by Hannah Watson | Oct 11, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:21-26
The call to wisdom and the mandate of its pursuit is beautifully and highly prioritized throughout the whole of Proverbs. Solomon’s intentional language surrounding wisdom and its necessity within the lives of believers is something one can quickly discover. Wisdom is personified, emphasized and consistently advocated for. Why?
Because wisdom has promise.
Blessing, understanding, confidence, security, peace. Wisdom houses these within her. And they are the harvest we reap as we pursue.
“My son, do not lose sight of these – keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.”
I love how the amplified version highlights this verse: “…and they will be life to your inner self and a gracious ornament to your neck (your outer self).” Wisdom is nourishment to our spirit and discernment is a trustworthy guide, and the fruit produced by both is pleasing in the natural. A sweet aroma to those around us. Flowing from the inside out. Setting us apart in life and godliness.
“Then you will walk in your way securely and confident in trust, and your foot will not stumble.”
Jesus’ parting gift to humanity was his spirit, in fullness, to dwell within us. To seal the redeemed relationship between God and man. As we seek wisdom, we deepen trust -trust in the Holy Spirit to counsel in the ways of wisdom and reveal the intimacies of God’s heart. Further along in Proverbs, Solomon says, “it is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.” To seek wisdom is to discover the mysteries of God and to partake in relationship with the Lord, and what is given to us as we journey is security, confidence in trust, and the safety that accompanies knowing that we’re loved.
“If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”
Wisdom gives understanding. As we continue to grasp the knowledge of God, the truth that we’re wholly loved deepens within our hearts. Love leaves no room for fear; perfect love casts out fear. Wisdom’s promise enables us to walk securely in peace, confidently in love and, with an expectancy of grace to guard us and journey alongside us.
Solomon gives generous space within Proverbs to instruct us in the ways of wisdom. It’s intentional and it’s necessary, for the pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of the Lord. It is the consistent engagement in relationship with the Spirit, and out of intimacy, wisdom develops and deepens.
As you pursue, you’ll reap a harvest. Wisdom’s promise.
Photography: @sheasalz
by Taylor Adams | Oct 10, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:13-20
Wisdom is not just knowing what to do, but actually doing it. It is applied knowledge. It is the creative nature of God put into practice in every day life. Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” It is contagious, and when it is asked for, it cannot be withheld from you (James 1:5).
One of the most precious gifts that can be given is the gift of wisdom. It is amazing that one of the most important things in the kingdom of God is the gift that is the most accessible and sits only one declaration away. Solomon was a man who understood the power of wisdom and the importance in leading a kingdom given to God. When he asked for wisdom, God granted him riches, possessions, favor among other world leaders and a thriving kingdom. Wisdom grants us the ability to steward the rest of God’s gifts and it opens up the door to invite the counsel of God into each situation. No amount of wealth or goods can compare to the power of true wisdom, we must realize the power that comes with the gift. With wisdom, God created everything that moves and breathes. He ordered their steps and showed us how to live righteously. Everything that operates in the Kingdom of God operates out of wisdom. It literally creates an invitation to experience the fullness of the covenant we have received through faith.
Hosea 4:6 says, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” We must understand that as believers in Jesus, and people that are called to walk in the fullness of God that we can’t just go through life by our own efforts, but we must constantly seek the knowledge and wisdom that God has freely given, not only for ourselves but for the world around us. It is of more value than jewels, money, kingdoms, and fame, and we owe it to ourselves, to God and to those around us.
by Toni Thrash | Oct 9, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3.11-12
My child, don’t reject the LORD’S discipline, and don’t be upset when He corrects you. (3.11)
In this day and age, discipline is not a popular topic. But it is a tool God uses to mature us to godly character. This verse is telling us to not turn our back on the very thing we need to grow. Our own rebellion and need for repentance is one reason we need discipline. Discipline helps us see ahead to make a stand before we need to make the choice in front of us.
For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights (3.12)
Hopefully, we catch the fact that He loves us and finds delight in us. When this is evident in a relationship, the discipline is easier to take. In 1 Corinthians 11.32 it says, ”...we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”This is the separation tactic. He loves us, then He disciplines us to keep us from being condemned along with the world. Take it as a sign of how much He cares for you.
This is an act of love! He doesn’t do it to punish us but to spur us on to holiness. Discipline hurts, but in the long run, it doesn’t harm us or destroy us. So when discipline comes and oh, it will, find joy in the fact that you are His and this love is so great, He chooses to separate you from the grip of the world. God uses those assigned to us, such as a parent, to hand out discipline, to bring our lives into holiness and into His ideal plan for us.
Photography: @titus_anthony
by Lauren McPherson | Oct 8, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3: 9-10
Honor the Lord with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats brim over (Proverbs 3:9, 10). Why is this so hard for some of us? It was easy for the Israelites to honor God with their best and the first of their harvest; after all they had been walking around in the wilderness for 40 years. The word Honor also means privilege, they gladly gave the best of their grains and barley because they had the privilege to do it, and God had answered their prayers and did what he promised. To better put it into perspective, the “firsts” could have fed the farmer and two other people in his house for a week.
Why do we give God the best of us, the first of us? Because we are nothing without him. He has always kept his promises to us. If he isn’t the first thing that we run to when the sky is falling, then we should check our priorities. He says right there in verse 10 your barns will burst! I want all that God has for me.
You may also know this passage when people talk about tithing. We hold our earthly riches so close and are afraid to let them go, or scared that we won’t be able to pay an important bill. I have watched what it means to give your firsts, and watched the amount of blessings and earthly riches be poured out to where storehouses were full. I have also prayed through a steady stream of tears and wondered what was going to happen next, how God was going to provide. Why do we worry about these things so much, why do they consume us? Anything the devil can do to get our eyes off of Christ, is a win for him.
My favorite saying I’ve deemed my “reality check” is, none of what we have is ours anyways, it’s all God’s. So if this is the case then he can have all of my firsts because he was the one who gave them to me. Christ died for us so that we can live with him forever, so why would I want to give him any less then my best!
Photography: @brandon_nalley
by Shelby Bland | Oct 7, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3: 5-8
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”
In my bible, this section of scripture is titled, “Guidance for the Young.” Life is full of not-so-obvious “youngs.” Teenage years see us under the supervised boundaries of parents and other adults. The twenties have us continuously trying to find steady ground in school, finances, relationships, and living situations. In our thirties, we might start leading young families and find ourselves responsible for new little lives. Beyond that, we relinquish children to freedom, learn to be useful and content in an empty nest, and navigate the waters of aging bodies and figuring out where our old ideals fit into the rapidly changing world.
In all of these new transitions in life, we deceive ourselves if we think we automatically have all the wisdom possible simply because of our levels of experience. Just as a small child has few answers to a big world, we must again adopt the mind of a child and lean completely on God our Father to guide us. Jesus himself says that “Anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17. We must reenter that place of innocence, of total dependency, in order to relinquish control.
“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
The word “ways” comes from the Hebrew word that means “way, road, distance, journey, manner.” This means in your travelling, in your adventure, in your daily routine, in your attitude, in your actions, in every aspect of your life, submit to God. This is what it takes to see the path he has set before you made straight.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
This verse can be easily connected with Isaiah 55:9, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” The moment we begin relying on our own wisdom is when we begin settling for much less than is possible. Because God’s ways are infinitely higher than ours, his wisdom far surpasses our own. This leads to refreshment that revitalizes us to the core. Leaning not on ourselves, but on Him—that is when we will thrive.
Photography: @fordyates
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