do you get wisdom? Well, first, we must see that it doesn’t say “find wisdom,” it says “get wisdom.” There is an action involved on our part. Reading the book of Proverbs will not give you wisdom; it provides you with words of wisdom to live by. However, you still must put action to the words as you live.

       If you carry a Bible everywhere you go but never apply its principles to your life, it can’t help you. When you learn a principle, it becomes knowledge. It’s what people often refer to as book smarts. You have it in your head, but you never use it.

      Wisdom is taking that knowledge and applying it to your everyday life. As you do so, you’ll begin to understand how it all works together. However, first, you must purpose in your heart that you will apply the knowledge received from God. Once you see that God’s ways are the best ways, you will never want to let them go. You’ll embrace them for eternity.
 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     You might start by asking God for the same thing David did in Psalms 119:18 when He prayed, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” God is the teacher of all wisdom through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Ask for wisdom. The Bible says that we have not because we ask not. Let’s ask for it and apply it today.

Have you sought the Wisdom of God 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 14, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Leviticus 15 – Leviticus 18
   Proverbs 4:5 – 8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Leviticus 4-6
   Matthew 26:57-75

Disciplines
February 13, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 4:1-4
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     “Someday son, you will see I am right,” or “when will you learn child, that when I tell you something, I know what I am talking about?” These words have rung in my ears for years. My dad would tell me something, and I would for some silly reason, believe my way was better. Guess what, it was not!

      Proverbs 4:1 says, “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father.” The word instruction here, in Hebrew, carried the meaning of discipline. It could say the discipline of your father.

       What did you just think of when you read the word discipline? I know I think of getting a spanking. That is one form of discipline used when I would not obey. However, that is a discipline I received for a discipline I would not obey. You see the word “discipline,” also includes the meaning of a controlled behavior. In today’s passage, the father asks his son to grasp one single word,“instruction.” If you’re willing to listen to the lessons in discipline that I, your father, have acquired through years of practice and then follow these teachings diligently, you can steer clear of the consequences that arise from disobedience.

      This is exactly what all of life is about. It is about learning to live with disciplines. In fact, that is what Jesus was doing while here on earth. He was teaching the disciplines of life to His disciples. If they would learn, and then adhere to them, the blessing from God would follow. If they went about their own way, they would also suffer the consequence of disobedience. When God, in Genesis 1, created this earth and everything on it, it was all set in order, disciplined. And He said, “It is good.”

      

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     How many times do you need to bump your head on something before you learn to duck? How many times must we see that God’s ways are always the best before we will obey? When we willingly do His will and follow His life disciplines, “It is good.”

What instruction from the Father did you hear 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 13, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Leviticus 13 – Leviticus 14
   Proverbs 4:1 – 4

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Leviticus 1-3
   Matthew 26:26-56

Guilty, or Not Guilty!
February 12, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 3:33-35
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Whenever I go into jails to minister, it amazes me how many people claim to be innocent. When talking with them about their cases, they often shift the blame to someone else. They insist they were framed, tricked, not even present, or accuse someone of lying about the whole situation. Rarely do you encounter someone who simply admits, “I did it.” No excuses, no alibis, just a straightforward admission of guilt.

      The truth is, almost every single one of them is in jail because they are there for a reason. Even though some may be innocent of the specific crimes they are charged with, they are there due to the company they kept, the places they frequented, the actions they took, and the lifestyle they led. They have found themselves in shameful circumstances. While this isn’t always the case, the majority of inmates are there because of their choices, and those who are genuinely innocent are in the minority.

      Why does this happen? Why is it that they end up in trouble with the law, or in most cases, in trouble with life itself? Many times, it’s because they’ve turned their backs on the wisdom of God’s Word. They’ve rejected the knowledge written in its pages, or worse, never read the advice contained in it at all.

      People want to be independent and make it on their own, but they can’t. God created us to be dependent. First of all, we are to be dependent on Him, for it is God who provides us with all things. We are also created to be dependent on one another. He created the church for this purpose. The church was formed so that we might exhort and encourage one another. Still, “The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” Wow, what a promotion.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     God has so much more for you. His desire is to supply all your needs. Turn to Him and His Word. Let Him come in and bless you above all you could ever imagine. You really don’t want this promotion in life, do you?

Guilty, or Not Guilty?

 

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 12, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Leviticus 9 – Leviticus 12
   Proverbs 3:33 – 35

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Exodus 39-40
   Matthew 26:1-25

 

WEEKEND REVIEW 
February 10 & 11, 2024

Proverbs 3:31-32

Envy thou not the oppressor,
and choose none of his ways.
For the froward is abomination to the LORD:
but his secret is with the righteous.

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.

 

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 5 – 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 5 – 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 10
  Exodus 36-38
  Matthew 25:31-46
February 11
  No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

February 12,
  Leviticus 9 – Leviticus 12
  Proverbs 3:33 – 35
February 13,
  Leviticus 13 – Leviticus 14
  Proverbs 4:1 – 4
February 14,
  Leviticus 15 – Leviticus 18
  Proverbs 4:5 – 8
February 15,
  Leviticus 19 – Leviticus 22
  Proverbs 4:9 – 11
February 16,
  Leviticus 23 – Leviticus 25
  Proverbs 4:12 – 15
February 17,
  Proverbs 3-4
February 18,
  No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

February 12,
  Exodus 39-40
  Matthew 26:1-25
February 13,
  Leviticus 1-3
  Matthew 26:26-56
February 14,
  Leviticus 4-6
  Matthew 26:57-75
February 15,
  Leviticus 7-8
  Matthew 27:1-32
February 16,
  Leviticus 9-11
  Matthew 27:33-66
February 17,
  Leviticus 12-13
  Matthew 28
February 18,
  No Passages Assigned

They Want To Be Like You
February 9, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 3:30-32
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

       Guess what, Christian? People want to be like you! For some of you, that’s hard to understand. Why would someone want to be like me? I’m not rich, famous, or powerful. Why on earth would people want to be like me? The reason is that the ultimate goal for most people is not money, fame, or power. What they desire in life is happiness and security.

     Some believe that money will bring them happiness and security, but it never truly does. It may buy worldly pleasures, but those things always leave you feeling empty in the end. A friend gained through money is not a genuine friend; they’re merely a mooch.

     Others think that if they were famous, everyone would love them. Again, this is not true. The price of fame often involves being ruthless enough to step on many people on the way up. Only those who don’t know you well seem to adore you. Who wants friends you can’t get truly close to? Are they even real friends?

     Some individuals believe that if they had power, they could almost command their way to happiness. The reality is that power comes with overwhelming responsibilities. You’re never your own boss; others will constantly demand your time for various reasons.

     So why do people want to be like you, Christian? It’s because the secret of God is with you. You are the ones made righteous in His Son, Jesus Christ. You have true peace in life. You’re genuinely content with who you are in Christ and are willing to share your joy with anyone. A crooked or froward person is an abomination to God, meaning their way of life makes Him sick. However, in you, Christian lies the secret of righteousness—Jesus Christ.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     As you go through your day, remember that people are watching you. They want to see who Christ truly is in your life. They desire a real friend, genuine happiness, and joy. If they witness these qualities in you, they might become interested in knowing your Savior. BE HAPPY!

What will people see in you 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 9, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Leviticus 6 – Leviticus 8
   Proverbs 3:30 – 32

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Exodus 34-35
   Matthew 25:1-30