Walk Through the Book of Proverbs... Day 2

Walk Through Proverbs… Day 2

August 30, 2009

I’m feeling a little down today, and I really need you, Lord. I don’t want to allow my hurt feelings and confusions, or my hopes and desires, to turn themselves on me… become judgment, wrath, and utter despair. I want to be positive, and I want to know and believe that all is well – or will soon be. I do not wish to embrace or keep company with pessimism, doubt, or hopelessness. I do not see any “life” in such things.

Lord, I wish to turn away from any behavior, thought pattern, or path which will lead to destruction (mild or severe). I want just the opposite. I want to create good and positive results with my behaviors (actions), thoughts, and the direction in which I go. I know I am not, right now, able to stand on my own and be successful in this endeavor. I am so grateful that I do not have to.

When I may feel I travel by my lonesome and have things and feelings to express, and no one present in order for me to share my thoughts… I can recall your scripture, “…behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age” (Matthew 28:20). You are always with me. I don’t walk alone.
When I don’t know what to think or how to act, your word guides me toward a wise path. Lord, please direct me in your way. I need you.

As I read today in Proverbs, I found two passages to which I took particular notice. I began by re-reading yesterday’s chapter, and was caught by these words:

Proverbs 1:20-23 (Amplified Bible) – from BibleGateway.com

20[a]Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets;
21She cries at the head of the noisy intersections [in the chief gathering places]; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge?
23If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.

Footnotes:
a. Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom here is personified. Read "the Wisdom of God" instead of "Wisdom" and see the wonderful power of this book.

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How powerful! Especially when you consider the footnote.

The other passage that caught my eye was in chapter 2. Truly, it was the entire second chapter which spoke to me. I will highlight the first 12 verses:

Proverbs 2:1-12 (Amplified Bible) - from BibleGateway.com

Proverbs 2

1MY SON, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you,
2Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly [a]Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it];
3Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
4If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,
5Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.
6For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity,
8That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.
9Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path.
10For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you.
11Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you,
12To deliver you from the way of evil and the evil men, from men who speak perverse things and are liars,

Footnotes:
a. Proverbs 2:2 See footnote on Prov. 1:20.

So, recalling that we battle not against flesh and blood, I can apply this info, seeing that I need to be defending myself and arming myself with the Wisdom of God – not for use against anything natural, any person, or myself. It’s the spiritual… the forces which present themselves, throwing down the gauntlet, challenging me to stand and be counted. I’m not playing games, and it’s not about you, me, him, her, or them. This is about life. And as my daughter’s favorite character on “Wonder Pets” would say, “This is serious!”

Really though, I do want to thank you, Lord, for your continued guidance and revelations. Everything will be cool. It is, it always was, and always will be. Because You are the same… yesterday, today, and forever. Thank you for that. In Jesus name, Amen.

My Walk Through the Book of Proverbs - Day 1

My Walk through the book of Proverbs…

Day 1: August 29, 2009

“God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.”

As I begin this fast and this walk through the book of Proverbs… I am thinking that perhaps I should keep some sort of record of my discoveries and any insight/revelation that God shows me along the way.

First off, I’ll say that this fast has snuck up on me in so many ways. I spoke it into existence while thinking about my propulsion toward choosing the easiest and often least healthy of meals, and the fact that this usually occurs out of convenience and while out of the house. I am tired of neglecting my own health and better judgment in the areas of diet and physical fitness. I am also tired of starting with a bang and shortly thereafter fizzling out, coupling with this fizzle a rather likely set of excuses – some spoken, some just felt inwardly. I was thinking about how much “knowing better” doesn’t always equal “doing better”….

There are many areas in my life where I “know better” but choose not to “do better.” I use the word ‘choose’ specifically, because it’s a fact I need to recognize, whether I want to admit it or not… Behaviors are a choice, for the most part.

A few years back, I chose to change my self for the better. This included many things, one of which was better diet and fitness. I made the plan, executed it… and lived it well. It lasted the better part of a year and provided great results… and – it was EASY. No, really, it was. But then, I lost sight of something…and never took a serious look back to find it.

So, okay… here I am, saying with as much truth and honesty as I can… I am ready. I need to be for real. But every time I try to “be serious,” I miss a step… And that step is Jesus… Wisdom. I can hardly believe how quickly everything is revealing itself to me. Yesterday, I said, “Starting next week, I will no longer be eating out of the house, unless I prepared the meal or snack at home.” It came almost from nowhere. But I meant it. I added, “It’ll be a fast.” And I didn’t know what the fast would be about. But I meant that, also.

Then, when I got home, I wasn’t sure when exactly to start the fast, but since it’s almost the end of the month, I figured I might as well start it on the first of the upcoming month, September. I had already decided that the fast would be one month long… So, what happened next was really funny/odd to me. I had an unpleasant conversation with someone very close to me, and I was quite displeased with the fact that it happened and the outcome thereof.

A couple of days earlier, I had picked up my “Every Day Life” Bible (with notes and commentaries from Joyce Meyer), and read just a little bit while waiting for my daughter to come in her room to be put to sleep. I did this because I was actually irritated that it was taking so long, and I wasn’t feeling like being irritated. I remembered the calming effect that the Bible used to always give me in times of stress or confusion. So, I picked it up, and I read, and it worked (even though I only read for 5 minutes or less).

Well, after this disturbing situation with my friend, I turned, again, to the bible. I didn’t know exactly what to read at first, and I wish I could remember exactly how I wound up in the book of Proverbs, but I know it involved a topic search. Once in Proverbs, I just felt like I should have read the words earlier… like four years ago. I started in the 15th chapter and its first verse, which read:

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger” –Prov. 15:1

I read it like ten times, and I really think these words are the start of something new in my life. It’s so simple, but so true. My bible is amplified, which I think is the reason why many scripture will direct you to related scriptures. Proverbs 15:1 sent me to Proverbs 25:15, which read:

“By long forbearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance.” – Prov. 25:15

Why were these two scriptures so meaningful to me? Because I am trying to work on my attitude and also on the words of my mouth. Did I know that my fast would relate to any of that? Not at all. However, as soon as I realized that my fast was going to cover way more ground than I intended, I wanted to see where else I could/should go with this fast… this season.

I realize, now, that I am right where I am supposed to be… seeking guidance, wisdom, revelation, and open to receive it. I release my own thoughts and ‘ideas’ on where to go and what to do about difficulties in life. What is amazing to me, right now, is that seeking God is way easier than I thought. I thought I’d gotten so far from where I was in God that I wouldn’t know where to begin. And I was halfway right. I don’t know where to begin. But He does! All I need to be is fully open and flexible to hear his direction. One has to be ‘ready.’

So anyway, here’s the rest of the deal (for now).

As I’m reading the book of Proverbs today, my bible (driven by the direction of God), let me know several awesome things… just for me:

• The Book of Proverbs is a perfect place to start
• Proverbs is all about wisdom, guidance (exactly what I need)
• Proverbs has all the stuff I was hoping to work toward: Thinking properly, controlling my mouth, managing finances, future plans, correct treatment of others, dealing with offenses, receiving correction, not being foolish and also handling those who are, being a good friend, behaving as a good wife (or husband), and having good parent/child relationships.
• note- The above items are outlined at the beginning of the book of Proverbs in my bible.
  These are exactly the areas in which I need help. It might not seem to fit, looking from the outside in, but this is definitely right up my alley.
• My Bible, which I bought after a careful consideration of many other versions/editions, has sat on the bookshelf for over a year now. I am somewhat sad to say this (more so than I ever thought I would be), because now that I have actually given the book some ‘play-time’ I am realizing what a good choice it was. It is The Everyday Life Bible: Amplified Version, featuring notes and commentary by Joyce Meyer. And – it is undeniably awesome.
• The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, which makes it perfect to read over a month’s time, one chapter each day. That info served as another confirmation that I was in the right place.
• I’m not as far away as I felt I was… which means many things to me.
  
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Today’s verse to remember:

“But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom], shall dwell securely and in confident trust, and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.” - Proverbs 1:33

How comforting!!

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An Important revelation: Wisdom = Christ. (see 1 Cor. 1:24)
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Today’s Prayer, from my Bible, word for word… but it’s perfect!

“God, I pray that You will help me to be wise. Help me to hear and increase in learning, to acquire skill, and to attain sound counsel so that I may steer my course rightly.”
–adapted by Joyce Meyer from Proverbs 1:5

What a great place to start!