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Think It Through
October 17, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 25:8-10
 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Passion, zeal, and enthusiasm are all positive qualities to possess, provided they are kept under control and channeled appropriately. In our verses today, Solomon is cautioning his son about the potential pitfalls of acting impulsively without thoughtful consideration.

    Taking time to think things through does not mean discussing the matter with everyone who crosses your path. Often, we have a tendency to alter or exaggerate facts to win others to our point of view, and we tend to seek out those who agree with us. If the issue involves someone else, resolving it between two believers should typically remain a private matter unless others are directly involved.

    Our wisdom should always come from God. To make sound decisions when faced with a matter, it’s wise to take a moment to pray and seek God’s guidance. Many times, God will intervene and handle the matter for you before any action is required on your part. Deciding to address a problem without first praying about it is akin to entering a battle without a clear strategy. You go in with your preconceived notions of what you want and what’s best for you. However, as believers, our initial question should be: What does God want? What might His priorities be in this situation or decision? How can God use you in the midst of what’s happening?

    While passion, zeal, and enthusiasm are admirable qualities, they should be directed toward doing the work of our Heavenly Father. If this is our primary goal, God will be glorified rather than horrified.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

Here are a few straightforward rules for conflict resolution:
➢ Sleep on it if possible: Avoid rushing to judgment; take your time to reflect.
➢ Discuss it privately with the person: Not every issue needs to be aired in public.
➢ Protect your testimony and that of the person involved: Keep in mind that both testimonies play a role in representing God. Remember, the world is watching us.

Do you ever have the tendency to act before you pray?

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: October 17, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 3 – Luke 5
  Proverbs 25:8 – 10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 45-48
  Col. 4

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

Come Up, Put Down
October 16, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 25:4-7
 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Have you ever experienced embarrassment? If we were honest, we would all admit to feeling embarrassed at some point in our lives. But what exactly causes this feeling of embarrassment? Is it when we are alone, singing a wrong note or spilling our coffee, or making a mistake in golf or tripping over a rug? No, in those moments, we typically feel frustrated or annoyed with ourselves, but we don’t label it as embarrassment. Why is that? It’s because there’s no one present to witness our mishaps.

    So, what then triggers our embarrassment? It seems to stem from not wanting others to think less of us, to perceive us as incompetent or silly in some way. It’s often tied to our pride. We all take pride in being proficient at what we do, and embarrassment arises when we falter in something that might seem simple to others. Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes eventually.

    One thing we don’t need to make a mistake about is falling into the trap of arrogant pride. This kind of pride shouts, “Hey, look at me!” It involves boasting and self-elevation, which tends to drive people away. Nobody enjoys being around someone who constantly brags. Today’s passage reminds us that it’s better to have others recognize our abilities and invite us forward, saying, “come up hither,” than to face embarrassment or be “put lower” in front of everyone else.     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     1 Peter 5:6,7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” As Christians, we must allow God to be the one who exalts us in His own way and at His own time.

What have you learned from your UP’S and DOWN’S 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: October 16, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 1 – Luke 2
  Proverbs 25:4 – 7

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 42-44
  Col. 3

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

I Will Tell You Later
October 15, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 25:1-3
 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “Mommy, why does the dog bark?” “Daddy, why does the rain disappear the next day?” “Mommy, why is my hair brown?” “Daddy, why did the neighbor call you a weirdo?” Okay, so maybe you can answer the last one, but we don’t have all the answers.

    At times, children pose questions to us that we may not be adequately prepared to answer. It’s not always because we lack the knowledge, but rather because we’re concerned that the explanation might confuse them more than if they were left with the question. Have you ever had to say, “Ask me again in a few years, and I’ll explain, but for now, you have to trust that I’m right?”

    Sometimes, God treats us in a similar manner. It is within His right, and guided by His wisdom, that He withholds certain information from us. For instance, if people were to know the exact moment of their death, some might lead a life filled with sin, resembling the ways of the world, until that fateful day, expecting to reconcile with God just before their passing. This would result in individuals living a sinful life and then hoping for God’s forgiveness at the eleventh hour. Such a lifestyle not only deprives that person of God’s love and blessings but may also influence others who are observing, potentially causing them to disregard God’s saving grace.

    God desires us to love Him and live for Him throughout our entire lives. Living in a manner contrary to His teachings will cause us to miss out on the abundant blessings that God has prepared for us in this life. So, in His infinite wisdom, God sometimes says, “Wait, my child, I will reveal more to you in due time.”

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    It is an honor for any leader or parent to discover the truth of God and be able to impart it to others. It is at that moment that they experience the joy of serving God for themselves. How wonderful it is to hear someone say, “Thank you for sharing Jesus with me; you truly made a difference.” In reality, it was God who made the difference in their life; we simply shared Him.

Will you rejoice and be patient to hear
God’s answers in your life in God’s time?

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: October 15, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Mark 14 – Mark 16
  Proverbs 25:1 – 3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 40-41
  Col. 2

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

By Their Fruit
October 14, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 24:30-34
 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “A penny saved is a penny earned.” “A stitch in time saves nine.” “Make hay while the sun shines.” What do all these statements have in common? They all advise us to be diligent with our time and resources, utilizing what God has bestowed upon us to the best of our abilities.

    In today’s verses, Solomon mentions that he passed by the field of a slothful person and the vineyard of an individual lacking understanding. In simpler terms, he visited a place where the owner was either lazy or a poor manager of their time and resources. What did he encounter? He found a place that was neglected, deteriorating, and falling apart due to the occupant’s lack of attention. Does it mention that he saw the man himself? No. Did he observe the person being lazy? No. So how did he determine that this person was slothful and lacked understanding? He drew his conclusion based on the evidence of what this person’s life had produced.

    When Christians fail to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, it not only casts a negative light on us in the eyes of the world but also reflects poorly on our perception of God. The Bible, in identifying believers says, “Ye shall know them by their fruit.”

    The world thinks the same way. They won’t pay attention to what we say if it doesn’t align with how we live.

    This principle can also be applied to our lives in general. Our outward behavior should reflect an inward transformation. If our external actions do not match our inner convictions, then something is amiss.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    What do people perceive when they look at us? Is the life we lead filled with the sinful weeds of the world? Are there neglected walls of resistance to sin? Or do they see Jesus in us? What others see in us is a reflection of the image of our God. The bible says in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

What does your life shine a light on?

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: October 14, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Mark 10 – Mark 13
  Proverbs 24:30 – 34

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 37-39
  Col. 1

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

WEEKEND REVIEW
October 12 & 13, 2024

Proverbs 24:27

Prepare thy work without,
and make it fit for thyself in the field;
and afterwards
build thine house.

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 40 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 24-25

WEEK 40 – 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:

October 12, 2024
Isa. 32-36
Phil. 4
October 13, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

October 14, 2024
Mark 10 – Mark 13
Proverbs 24:30 – 34
October 15, 2024
Mark 14 – Mark 16
Proverbs 25:1 – 3
October 16, 2024
Luke 1 – Luke 2
Proverbs 25:4 – 7
October 17, 2024
Luke 3 – Luke 5
Proverbs 25:8 – 10
October 18, 2024
Luke 6 – Luke 7
Proverbs 25:11 – 13
October 19, 2024
Proverbs 24 – 25
October 20, 2024
No Passages Assigned

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

October 14, 2024
Isa. 37-39
Col. 1
October 15, 2024
Isa. 40-41
Col. 2
October 16, 2024
Isa. 42-44
Col. 3
October 17, 2024
Isa. 45-48
Col. 4
October 18, 2024
Isa. 49-52
1 Thess. 1-2
October 19, 2024
Isa. 53-58
1 Thess. 3-4
October 20, 2024
No Passages Assigned