PROVERBS 20:15-21

S- Proverbs 20:15-21

¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,

    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

    will not be blessed at the end.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,

¹⁸ Plans are established by seeking advice;

¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence;

²⁰ If someone curses their father or mother,

²¹ An inheritance claimed too soon

O -
1.    Lips that speak knowledge is more precious than gold and rubies
2.    Dishonest gain may seem beneficial but will not last and consequences have to be suffered.
3.    Any major decisions should be taken with proper guidance.
4.    Avoid gossip by all means
5.    Father and Mother should never be cursed.
6.    An inheritance should be taken at the right time only

A -

The words I speak are very important and as emphasized many times in the bible, the tongue is very difficult to control. The words we speak should be shown in Eph 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Yet there are times when I tend to forget it and just blurt out what I feel to just satisfy the flesh for that moment and guilt rushes over. I need to seek the spirit to guide me in this area.

Any kind of gain made through dishonest means is no good at all and will turn to have greater consequences later one. I need to be prayerfully alert to any such dishonest invitations.

Any major decision should be taken with godly wisdom or it will be regretted later. Consulting godly people for guidance is also a good way.

Gossip is mentioned as evil many times in the bible. My self evaluation tell me that I have improved a lot in avoiding it compared to the earlier years. But sometimes I just fall unintentionally into a conversation which might lead to a gossip and this is not good. Unnecessary talk about other people should be completely stopped as it does no good. I remember reading a devotional article on how to approach gossip. We need ask 2 questions “Does this talk do me any good? Does this talk help the person who we are talking about?” If no, then just stop.

My parents should not be cursed by any means. Honoring parents is one of the commandment God has given with a promise attached to it and hence it is indeed important.

P -

Abba Father,

Thank you for speaking to me through the word today and mostly highlighting to me about the words I use. Enable me to speak words of wisdom which is only possible thru your guidance. In all that I do let me be guided by your light. Enable me to be a witness for you and not a worldly person giving vent to anger and hatred. I submit myself to you completely. Mould me and make me fulfill the purpose you have for me.

In Jesus precious name

AMEN

PROVERBS 6:12-15 A TROUBLE MAKER IS ON THE WAY TO HIS DOOM

Scripture:

Proverbs 6:12-15

¹² A troublemaker and a villain,

    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

¹³     who winks maliciously with his eye,

    signals with his feet

    and motions with his fingers,

¹⁴     who plots evil with deceit in his heart—

    he always stirs up conflict.

¹⁵ Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;

    he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

Observations:

1.    Trouble maker’s characteristics

a.    Corrupt Mouth

b.    Winks maliciously with eyes

c.    Signals with his feet

d.    Motions with fingers

e.    Plots evil with heart

f.     Stirs up conflict

2.    Result of Trouble Making

a.    Disaster will overtake him

b.    He will be destroyed without remedy.

Application:

 A trouble maker and a villain always stirs up conflict. A believer should be careful while dealing with such people and also beware of any of these characteristics in the believer’s life. I need to recognize a trouble maker and need to be careful not to be misled into his traps. These might be normal people who I deal with in my daily life, the characteristics listed helps us to recognize such people. They always want to bring a conflict. They create trouble among the people. They have an evil heart which cooks up evil. We need to be alert of such people and make sure that we don’t join in their foolish talks.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  (Eph 4:29)

Further, God doesn’t want us to have any of these characteristics. He wants us to be pure as he had made us and does not want any part of our body being involved in evil especially our tongue. We are carriers of Christ and hence the words we speak should glorify Him and encourage others. By letting go of our whole selves for guidance under the Holy Spirit can help us to achieve this. The words and actions of the trouble makers will get them into doom / destruction for their evil doing. He will take on the wrath of God and will be destroyed if he doesn’t turn back from his sins and come back to the father.

Prayer:

Abba father,

I realise how precious we are to you. You don’t want us to me taken over by evil. You want us pure. Help me to grow into your image each day as I deal with the daily matters. Let my mouth never talk evil but only have words which pleases you. I seek your blessings on me to be completely led by your holy spirit so as to have the right actions and words fit for the daughter of the King, My Lord Jesus Christ.  

In your precious name I pray

AMEN

PROVERBS 5:15-20 MAINTAIN PURITY IN YOUR MARRIAGE

Passage:

Proverbs 5:15-20New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern,
    running water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    your streams of water in the public squares?
¹⁷ Let them be yours alone,
    never to be shared with strangers.
¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ A loving doe, a graceful deer—
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
²⁰ Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

Truths :

Promises to keep: MAINTAIN THE PURITY IN MARRIAGE.

Application:

How beautifully these verse speak of the purity which God desires in our marriage? The sin of adultery can destroy this pure institution. God has selected a partner for each of us. We are to love and enjoy our spouse. They might not be perfect and may not fulfil all our requirements, but they are our God given partners and we are to love them. Christ loved us in all our weaknesses and we should reflect Christ’s personality in our relationships also. Many people are dissatisfied and search for other means to satisfy their loneliness and sinful desires. But this is highly displeasing as this is not God’s will as is clearly portrayed in these verses.

                          

Prayer :

Abba father,

Thank you for the blessed married life you have given me. I know that we are not perfect and many a times have fallen short of your expectations. But I know you love us and would never condemn us. I submit my marriage into your hands – purify it just as you would want it to be. Never let us allow the devil to enter our loving relationship and create havoc. Help us to be faithful to each other at all times. Help me to be a powerful praying wife who would always uphold my husband into your hands. We seek your presence in our marriage and be a witness of your glory.

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray

Amen.

PROVERBS 5:11-14 HEED TO THE ADVICES OF THE FATHER OR BE SORRY LATER

Passage :

Proverbs 5:11-14

¹¹ and at the end of your life you groan,
    when your flesh and body are consumed,
¹² and you say, “How I hated discipline,
    and my heart despised reproof!
¹³ I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
    or incline my ear to my instructors.
¹⁴ I am at the brink of utter ruin
    in the assembled congregation.”

Truths:

Promise to Keep: Heed to godly wisdom or regret later.

Understanding:

1.       When sin takes over us, our whole flesh and body is consumed.

2.       Once we fall into the deep hole of sin, we will remember the no: of times God disciplined us and corrected us but how we overlooked all the advices and warnings and went into darkness.

3.       We will remember how God had used many people to make us understand His will.

Application:

‘Prevention is better than cure” is a quote which comes to my mind as I read these verses. Before we fall into any sin, Holy Spirit warns us. God may use many mediums to reach us and help us to select the right paths. He is a disciplining father who wants the best for me. I need to heed to His warning and move into that direction. Sin is like a consuming fire which can eat up the body and soul. Even though we may recover from it, the past may haunt us or people would still rebuke us. So it is much better to be lead by the father at all times so as not to fall into the pit of sin.

Prayer:

Abba Father,

     I acknowledge that my flesh is weak and I need to depend on your strength to know the right and wrong. Enable me to seek your will in my life. Enable me to be guided by the counselor, the holy spirit at all instances. I submit my whole self to you father, mold me and make me into your likeness.

In Jesus' powerful name 

AMEN

PROVERBS 5:7-10 PATHS NOT TO TREAD ON

Passage:

Proverbs 5:7-10

⁷ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.
⁸ Keep to a path far from her,
    do not go near the door of her house,
⁹ lest you lose your honor to others
    and your dignity^[a] to one who is cruel,
¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth
    and your toil enrich the house of another.

 

 

 

 

Prov 5:8

Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,

 

Understanding

1. Avoid every scene of temptation

2. The respect we have earned so far can be lost.

3. Strangers will gain the wealth.

 

 

Application:

These verses prove how weak the flesh is and how easily we can fall into sin. We need to seek Godly wisdom in places we know that the flesh can be weak. We need to avoid such circumstances to the extent possible. If there are any chances to fall into adultery, we should avoid such places. As a pastor explained in a Marriage Seminar, " It is not the first look which is harmful, but the second look which can lead to sin" Yes , Let us intentionally avoid unwanted jokes, talks and company of friends of opposite gender which might be displeasing to God. Many a times we trust ourselves , but like my mentor, DrS explained in one of the classes " Don't give the devil a chance" These kind of displeasing events can lead us to lose complete respect and bring our whole life at stake.

 

 

Prayer :

Father Lord,

  There are many distractions in the world which can lead us to sin. Help us to seek your godly wisdom and choose the right path. Cover us with your precious blood so that we maintain our purest form. We submit all our relationships and friendships into your hands. Let each relationship give glory and honour to you and be pleasing in your sight. We seek the help of the Holy Spirit wherever we go and who ever we are with.

In you precious name I pray,

Amen

 

 

PROVERBS 3: 21-26 WISDOM WHICH HELPS TO FACE ANY FEAR

Passage:

Proverbs 3:21-26(NIV)

21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
    an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
    and will keep your foot from being snared.

Understanding:

1. Wisdom and Understanding should never be out of sight - we need to preserve judgment and discretion.
2. It gives life to innerself and is an ornament to the outerself.
3. Benefits:

• Walk in our way safely and with confident trust
• We will not stumble
•  We can lie down without fear
• We can sleep in peace
• We will be fearless in sudden terror and panic.
• Lord will be our confidence - Firm and strong
• He will keep us from falling in danger.

Truth :

Promise to Keep : Godly wisdom will benefit us in many ways. It leads to a confident trust which helps us to stand strong and peaceful in any given situation.

Application:

The wisdom from God will bring to life the inner self or as I understand it - It will ignite the Holy Spirit in me. This doesn't stay inside but shows on the outside as I begin to be fruitful in the spirit. With Godly wisdom I am able to walk the paths in my life without fear. I place my trust in the Lord and hence can sleep in peace without fear of the evil. I can stay out of Danger as my confidence is in the Lord.

 

Prayer :

Abba Father , with the Knowldege of you which I currently hold, I already feel so confident in you. I can feel your presence and this brings out the confidence in me. Once being an insecure person, I am now being transformed since I know that I place my confidence and trust in you. I fear no evil coming against me as I am covered by your precious blood. Help me to saturate in the word and grow in knowledge of you. I seek your blessings to share this knowledge to atleast one another person and lead that person to you. 

In Jesus' precious name I pray

Amen

Proverbs 3:19-20 SEEK GODLY WISDOM THAT LED TO CREATION IN ITS PERFECT PLACE

Passage:

Proverbs 3:19-20

19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,

    by understanding he set the heavens in place;

20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,

    and the clouds let drop the dew.

Understanding:

1. The earth and the heavens were all set in its place by the wisdom and understanding  of

God

2. The waters were divided and clouds dropped dew by His Knowledge.

Truths:

Knowledge of God - The earth,heavens, waters and clouds were set in its place by the wisdom, understanding and knowledge of God.

Application :

Godly wisdom was the beginning of every creation. All the creation are in its perfect place and action since God has placed it there with his understanding and knowledge. Here I am lead to understand that for any major decisions I need to seek Godly wisdom. It is only with this wisdom that the decision can be executed well. Furthermore it gives security to know that everything is under godly wisdom and understanding. So when some events in my life happen which I cannot understand / comprehend. I have to let go and surrender to Him because my Father in heaven who has set all creation in its perfect place will secure me also.

Prayer:

Abba father,
Enable me to seek your Godly wisdom at all times. Help me to be deeply rooted in the word so that I gain this wisdom. Let me never worry about the trivial matters in my life but submit my problems to you who has everything in its perfect place by your understanding, wisdom and knowledge.
In Jesus' mighty name I pray
Amen

Proverbs 3:13-18 GODLY WISDOM IS MUCH MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD AND SILVER

Passage:

Proverbs 3:13-18

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Understanding:

The verses here talk about the benefits of finding Godly wisdom. This wisdom is much more valuable than gold, silver and rubies. There is nothing more precious on this earth that can take its place. Godly wisdom promises us long life (eternal life with The Father) and riches and honor (Heavenly riches and the honor we receive there- this is what really matters to me). A person who has godly wisdom will select the most pleasant ways and the path he/she takes will lead to a peaceful life as he/she is in counsel with God. Holding on to this wisdom will make a person fruitful in their life and will be blessed.

Truths:

Promise to keep: Godly wisdom make us select the pleasant ways and enables us choose paths which leads to peace.

Application:

  I need to gain this Godly wisdom and there is no other way than to saturate in the word. I will seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me interpret the scriptures and live in obedience to it as this wisdom will show me the right paths to take and ways to make my life a peaceful one. This wisdom is more precious than any other wisdom and should not be compared to worldly wisdom. In this evil world where people are just behind fulfilling their selfish ambitions and rely on their wisdom to achieve it, I need to be guided by the godly wisdom.

Prayer:

Father Lord, How precious is your Godly wisdom! Let me always seek your counsel in all matters so that I may select the right path in my life. Your guidance is so precious and I seek your blessings to enable me to come to you first to seek guidance than with my own knowledge or of others. Enable me to wait upon you for a decision and not to base my decisions on feelings and thoughts. I wish to surrender myself to you to be guided by the Holy Spirit at all times.

All this I ask in your precious name

Amen.

Proverbs 3:1-2 COMMANDS TO KEEP AND REWARDS FOR IT

Passage :

Proverbs 3:1-2
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity.

 

 

 

 

 

                                   Here God is asking us not to forget whatever He has taught us. We do not have an excuse to say that we have forgotten what we have learned in the word. We need to the keep the commands in our heart so that we can use it to be led at all times of our life. The reward for this:

Prolonged life: I would like to understand it as eternity. If we obey His commands (accept Him as Savior and live a life with Him as the Lord) we get to live with Him in eternity.

Peace: When I know that I am going in a path with the Holy Spirit in control and am being led by the commands of God I will have a peace in the heart.

Prosperity: I like to understand prosperity as the verse Mathew 6:33 teaches “but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” 

When we seek His righteousness and His kingdom, whatever is required for us will be provided by the merciful Father.

Truth:

Promise to Keep: Remember the commands of the word and be led by it at all times.

Application:

There are times in my life where I come across a situation and I know what the word tells me to do but I don’t, because it is sometimes very difficult to 'die to myself'. These verses serve as a reminder that the Lord gives just as a father explains to his son. Never forget whatever the word is teaching, keep it locked in your heart so that your actions and word reflect the same when a situation is encountered. The rewards mentioned are so promising, I will be blessed with eternal life, peace at all times and will be prosperous in all the areas the Lord has willed for me.

Prayer:

Father Lord,

Thank you for reminding me how important it is to practice what I learn. Yes Father, I understand that the Bible is not a book to just read and gain knowledge, but something far far beyond it, It is a book to live by. Every action, every word I speak, every thought I have should be guided those precious words. Lord, I know there is your breath in every word of the bible and let me breath it in and exhale the same quality of breath I took in. I thank you for the precious rewards you have promised for the obedience to your words.

In Jesus's name I pray

Amen

 

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PROVERBS 2:6-8 THE LORD OF WISDOM PROTECTS THE UPRIGHT



Passage:

Proverbs 2:6-8New International Version (NIV)

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

 

Truths:

 

1.   The Lord gives wisdom

2.   He guides our path since he gives us knowledge and understanding

3.   He holds success for the righteous people

4.   He is a Shield to those who walk blamelessly

5.   He guards the ways of the just

6.   Protects the way of saints

Application:

The Lord provides wisdom to those who seek Him earnestly. He gives them the knowledge and understanding. I understand that the knowledge He provides is about the greatness of God, The sacrifice of the son and the work of the Holy Spirit. He makes us understand what life is all about, what are the things that really matter? What are the right paths to take? Which are the paths not to tread on?  He makes us understand the will of God in our life.

He guarantees success for the righteous. What makes me righteous? I am made righteous (perfect without sins) through my faith in Christ Jesus. God pronounced me righteous when I accepted Christ as my savior. What is the success that He provides the righteous? I understand it as a beautiful journey with Him as Saviour continued by a life along with Him in eternity.

The Lord protects the righteous people and becomes a:

·       SHIELD - He becomes a shield to the righteous

Psalms 5:12

Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

·       GUARD

He guards their course. The Lord is with the righteous in all walks of their life. He teaches the right paths to take and paths not to take.

 

Psalms 121:8

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

 

 

·       PRESERVER

Protects them in their way, Keeps us safe from evil of the world and maintains us in the right path.

Psalms 121:7

            The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;

Prayer:

Abba Father,

Thank you for the wonderful promises that you are providing in these verses. We are so blessed when we seek you and gain the wisdom and knowledge to lead our life according to you will.  I trust you to lead my in all walks of my life.

In Jesus name I pray , Amen.