Tone

"A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Proverbs 15:1

"Watch your tone, young lady!"  I've been on both the receiving and delivery ends of this reprimand.  Most have probably been scolded for the snide, sarcastic or irritable attitude behind the words spoken.  While the message I say might be spot on, the way I say it makes a difference in how its received.  Therefore, it's important to consider a few things as I interact with others, especially when conflict arises.

Delivery.  Living in a society where independence, autonomy and individual rights are valued, its easy for me to give in to my flesh which tells me life is all about me.  When I buy into such a viewpoint, I forget that the manner in which I speak evokes a response in those receiving my message.  

Since I'm clueless to the fact that I'm not living in a vacuum but in community, I let my own bitterness from past hurts, irritation when facing my pet peeves, and pride that's cultivated from thinking I'm 100% right flavor my words. Either I don't care that it might tick someone off or I'm oblivious to the fact that my attitude brings up an emotional response.  When in such a self-centered state, it doesn't matter to me how my message will be received.  Instead, I'm only concerned with getting a chance to deliver the words that I think are so important to say.  I rarely would see that the uproar that follows was instigated by my delivery.

When I look outside of myself, realizing my words will impact those around me, I'll be more sensitive to how they receive my message, understanding how important it is to build others up in not just what I say, but how I say it.  I'll have to let go of the pain from past hurts if I want to speak compassionately and tenderly in order to melt the heart hardened by their own past hurts.  I'll need to be flexible enough to empathize with others if I want to speak with the respect that is necessary to get past a barrier of self-righteousness.  It'll be necessary to drop my tendency to feel sorry for myself if I want to speak with the authority of one who knows the Truth that can set the captive free (Isaiah 61:1). 

How I say things is as important as what I say because words evoke an emotional response.

Heart Indicator.  My family and I live on 80 acres of land.  Our house is surrounded by waving grasses filled with an abundance of birds, mice, rabbits, weasels and the like.  As vibrant as this place is, there are two apple trees located near the barn that are infested with tent caterpillars and look to be near death.  When spring came this year, the trees and bushes around it burst forth with blooms, but these two were too sick to produce any apple-promising blossoms.  Such an unhealthy tree cannot be expected to produce good fruit.

It's the same with my words.  The way I speak tends to reflect what is going on in my heart.  As Jesus said, ". . . out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."  (Luke 6:45,Matthew 12:34b)  I would be wise, then, to pay attention to my tone and tenor because it is a good indicator of my spiritual and emotional health.  If I'm constantly nasty, there is something harmful in my heart that needs to be exposed to the Light.  Once it's in the hands of Jesus, He will bring about the healing necessary to restore good health to my soul.  Then my words will be sweet and well-received.

The way I say things indicates the state of my heart.

Consideration.  I spend a lot of time crafting the message, figuring out what words to use, deciding on an impactful argument, but I rarely consider the feelings of the recipient.  If I were to pay attention to others' feelings and taking them into account, my speech would change drastically.  Thoughtfulness and sensitivity toward others is an important part of communication and attention to other's needs will change the way I talk.

When I take the time to carefully consider how my words will impact those I'm planning to speak to, I'll find a concern for their plight growing in my heart.  When I'm only focused on what I want to say without regard to the kind of power I'm wielding in my tongue, I'll become cold and callous, not caring how my words may hurt or damage (James 3:5-6).

How I say things reflects the amount of consideration I have for others.

What mothers everywhere say to their sassy children is true.  The delivery of the spoken word evokes an emotional response, is an indicator of the state of my heart, and shows whether or not I have considered its impact on others.  Since they way I speak is so important, I'd better speak less and listen more.  And when I do open my mouth, I'd be wise to "watch my tone!"

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will take the time to watch my tone when speaking.

How have I let past hurts color my speech with bitterness?

When do I become cold and callous when talking to certain people?  

         

How to Insult God

"Whoever oppresses the poor 

shows contempt for their Maker, 

but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."

Proverbs 14:31

It's never my intention to insult God or show contempt for Him.  In fact, my heart is bent on honoring Him in all I do.  Still, I must be careful; it's easy for me to tread on dangerous ground.

Oppression.  There is so much suffering in this world, it can be overwhelming and I often feel helpless against it.  But when I'm faced with the poor or the needy or the hurting, it's easy to place them in categories.  Some are suffering due to no fault of their own but others are there because of their own foolish choices.  It could be laziness, an attitude of entitlement, or the way they were brought up that causes them to be stuck in poverty, homelessness, or a myriad of other hopeless situations.  

So I tend to leave them alone, expecting them to help themselves out of the mess they are in.  While it is true you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped, it is not necessary to turn cold-hearted against them.  But its so easy to become indifferent, especially if I flippantly tell myself "the poor will always be with us," using Jesus' words to let myself off the hook (Mark 14:7).  It seems it's not so much the results of my efforts that matters, but the desire to offer a hand up by reaching out that counts.

Its easy for me to unintentionally oppress the poor when I refuse to help a certain class of people.

Exploitation.  "We work at the soup kitchen every Thanksgiving morning, then return home to enjoy our meal together."  The woman who said this beamed with pride at her commitment to helping the poor in such a noble way.  I cringed at her attitude, recognizing in me the same desire to be recognized for the things I do to relieve the suffering of the poor.

The reason I do things is more important than what I do.  If I give my time and money to charity with the expectation that I'll gain a feeling of goodwill and accomplishment, hopefully receiving a pat on the back for my "selflessness," I'm driven by selfish motivations.  If, however, I give out of love for Jesus, because He inspires me to help those in need with no ulterior motive, then I'm driven by Jesus Himself.  One gives me the glory, the other makes God look good.

Its easy for me to unintentionally exploit the poor by helping in order to get something out of it for myself.

Apathy.  My life is busy; filled with good things to do, activities to take part in, people to love.  I'm so caught up with my circle of influence, my comfort zone, my territory of operation, I don't pay attention to the suffering that takes place across the railroad tracks where children go to bed hungry, crying themselves to sleep and single mothers desperately try to make ends meet.  I don't try to ignore their plight, but my own frantic lifestyle discourages any kind of regard.

If I don't have time for kindness and mercy toward those in need, my life is way too busy.  God never intended for me to be stretched so thinly that there's no time to sit at His feet and soak in His love for me.  When I allow this necessary luxury, I'll find compassion for others will come naturally.  If I rarely connect with Him, benevolence and generosity will be hard to come by (John 15:5).

Its easy for me to unintentionally be cold-hearted toward the poor by cultivating a spirit of apathy as I run through life at top speed.

I'm devoted to loving God and others, but I often have a funny way of showing it.  I end up insulting God when I inadvertently oppress and exploit those less fortunate, becoming apathetic toward the poor.  If I truly want to praise God with my life, I will show kindness and mercy to those in need, not only to those whom I deem as deserving or in order to feel good about myself, but out of my love for Jesus.  This is how to honor God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to give to those who don't deserve, remembering that He does the same with me.

How am I stingy?

When do I turn a blind-eye to the suffering around me?

The Company I Keep

"Walk with the wise and become wise,

for a companion of fools suffers harm."

Proverbs 13:20

Does it matter who my closest friends are?  Or will my faith endure no matter what?  Is it immune from influence?  Can I stick to my guns despite who I spend time with?  No matter how close my relationship with Jesus is, there is a danger in keeping as a companion the arrogant, self-righteous, confident in self but ignorant of God.  I'd better be careful with whom I spend my time.

Emulate.  It's quite amazing to see.  The chameleon can blend in to its natural surroundings by displaying different patterns and colors that allow it to become almost invisible.  Their appearance can also change with their mood or in order for males to attract females or females to accept or reject males.  While humans do not possess such amazing abilities, we are in danger of blending in to our surroundings in a similar way.

Paul warns us of our chameleon-like tendencies in 1 Corinthians 15:33 when he was teaching against a common heresy of the time.  "Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for 'bad company corrupts good character.'"  In other words, we become like those we spend time with.  Now, this is not to say that we should not befriend the lost.  Rather, it is a warning against letting those without solid, biblical beliefs into our inner circle.  I tend to let my guard down when I'm around my closest friends because I know I can trust them fully.  When I do this with someone who doesn't share my belief in Christ and who follows a different set of moral and ethical codes, I'm in danger of compromising what I know is the truth.  In the least, I will begin to doubt of what I was once was so sure but at it's worst, I could turn away from my faith in Jesus.

I am wise to choose my close friends carefully because I will soon emulate their characteristics.

Direction.  No matter how much I try to stick to the way marked out for me, if I'm spending a lot of time with those who differ in their beliefs I will start to stray from the path that leads to life.  Even if I try my hardest to run toward Jesus, if those around me are running the other way, it won't be long before I drift away from my First Love (Revelation 2:4).

When I fill my mind with the thoughts of those who depend upon themselves instead of God, who deny God's existence, or who keep Him on the back burner to be called upon only in times of crisis, I can't help but begin to go in that same direction, even if it's only in some small ways.  Instead of helping me grow stronger in my faith as a good friend should, these companions actually work to weaken it, drawing me away from what I know is true.  In order to stay in step with them, I'll have to adjust my walk.  So, I'd better make sure they're headed toward life (Matthew 7:14). 

I am wise to choose my close friends carefully.  Since we're traveling in the same direction, we will suffer the same fate.

Adopt.  When I like someone, I tend to adopt some of their admirable qualities.  I might find myself using the same phrases, adding some of their mannerisms to my repertoire, or using a few of their jokes.  While my core character may not change, I can't help but adopt some of my friends' characteristics.

While vernacular, gestures and sense of humor may not be earth-shattering qualities to emulate, there are some features that may be a bit more dangerous to adopt.  When I spend a lot of time with someone, I tend to take on some of their wisdom, especially if it sounds good to me.  Over time, I find myself using the same train of thought, logic, or philosophies.  This is good if my friend in rooted in God's Word and growing each day in their faith, but if they are drifting away, it's most likely their thinking is off.  In turn, my thinking will soon become warped as I adopt their rationale and sense of judgement.  What I used to know was wrong may now be considered not so bad.  While I once knew the way of life, now I'm not so sure.  No matter how strong my convictions once were, I now have lightened up.

I am wise to choose my close friends carefully because I will soon adopt their way of thinking.

I may think my faith is strong enough to endure some ungodly friendships, but I'd be wise to choose my inner circle carefully.  I will emulate who I trust most, be influenced in my direction of travel by those I walk with, and cannot help but adopt the thinking of my best friend.  For this reason, it is crucial that I carefully consider the company I keep.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I trust God to show me which friends are good for my faith.

When do I tread on dangerous ground by choosing friends that don't share my passion for Jesus?

How am I putting my faith in danger by who I spend time with?        

  

Barometer of the Heart

"Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded."

Do I grin and bear it?  Avoid it at all costs?  Hunger for it?  Recognize its value despite its offensiveness to my sin nature?

In the same way the readings on a barometer are an indication of future changes in the weather, the way I feel about and respond to the wisdom found in God's Word is an indication of the direction I travel in life and the status of my heart.  If I learn to interpret the atmospheric pressure measurements of a barometer, I can forecast the weather.  And if I pay attention to how I'm handling the Word of God, I can estimate where I'm headed in life based on the status of my heart.  Let's take some time to recognize the danger signs.

Avoid.  Whenever I hear the dreaded song, I quickly turn the channel.  I simply don't want to be faced with the doe-eyed animals who seem to be pleading for help from their desperate situations as "In the Arms of an Angel" by Sarah McLachlan plays in the background.  My heart breaks as I think of the suffering these helpless creatures endure and I feel helpless to rescue them.  While I could give a donation to the ASPCA to ease my mind, I'd rather avoid the effectively persuasive advertising campaign.  It's just too hard to see.

From time to time I take on this same mindset with God's Word.  I know it's powerful and living, able to get to the root of the dark places in my heart, but I don't always want to face it (Hebrews 4:12-13). Sometimes I'd just rather turn the channel and focus on something more pleasant.  While the discipline and training in righteousness that comes from exposing myself to the Holy Scripture is not always comfortable, it is good for me, useful for weeding out what is off in the way I think and operate in this world, and teaching me God's better way (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Even though it doesn't feel good, it is beneficial to my faith walk.  My willingness to expose myself to His valuable training tool tells me a lot about the state of my heart.

When I avoid God's Word it's a sign that I've hardened my heart against God's loving instruction.

Dismiss.  "It's not relevant.  It's outdated.  Maybe it made sense back in the day, but we've progressed beyond our need for such archaic ways; we have learned a better way and the Bible is no longer necessary.  While there may be some redeeming qualities, most of it does not apply to the modern mind and our unique condition."  So goes the line of thinking in today's mind.  While I don't claim to adhere to such a view, it's poison can easily seep into my psyche and influence the way I process the situations I encounter.

Therefore, when I find myself dismissing any part of God's Word as irrelevant to my current circumstances, I'd better sit up and take notice.  God does not change with the times, altering His perception according to cultural or political variations (James 1:17).  He does not take opinion polls and is never influenced by the tide of popular trends (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6).  He could care less about His popularity ratings.  Since He is so rock-solid in His character, His Word can be trusted as always relevant to meet me right where I am and able to speak to me exactly what I need to hear.  God's Word always accomplishes what He desires for it to bring about, therefore I dare not dismiss it as irrelevant (Isaiah 55:11).

When I dismiss God's Word it is a sign that I've diminished the powerfully influential nature of His ever-relevant Word.

Take Lightly.  It becomes a daily ritual.  As I read, my mind is drifting toward my to-do-list or I'm rehashing my current crises or I'm distracted by my surrounds.  Whatever keeps me from truly applying myself to the study of scripture, it succeeds in keeping me superficial, robbing me from the richness found there and the important truths I need each day.  Instead of being transformed by the renewing of my mind, I stay the same, stagnant as a mosquito-infested bog deep in the woods.

If I want to go deeper with God, I must treasure His Word as the prize that it is, taking in every word as a life-giving flow of spring water that refreshes my soul and points me to the way everlasting.  Instead of just reading, then, I can take on the persona of an explorer, picking apart each passage in a search for gems that will give me more insight into the Father I adore, His Son whom I can't live without, and the Spirit who empowers me to live abundantly.  As I come to know this great God through His infallible Word, I will find more insight into my own workings and how I fit into this world He created.  Therefore, taking His Word seriously is to my benefit.

When I take God's Word lightly it is a sign that I've hit a roadblock in my faith walk, ceasing the forward progress toward my heavenly goal.

The way I think of and receive God's Word tells much about the state of my heart and the progress of my faith walk.  Learning to read the warning signs helps me to forecast the direction of my life.  When I avoid, dismiss and take lightly God's Word, I had better take notice for I'm headed in the wrong direction.  The state of my heart is vital to my spiritual health.  Therefore, I'd be wise to use these warning signs as a kind of barometer of the heart.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to use His Word to accomplish His plan for my life.

When do I avoid scripture because I simply don't want to hear what God has to say?

How am I fearing God's best for me? 

    

The Fool's Way

"The way of fools seems right to them,

but the wise listen to advice.

Fools show their annoyance at once,

but the prudent overlook an insult. . .

The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,

but a fool's heart blurts out folly."

Proverbs 12:15,16,23

No one wants to be called a fool.  The word usually conjures up images of a jester wearing a silly hat and going to great lengths to get a laugh or a goofball who no one respects but sets a good example of what not to do and how not to live.  Neither of these figures are to be emulated.  If I want to avoid such folly, I'd be wise to pay attention to these proverbs.

Self-righteous.  It is said that a man who represents himself in a court of law has a fool for a lawyer.  It's impossible to see myself and the situation I currently find myself in a completely objective manner.  As a human, I'm naturally biased in one way or another.  Furthermore, my judgement is tainted by sin, making my ability to evaluate my own motivation for purity, or my choices for wisdom, or my state of being for decency.  In my own mind, the reasons I do things may seem virtuous, the decisions I make look sensible, and my emotional condition appears to be perfectly healthy.  Then I get an outside opinion and find out I'm off.

If I only depend on myself for judgments, I'll be off-course and not even know it.  It's easy to stray when using only my own sense of direction for guidance.  This is why explorers and back-country adventurers use a compass because it's easy to get lost when there is nothing by which to judge.  I need a standard, a tool to find my bearings, an objective estimation of where I am.  God is this immovable, righteous and holy standard.  He is the "true north" by which I can always gauge my direction of travel, and only He can accurately judge the state of my heart.  I must be willing, however, to accept godly advice from other humans because many times He uses people to deliver His warnings, guidance and help.

If I think I already know the answers I'm a fool and will never listen to the wisdom God is trying to convey to me.

Hyper-sensitive.  I live in a culture that teaches me to stand up for myself, to never let an offense slide, to point out the faults of others.  Therefore, since such ways appeal so much to by flesh, it's easy for me to be easily offended as I go through my days.  Instead of giving people the benefit of the doubt, considering the possibility that they are having a bad day, might by going through a personal crisis, or could be experiencing some kind of loss, I find myself being hard on others.  In fact, I come to expect more from everyone else than I can even do myself.

This is one of the characteristics of the Pharisees; the group of Jewish scholars often criticized by Jesus as placing a heavy burden on the backs of the people they led (Matthew 23:3-4).  When I become so quick to point out ways others offend me, I'm taking part in a similar habit.  I'm more attentive to my own rights and feelings, failing to even consider the one who "offended" me.  Instead, I can let the insults roll off me, trusting that God will avenge me if I'm ever truly insulted (Romans 12:19-20).

If my skin is so thin that every off-word wounds my heart I'm a fool who sets the bar so high for others that I can't even reach it myself.

Slow-to-speak.  It is said that Abraham Lincoln quipped, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."  I have to admit, it's hard for me to remain silent when I think I have something smart, or helpful, or beneficial to say.  When someone is going through a hard time, or others are sharing their stories, or I hear advice that doesn't strike me as sound, I'm quick to pipe up, sharing what I know.

Instead of trying to prove my worth by sharing what I know, I can pay attention, practicing the art of listening.  I've seen many-a-know-it-all who seems to suck all the oxygen out of the room.  They can't seem to resist any opportunity to show off what they know, to highlight their own estimation of their cleverness, to act as if the world can't go on without hearing what they have to say.  As much as these types cause me to cringe and run the other way, I have to admit that I have a bit of the same desire within.  Who doesn't want to feel important and needed, that their knowledge can help others along?  Therefore, I must be careful to only speak when the time is right; when its best for all parties involved and according to God's leading (James 3:17).  Sometimes, it's just time to be quiet (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

If I'm quick to share my knowledge without discretion I'm a fool who never learned consideration and prudence.

I never want to play the fool, but often I tend to act less-than wise.  If I want to avoid the fool's way, I must guard against self-righteousness by letting God humble me and be my guide, to cut others a break so I'm not so quick to be offended by their insults, and to avoid speaking up so quickly, paying attention to when it's time to share what I know.  In these ways I'll stick to the way of wisdom.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to listen to His guidance.

When am I most easily offended?

How do I spend my time criticizing others?     

The Abomination of Unfairness

"A false balance and unrighteous dealings are 

extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord,

but a just weight is His delight."

Proverbs 11:1 AMP

I like to think of myself as a pretty fair and honest person.  Since God feels so strongly about dishonesty and unfairness, however, I had better ask Him if there is a way I tip the scales in my favor (Psalm 139:23-24).  Here are a few possibilities:

Hoard.  His love is never ending and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).  My heart is like a spring refreshing me with His flow of living water (John 7:38)  I'm awash in a river of grace (Romans 6:14).  I am so thankful for all the blessings that are mine in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).  Yet is it all for me?

I tend to live unfairly when I assume all the good things God is constantly giving me is only for me.  I am meant to exist as a conduit of His love, grace, mercy and goodness to the world around me, letting His blessings flow out to others (Philippians 2:3-4, 2 Corinthians 4:7).  Instead, I tend to hoard them for myself, refusing to cut others a break, or love them where they are, or forgive as I've been forgiven.  

It is my desire to stop hoarding God's blessings for myself and let them flow forth to those around me.

Expecting Understanding.  It seems so obvious to me.  My argument sounds strong and is well-supported with scripture.  I don't see why everyone can't see the Truth, for it's so clear from my viewpoint.  But they don't.  The world criticizes my words supporting marriage as God created it to be, telling me my line of reasoning is flawed.  Or they label me as a misogynist because I speak out in favor of protecting life in the womb, failing to see the value in sheltering the innocent and vulnerable.  Or they claim they don't believe in my God so His laws don't apply to them.  I walk away frustrated, scratching my head in bewilderment.

In reality, I can't expect those without the benefit of God's indwelling Spirit to understand His way of thinking or an un-regenerated mind to grasp the concepts of God's value system.  Jesus rejoiced when considering how His Father revealed the deep things of God to the simple and childlike (Luke 10:21).  It's not those who think they are wise and learned who enter into this higher level of understanding.  Rather, it is those who are broken and needy, weak and at the end of themselves and who come to Jesus in their frailty who have been given the ability to understand.  Since God reveals such riches to me but not yet to the lost, it's not fair for me to expect those who don't yet believe in Jesus to think the same way I do.

It is my desire to remember when dealing with unbelievers that I have an unfair advantage through the Holy Spirit in understanding the things of God.

Rebuke.  I once was the same way, letting my own fleshly desires guide my footsteps, using my own way of thinking to form my opinions, finding my value system from the culture and tradition in which I operated.  Even though I have been rescued from such darkness, I can still remember what it was like.  It's important that I keep my origins in mind when interacting with the lost, otherwise, it's easy to expect the unrighteous to value righteousness.

No one can see the value in living God's way except by the inner workings of God as He changes the heart and mind, transforming it so it lines up more closely with that of Christ (Romans 12:2).  Therefore, I can't expect an unbeliever to see the value in sexual purity, or lifelong marriage commitment, or protecting unborn lives.   We don't share the same moral code.

It is my desire to refrain from rebuking an unbeliever for doing what comes naturally or living by a different set of rules.

While I may think of myself as honest and fair, there are some ways I behave unfairly.  I tend to hoard the good things God gives me instead of pouring the blessings out to others, expect the lost to understand the things of God, and rebuke the not-yet-saved for what is only possible through Christ.  In these ways the scales are tipped in my favor, and I have risked offending God in my attitude of unfairness.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to open up the flow of His goodness to others, believing that He will fill me up again.

When do I place an unfair expectation on the lost to think like I do?

How am I frustrated by the stubbornness of the lost, forgetting that I once was in the same boat?         

Never Hungry

"The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked."

Proverbs 10:3

God promises many things and He is faithful to keep each one of His words.  But this one has me wondering:  Is there more to hunger than an empty belly?

Righteousness.  There are many things I crave while living this temporary life.  I often drift toward selfishness, thinking if I could only find myself and figure out who I really am then I will be happy.  In my tendency to focus on my own needs and wants, I end up going after the things I think that will bring fulfillment and meaning:  success, pleasure, financial security, material wealth, social status (1 John 2:16).  In spite of my efforts, I never find complete gratification.  I'm always wanting more.

Then I remember that I was made for more than this.  In Christ I've been made right with God, the very thing I need to be able to enjoy His favor, to find His blessing, to prosper spiritually.  And when I truly value His better way of living, craving for all that He values like honesty, fairness in my dealings with others, kindness and obedience to His laws, I will find fulfillment and pleasure.  Finally, contentment will be mine as I walk in peace with my Shepherd.

God promises a happy and satisfied heart when I hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

Living Water.  She came to fill her jar with the life-giving liquid but came away with so much more.  No one valued her.  In fact, most saw her as worth little more than the grime between their toes.  She was despised by women and used by men.  Because of her station in life, she was constrained to visit the community well in the heat of the day to avoid the gossip and scorn of the other women.  Her heart ached for connection, for acceptance, for true love.

Then came the One who offered her Living water that will quench her deep-in-the-depths-of-her-soul yearnings.  Jesus gave her a new beginning as a woman who was seen and loved by the God who made her, and she received His gift of the abundant life with great joy (John 4:13-15).  

When I follow suit and receive the living water Jesus offers me, I will have everything I need flowing through me.  The indwelling Spirit of Jesus will quench my deepest thirsts, fill my empty places and heal my hurting heart.  He came to turn my worst nightmare into a great victory, not the kind of victory where I rise to the pinnacle of success or gain everything I ever wanted, but triumph over evil, worthless living and all that separates me from His love (Romans 8:31-37).  I am secure in His clutches, and this is the kind of success that lasts an eternity.

God promises to quench my deepest thirst with the living water that is found through faith in Jesus.

Bread of Life.  They saw their chance.  If they followed this charismatic and powerful teacher, they would never have to worry about food again.  Their days of hunger would be over.  Never again would they have to scrap for a few morsels to sustain their families.  Life would be good and they could focus on more than just survival.

Then Jesus brought them back to reality (John 6:25-34).  He came to give them more than just physical food to fill their bellies.  He came to fulfill every spiritual need as the Answer to every question they pondered, the solution to each problem they faced.  Jesus declared Himself the Bread of life that would deliver eternal and abundant life to those who believed (John 6:35).

I, too, am offered this full and thriving life as I look forward to life forever in my heavenly home.  When I trust in Jesus as my Savior, submitting to Him as Lord of my life, I will never lack for anything.  If, however, I stray away, looking elsewhere to supply my needs, to answer my questions, to offer solutions to my problems, I'll spend my days searching in futility.

God promises to satisfy my deepest hunger when I give my life to Jesus, the Bread of life.

The one thing I can count on in life is for God to keep His promises.  Therefore, there is no risk in seeking Jesus as my source of happiness, the Living water who will quench my deepest thirsts, and the Bread of life who fully satisfies my deepest cravings.  In Christ, I will never hunger for what really matters.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to be in charge of giving me what I need.

When do I look beyond Jesus to find meaning and purpose?

How am I straying away from my Shepherd who desires to give me what I most need?

The Way of Wisdom

"Wisdom has built her house;

she has set up its seven pillars.

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

She has sent out her servants, and she calls

from the highest point of the city,

'Let all who are simple come to my house!'

To those who have no sense she says,

'Come, eat my food

and drink the wine I have mixed.

Leave your simple ways and you will live;

walk in the way of insight."

Proverbs 9:1-6

There are so many voices calling out to me, luring me down varying paths promised to bring good things.  These messages sound beneficial at times, make sense, seem right.  How do I know if I'm on the right track?  Here is one way:

Correction.  It can be hard to hear.  I like to think I'm pretty smart, clever enough to choose the right way.  I'm not as good as I think, however.  I'm often off-base in my thinking, or what I cling to as truth is actually far from it, or the ways I've learned to cope with the ups and downs of life is not God's best for me.  How do I respond when a loving voice gently corrects me, showing me a better way, suggesting I might not have it right?

It's easy to be offended when I hear words of criticism, no matter how gentle.  Most people have been in the position of trying to offer words of advice or help someone else see the error of their ways and found themselves in the middle of a heated argument.  Heels are dug in, defenses raised, the nails come out and teeth are barred in preparation for a fight!  Then there are the rare times when the rebuke is received with thanks, and my words of suggestion are considered and treasured as vital to their growth.

Which category do I fall into?  Am I quick to defend my choices, refusing to even ponder the thought that I might be wrong?  Or do I gladly take direction from others, adopting a teachable spirit that believes there is always something new to learn?  The first is that of the foolish, the latter marks the wise (Proverbs 9:7-9).

I'm on the right track in life, following the way of wisdom, if I'm willing to accept instruction with great joy.

Attitude toward God.  He's the big guy upstairs.  He won't mind if I indulge; He knows I can't resist.  What can God do to help me?  Even He can't change a woman like me; I'm beyond saving.  It's up to me to find the answers.  Who am I that God would help a little guy like me?

It's easy to develop a low view of God, not seeing Him as He really is.  As I go through life and hear varying messages, I'm often swayed into giving God less and less respect.  While He is above all things, sovereign over all creation, powerful enough to speak the world into existence yet gentle enough to direct the lives of even the smallest of sparrows, I often relegate Him to nothing more than an impotent Grandfatherly type, an observing-yet-uninvolved far-away Being (Matthew 10:29-31).  I fail to revere Him as Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, Giver and Taker of life, the very Reason for my existence and the Center of all things.

I'm on the right track in life, following the way of wisdom, if I'm learning to respect God in all of His glory (Proverbs 9:10a).

Knowledge of God.  I live in the age of information.  There is a surplus of data waiting for me to gather it, a plethora of facts to peruse, a bunch of trivia with which to amuse myself.  I could spend every spare moment collecting knowledge.  But how much time do I spend getting to know God?  While it's not my intention to lay a burden of guilt on my shoulders, my desire (or lack of it) to grow closer to God and gain understanding of His ways is a good indicator of which direction I'm heading in life.  

If I'm more concerned with learning how to stem global warming, invest money, plant a successful garden, or a million other worthwhile interests, yet rarely wonder about God, wanting to find out more about His infinite character, it's time to take pause.  If I've developed a hunger for God and His Word, looking forward to each moment I spend with Him as He teaches me more about His deep ways, I'm headed in the right direction.  May I ask God to open the eyes of my heart so I will see all the blessings that are mine in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:16-21) and desire to know more each day.

I'm on the right track, following the way of wisdom, if I'm seeking knowledge of God (Proverbs 9:10b).

It's sometimes hard to know if I'm headed in the right direction.  With all of the choices available to me, I just might be gullible enough to be swayed into taking the wrong path or hard-headed enough to stick to the one that leads away from God's best for me.  How do I know?  There are many signs, but if I'm willing to accept correction, learning to revere God, and hungry for more knowledge of God, chances are I'm headed in the way of life.  It's not popular to walk the way of wisdom, but the heavenly treasure I find there is worth every struggle.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can value godly wisdom above worldly knowledge. 

When do I seek to grow my intellect but fail to cultivate my knowledge of God?

How am I showing disrespect for God in the way I think of Him or refer to Him in conversation?

Treasure Wisdom

"Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

At the highest point along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gate leading into the city,

at the entrance, she cries aloud:

'To you, O people, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, set your hearts in it.'"

Proverbs 8:1-5

There is much to value in this world:  An education.  Success.  Wealth.  Popularity.  Meaning.  While it is not popular to treasure godly wisdom, the farsightedness God possesses, His ability to see the big picture; there is a reason to hold as dear such a prize.

True Riches.  It can be tricky to pick out the valuable from the worthless.  My flesh leads me wrong every time, leaning me toward what seems so important like money in the bank, a full social calendar, or a well-respected and enjoyable career.  But will it last?  In the end, when I stand before God, will He count all I invest in as eternally dear?  Or will it be categorized as something that will pass away with the rest of the temporary (2 Peter 3:10, Matthew 6:19-21)?

Godly wisdom is considered as one of the eternally valuable possessions I can treasure.  Seeking advice from godly counsel, humbling myself to joyfully receive the hard words of discipline God often speaks, and desiring God's best for me even when it seems less than desirable at the time are all examples of how I can model my heart's desire to gain prudence and insight for living.  I will never be sorry I went after such treasure.

When I pursue wisdom and recognize it as truly valuable, I'll find when I get to the end of my life that it is worth more than all the gold in the world (Proverbs 8:9-21).

Preliminary.  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  (Genesis 1:1)  If I were to ask, "What was the first thing God created?" most of us would answer with great confidence, "Light." (v 3)  Unfortunately, we would all be wrong.

Wisdom was there first (Proverbs 8:22-31).  It was God's wisdom that created all things, and He first brought it forth into His creation before the first beam of light shone through the darkness.  Therefore, when God made all things, wisdom was already there, waiting to be sought after by man.  With such an important place in the order of all things, I must see that to respect wisdom and hold it as most appreciated among all He made shows I have an understanding of God's value system.

When I pursue wisdom and recognize it as truly valuable, I have shown my comprehension of God's priorities.

Life and Favor.  There are many philosophies which I can follow in life, a variety of viewpoints from which I can see my way through each day.  Some say to pay attention to daily needs and the rest will fall into place.  Others say to live right and it will come back to you threefold.  But only one says to seek after wisdom in order to find life and favor.

While I could simply look for what seems wise to my own eyes, I could also dedicate my days to following Jesus and paying attention to the lead of the indwelling Spirit to highlight what comes from Him.  When I do the latter, I'll find the abundant life Jesus came to give me and the favor of God I need to find His best for me (John 10:10, Psalm 5:12).

When I pursue wisdom and recognize it as truly valuable, I will find the life Jesus died for me to live and His unmerited grace overflowing in my life.

There is so much to value in this world, but as a follower of Jesus Christ my priorities must be different.  For one who is saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ, I can adopt God's value system.  When I do, I'll discover the true wealth that is found in His wisdom, that godly understanding and prudence existed before anything else was created and thus is the foundation of all things, and that the full life and favor of God I need comes from holding His knowledge and insight as dear.  When I treasure godly wisdom, I'll discover God's best for me.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to look for His wisdom throughout each moment.

When do I value worldly treasures more than I do insight for godly living?

How do I scorn biblical understanding as less than important as compared to success or financial security?