Day 24 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Investing for Growth

Proverbs 6:1-5 [NKJV] 1 My son, if you become surety for your friend, [If] you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. 3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. 4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. 5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand [of the hunter], And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Who hasn’t ever put themselves at risk financially? It could be investing in risky stocks for the hope of faster gain. It could be, as this proverbs indicates, co-signing on a loan for a friend, or even lending money directly to a friend or family member who you know isn’t reliable. Maybe you overspent on that dream vacation or a designer handbag. Maybe you racked up credit card debt, risking the chance that you may not have money for your rent or car payment, and possibly ruining your credit. Whatever risky situation I may have gotten myself into, this proverbs advises immediate and dramatic steps to correct it. Don’t wait. Start today.

God is concerned that we take care of the financial and physical blessings He has given us, but He is even more concerned about the spiritual blessings He has bestowed on us.

God has invested in us. He gave the precious gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. God gave us Jesus’ own blood for our spiritual healing and the beating He received was for our physical healing. God gives us His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. God HAS invested a LOT into us and He has given us only so much time on the earth to invest and grow those blessings.

We must use that investment God gave to us wisely. When I realize that I have foolishly invested time and talents in something that is not to His glory, to my own good or to the good of His people or to the good of the world around me, I must take immediate steps to correct that.

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. It begins like this: Verse 14 For [the kingdom of heaven is] like a man traveling to a far country, [who] called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. This parable then outlines very clearly that God expects us to invest what He has given us with an eye toward growth – turning 10 talents into 20 or 5 talents into 10 or one talent into two.

I have a 401K plan with my job. I decide what percentages to invest in which types of plans. Some are riskier than others. I can easily go online and make changes if I see my investments are not producing or as my risk aversion changes with age.

Spiritual investments are the same. If I have foolishly invested my time, talents or gifts in something that is not to God’s glory then I can easily go “on line” in prayer to repent, confess and alter course. Proverbs urges me never to delay that process.

Sisters, God wants His investment in us to be a wise investment. He is not like the foolish man in Proverbs 6, loaning money or goods to an unreliable person. He gives us every resource and opportunity to pay Him back with spiritual growth.

So, if you find yourself in a situation that is a bad investment of your time, spiritual gifts or talents, don’t wait, start right now to correct it.

Prayer — Father God, You have given me so many blessings, the greatest of these include investing Your Spirit and the life of my Savior to give me a greater life today and an amazing, eternal future. Thank You for all you have given me. Help me today to invest my time, talents, spiritual gifts and physical goods wisely – to Your glory, to advance the Gospel and to my own good. In Jesus name I ask. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 23 – 90 Days in Proverbs - The Folly will Get You

Proverbs 5:22-23 [NKJV] 22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked [man], And he is caught in the cords of his sin. 23 He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

This proverb does not mince words. Essentially, it says, “Your sins will kill you.” It reminds me of one of my husband’s frequently uses sayings: “Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes times that reason is you are foolish and make bad choices.”

Although I never want to forget that Jesus died to save me from the ultimate results of my sin – eternal death (Romans 6:23) – I must realize that God will sometimes let me suffer the natural result of sin. If I sin by stealing, God will let me go to jail. If commit adultery, I may face divorce.

God may not protect me from other foolish actions that are naturally harmful, like smoking, abusing drugs or alcohol, or reckless driving. These things have natural consequences.

The love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus are not a “get out of jail free” card for our lives. God will let us suffer for sin and foolish choices. But even that (allowing us to suffer the consequences of sin) is out of love. Can you imagine a world where those who had once repented and given their lives to God could now be foolish and reckless without consequences? We’d be a danger to ourselves and the unprotected world around us. Human nature being what it is, we’d probably just get bolder with taking risks and acting foolishly.

Our Abba, who is the perfect parent, will let us learn from the consequences of our actions. He always makes the right decision on when to protect us from the consequences and when to let us learn from them.  

This is why we must pray for wisdom and guidance each day – so that we can make right choices – choices whose natural consequences are good things for ourselves and those around us – choices that build relationships – choices that make a positive impact on our lives and the lives of others – choices that build godly character.

The Holy Spirit is there for us, and in us, to guide us away from foolish choices and toward the best choices each and every day.

My younger sister told me that when she used to drop her girls off at school, the last thing she would say to them is “I love you. Make good choices.” The Father bids us the same. He loves us. Let’s go out today and make good choices.

Prayer — Lord God, Father and Protector – Thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus, given so that the penalty for sin is wiped away. Please forgive my sins by His precious blood. But, also, Father, I ask that You protect me today from consequences of bad choices that can harm me or others. Fill me with the great wisdom of your Holy Spirit to lead and guide me in every aspect of my life today. In Jesus name I ask. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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Day 22 – Proverbs 22 - Somebody’s Watching Me

Proverbs 5:21 [NKJV] For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and He examines all your paths.

Michael Jackson had a song that went like this: “I always feel like somebody’s watching me.” This scripture reminded me of that song. Well, guess what, sweet sisters – somebody is watching you.

Perhaps it reminds you of a song you learned in Sabbath school or Sunday school: “Oh be careful little eyes what you see, Oh be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love…”

Proverbs 5:21 tells us that God is watching. Nothing I do is hidden from Him. Nothing I say is hidden from Him. Nothing I think or feel is hidden from Him. There are times when He sees the good things we do in private, that no one else may know about. He also sees the private, hidden sins.

God sees my ways, my words and my thoughts and those things (my ways, words and thoughts) show Him where I am headed on my journey of life. He isn’t just seeing individual thoughts and actions. He sees patterns of behavior. What are my habits? My focus? My routine responses? And He sees where these things are taking me. Am I headed to trouble and pain and eternal death? Or am I headed to His Kingdom and eternal reward?

God asks us to partner with Him in watching our ways and examining our paths. 1 Corinthians 11:28 begins “But let a man examine himself…”

2 Corinthians 13:5 [NKJV] says Examine yourselves [as to] whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

Each sin needs to be repented of, forgiven and washed away by the precious blood of Jesus. But, as we see them and repent, we are also supposed to be turning our lives around. Over time I am to be retraining myself. My mind, my thoughts should be changed. My words should be different. My actions should be changed. I should develop new patterns of behavior.

In short, God needs to be seeing that I am on a new path, different from the path I was on before I met Him and gave my life over to Him.

God is watching and taking note. He isn’t doing it to catch me in sin but so that He can help me get on or stay on the right path.  Today I commit to watching myself too. I will ask “Where am I headed?” “Am I walking in the light?” “Am I on a path to spiritual success?” “Where is this thought or action taking me?”

Sweet sisters, join me in examining ourselves today, as we know God is doing, to ensure we are on the right path. Somebody  watching you. It is our loving Father.

Prayer — Dear Lord, I want to be on the path of righteousness. I know that you see me as your daughter whom you love. I also know that my ways are not hidden from you. You see the good and the bad. Help me to see the individual sins and the patterns of behavior that set on the wrong paths and to correct them with your help and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 21 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Drink of Choice

Proverbs 5:15-20 [NKJV] 15 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?

This segment of Proverbs 5 speaks directly about being faithful in marriage. Verse 18 ties all the flowery talk about water and wells, and intoxication directly to being content in marriage. This segment boils down to Solomon’s advice to: “love your own wife and not someone else’s”.

Lack of fidelity in marriage is a problem in modern times - just as it was back then. As we have discussed before, Solomon had some history with that, given that the relationship between his father, David, and his mother, Bathsheba, began with adultery.

However, if we look at this segment in a broader sense, we can see that it could easily be applied to any part of our blessings. In a broader sense, this segment of Proverbs tells us to “be happy with what we have.”

It reminds me of Exodus 20:17 [NIV] "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

A lack of contentment with what we have, a lack of thankfulness for the blessing in our lives, can lead to sinful actions like adultery or stealing. If I am happy with my own blessings, I would not seek someone else’s goods. This is support by 1 Timothy 6:6 [NKJV] which tells us Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

This world breeds discontentment. In every TV, radio or social media commercial and in every glossy magazine touting the new car, bigger TV, more powerful phone, designer handbag or fresh lipstick color is the subtle (or maybe not so subtle) hint that what I have isn’t good enough.

Proverbs 5 doesn’t just tell me to stay away from what others have that I don’t, it also encourages me to enjoy what I do have – to drink from the well of blessings that God has already given me. That may include a mate, a car, a job, a home, etc.

If we are busy drinking from our own well of blessings - enjoying them, maybe using some of those blessings to help others, and always being thankful for what we have - we will never be thirsty for the blessings of others. 

So, drink up, sweet sisters.

Prayer — Father God, You have given me so much. Most especially I am thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and for the mercy and grace you have given to me through Him. But I also have so much more. My blessings include (list your own) and I will be thankful for them. I will enjoy these great blessings – the spiritual and physical – and drink up of the goodness You have given to me. Help me always to do so. If I had nothing but Your love I would be blessed beyond measure, but you have chosen to give me more. Thank You for Your generosity it and love. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 20 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Regrets, I’ve Had a Few

Proverbs 5:9-14 [CSB] 9 Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to others and your years to someone cruel;  10 strangers will drain your resources, and your hard-earned pay will end up in a foreigner's house.  11 At the end of your life, you will lament when your physical body has been consumed, 12 and you will say, "How I hated discipline, and how my heart despised correction.  13 "I didn't obey my teachers or listen closely to my instructors.  14 "I am on the verge of complete ruin before the entire community."

These verses focus on the end results of choosing the wrong path – loss of vitality, drained resources, a broken body and a ruinous end.

We should live our lives so that we can look back on them without regret. That should be the goal. Maybe you’ve been successful so far. Me? I have a few regrets – things I chose to do; things I failed to do.

We have a High Priest who understands us and the struggle we face in trying to live a life free of regret. He walked among us on a very straight, narrow and difficult path that He and the Father chose.

Hebrews 4:15 [NKJV] 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin.

You can rest assured that Jesus does not regret what He did for you. [See Phil. 2:5-11] And, for those who strive to follow in His footsteps, He is waiting for the opportunity to say to you “Well done, good and faithful servant” – as we see in Matthew 25:23.

We will not regret any of the hard decisions or difficult parts of our lives where we chose God over things like money or power or success or temptation. For those who strive to live without regret, we are told that we will end up with beautiful, perfect spiritual bodies, not wasted ones. [See 1 Corinthians 15:53-54] We will end up in glory, not in ruins. Whatever resources we use in God’s work and to His glory will be paid back many times over. Luke 19:17 [NKJV] "And he said to him, 'Well [done], good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'

We might regret the mistakes, missteps and sins of life – the missed opportunities act and the times we not have acted but did. But, I promise you sweet sisters, in the end, you will not regret choosing obedience and walking in the path of righteous.

Prayer — Father God, Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus and His example in obedience. Thank you that the regretful acts of disobedience and sin that I have done are covered by His blood. Thank you that I can look forward to glory and eternal life and reward in the end, if I stick to the path of obedience to you, because of what He has done. I will never regret choosing You. Help me to choose You again today and every day. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts:

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Day 19 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Solid Path

Proverbs 5:5-6 [CSB] 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps head straight for Sheol. 6 She doesn't consider the path of life; she doesn't know that her ways are unstable.

The road to life may be narrow and difficult (Matthew 7:13-14). It can feel like a hiker’s mountain trail that’s a constant uphill climb, as it winds in and out of the woods, and over rocky places and fallen trees. However, whatever we face along that path, we can at least, with packed dirt beneath our feet, be sure it is a stable path.

A Christian may walk a narrow and sometimes difficult path. It’s part of the human journey. God does not always protect us from the bumpy parts of life.

As Christians, when we walk life’s bumpy paths, at least we know where we are headed. We know that steady obedience to God is a stable path that leads us toward God’s Kingdom, reward and eternal life. There may be twists and turns we didn’t expect but the goal and our progress toward it never changes.

If we were not walking on the narrow path to the Kingdom we would be walking on the shifting sands of human nature and Satan’s fickle ways. But we’d be on the path to a sure outcome too. The path may look broad and easy, but we’d be following in the footsteps of Satan, who hates mankind and seeks to destroy us.  So, it will not be a broad and easy path in the end. Satan seeks to lead you on an easy path to destruction.

It seems contradictory that the path to glory would be narrow and difficult. We want it to be easy. However, those of us who choose it know that it is a path build on the solid rock of love of God. God, whose compassion and mercy never fails is as sure, solid path beneath our feet. We know it is a path paved for us by the precious blood of Jesus. We know it is a path to success because Jesus now advocates for us at the throne of the Father each day.

Because we know and trust that our difficult and narrow path is stable, we can choose to walk it every day.

Walk on, sweet sisters. Go over, under or around the obstacles that try to block your way, but keep going. You are going to make it along that solid path to glory.

Prayer — Father God, I know the path you have chosen for me has been paved by the blood of Jesus. I trust you to guide me through it and I know you are there with me no matter how difficult my path may be. And, because I trust in you, I will walk on. Please provide the strength I need today to face whatever is in my path. In Jesus name I ask. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 18– 90 Days in Proverbs - She Will Cut You

Proverbs 5:1-5 [NKJV] 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, 2 That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth [is] smoother than oil; 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell.

There is a LOT of advice in Proverbs about staying away from an immoral woman. Solomon had hundreds of wives and concubines. It makes me wonder about what that household might have been like.

Solomon warns us that this immoral woman seems like honey and oil, but she is wormwood and death. And, her ways like a two-edged sword. I assume Solomon is saying that her ways bring pain and suffering to both the man who is lured by her and to her own life. That’s how sin works.

The reference to a two-edged sword reminds me of Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

There’s a big difference between the two references, though. The Word of God cuts away the carnal nature in us – the thoughts and intents of our own hearts that often lead us to sin. The purpose of the two-edged sword wielded by God is to surgically remove the carnal nature within us so that we may be filled with more of the divine nature of God. It is similar to how a surgeon would remove a tumor in me – something that does not belong there – so that I can have better health.

In other words, God’s two-edged sword is used for spiritual healing and growth. It results in life – a better life now and a fabulous life in the Kingdom.

Unlike God’s two-edged sword, the two-edged sword of the immoral woman leads to sin and death for herself and for those ensnared by her.

All the ways of this world, of Satan, of our carnal nature lead to death. Before being called by God into new life in Him, whatever sins tempted us led us toward death. Any sin, not just sexual sin, can seem like honey and oil, or it wouldn’t be so tempting. And all sin ends up with bitterness and ultimately death.

But sisters, we can dodge that two-edged sword that is the result of sin, if we are willing to submit to the two-edged sword that is wielded by God. We escape the two-edged sword of sin when we repent, because Jesus already paid the price and took the punishment for us.

You and I will never regret what the Lord removes from us, any more than we would regret having a cancerous tumor removed. We welcome God’s intervention for our own spiritual health. The sword in His hands leads to new life now and eternal life in His Kingdom.

We will regret the two-edged sword wielded by sin. Sin, it will cut you.

So, we must ask ourselves whose sword we are submitting to.

Prayer — Father God, lead me away from the temptations of this world and my own human nature. Lead me away from the ways that lead to bitterness and death. Remove my sins from me by the precious blood of Jesus. Cut away the carnal nature within me and graft in the Holy Spirit. Your ways lead to eternal life in Your Kingdom. I choose Your sword. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 17– Straight On

Proverbs 4:20-27 [NKJV] 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they [are] life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it [spring] the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

Long before Jesus cautioned us to enter the narrow and straight gate in Matthew 7:13-14, Solomon cautioned us to look straight ahead and stay on the right path [v. 24-26].

Isn’t it wonderful how the scriptures in both Old & New Testaments align with one another? The fact that Solomon’s words reflect Jesus’ words remind us that Solomon’s wisdom was a direct blessing from God – not something he was born with or gathered on his own.

Solomon also gives us guidance on how to stay on the straight path.

Verse 20-21 – Listen to and really pay attention those who are older and wiser than you.

Verse 23 – Guard your heart from being infiltrated by wrong thoughts that will lead you to another path. Where we are going begins with intent. I have to ask myself, “What is my intent? Where is my heart leading me?” Sisters, good behavior never begins with wrong intent.

Verse 24 – Guard your mouth. Be careful what you say to others and to yourself. Words have power to sway us. We can talk our way into trouble, into anger, jealousy or fear, even if those words are only running around in our heads, but especially if we let them fly out instead of controlling them.

Verse 25 – Look where you are going. Pay attention to the path you are on. Look ahead to the Kingdom – not down at this earth today. This earth today is not where our focus should be. If your eyes are on the goal of the Kingdom, your feet will follow.

Verse 26 – Watch where you are walking. Your feet follow your heart, mouth and eyes, but sometimes we don’t realize we are headed in the wrong direction until our steps have taken us off the right path and we are in danger of stumbling on a rocky path were we never intended to go. If you feel you are on shaky group, reflect on the steps you have taken and adjust your heart, mind, eyes and feet.

Following the right path takes whole-body commitment. It reminds me of the children’s song I learned at church: “Oh be careful little mind what you, think…. For the Father up above is looking down in love…” The song goes through mind, eyes, mouth and feet. We need to be careful about all of them.

Like that song, Solomon warns us that, if we want to stay on the right path, we must pay attention with our minds, our hearts, our mouths and our feet. Where are you headed today, sweet sister?

Prayer — Father God, this world has so many distractions. This world offers bad advice that can sound so good. Help me to listen to those who are senior in knowledge of Your Word and in fullness of your Spirit. Most of all, help me to listen to and internalize Your Words in the Bible. Help me to use them to keep my heart, my words, my focus and my feet on the right path today and every day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 16 – Just Get It!

Proverbs 4:5a [NKJV] Get wisdom! Get understanding!

Can I be honest? To me, the words of Proverbs 4:1-19 read like a lecture from my father or mother. As I read through it, I get the image of myself saying these words to my own children while my kids are doing dramatic eye rolls behind my back.

And when it comes to verse 5, I raise my voice for emphasis and shout “Get wisdom! Get understanding” – “Just get it” – in the same tone that I would use if a wet dog was sprinting out of the bath and heading out the door to the mud puddle in the back yard. “Get it! Don’t let it escape.”

It seems like Solomon, who received great wisdom as a gift from God, understood that the rest of us weren’t quite so lucky. We must work toward getting wisdom. Further, Solomon knows that understanding should be the companion of wisdom. We can know a lot without truly understanding it, but just knowing things is not enough.

I go to a primarily bi-lingual church these days and can now sing a couple of songs completely in Spanish. I don’t understand most of what I am saying – only a few key words. So, mostly I am just parroting the rest of the congregation.

However, I am gradually actually learning some conversational Spanish because the brethren are teaching me by pronouncing words and giving me the English equivalent. Understanding the words is very helpful to retaining them and being able to use them appropriately.

The Bible is full of wisdom. To get it, we must immerse ourselves in the Word on a regular basis. But really understanding God’s word comes from the Holy Spirit. To get understanding through the Holy Spirit we must be open to the Spirit, listening to its workings in our hearts and minds. 

Solomon rightly implies that we have to be active participants in the process of gaining both wisdom and understanding. We must seek it. Go after it. Spend time where we will find it. Run after it and chase it down if necessary.

So, sweet sisters: Get wisdom! Get understanding! Lecture over.

Prayer — Father God, all wisdom and understanding comes from You – from Your Holy Spirit and from Your Word, the Bible. As Your child, I want to grow in Your wisdom and in understanding of Your Word. Today, I ask You to dwell in me, to lead me and to help me to grow in the wisdom and understanding that can only come from You. Help me to be guided by it and to direct my life according to it. In Jesus’ name I ask. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 15 - 90 Days in Proverbs - God Has Your Back

Proverbs 3:31-35 [NKJV] 31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; 32 For the perverse [person is] an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel [is] with the upright. 33 The curse of the LORD [is] on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. 34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Who would envy an oppressor? I know that sometimes the “mean girls” from high school are envied because they are on the top of the food chain, so to speak. But do we as adults ever envy or look up to those who oppress others to get ahead?

This is a tricky question for us because so often in this world people who rise to the top have done so by oppressing others. Sometimes it is just being selfish or taking a “me first” attitude at the office. Other times it can be actively back-stabbing others, taking credit for work a person didn’t do (or didn’t do alone) or even implying weakness in others so you look strong.

We Christians would not want to imitate that behavior, of course. But we can envy the success that comes from it because we have seen that humble, kind and loving behavior is often not rewarded in this world. We may wonder, “Can a good person get ahead in this world?” It may be hard not to strike back when the oppressor is responsible for my not getting ahead.

We understand that in this life “survival of the fittest” has become “survival of the least moral.” We know that the meek will not inherit the earth until Jesus returns. It can be difficult to press on with meekness and kindness, knowing that sometimes you will get stomped on by others and passed over for success. That is just the way Satan’s world works.

However, we do not want to miss an important point of this segment of Proverbs. That point is that God “has your back.” We might not be rewarded by a boss who cannot see past the self-promoting oppressor. But God sees it and He will reward us.

God blesses the house of the just. He gives grace to the humble. He rewards the wise with glory. We need to remind ourselves of this, as David often did through his Psalms. Psalm 27 begins with these well-known lines: The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? And goes on to talk about how God intervenes to take care of His people.

We believers always have to focus on the ultimate goal – the Kingdom. We believers must always focus on the ultimate victory – the victory over sin in our own lives. We believers must always focus on the spiritual rewards – blessings and glory from God. We believers must always focus on the One who is fighting for us – the One who is always on our side.

God is looking out for you always. So there is no need to envy those who get ahead in this life by means of oppression. God is looking out for you always. So, there is no reason to give into the temptation to “just this once” try one of those oppressor type tactics to get ahead. That 25-year watch from the office is not worth it.

God has our back, sweet sister – even though it may not seem like it when you are passed up for a promotion in favor of someone whose tactics are not godly. This life is short compared to eternity. We are climbing a spiritual ladder to success that offers rewards that last forever.

This is the example that Jesus set for us. He was faced with great oppression. The leaders of His day got ahead by oppressing their own people. He stood meekly and quietly as He was falsely accused by those who wanted get or stay on top. [See Isaiah 53:7 and Matthew 27:11-14] He stayed true to the spiritual goals set for Him. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can stay true to those spiritual goals in the face of similar treatment.

Never forget that God’s got your back in every circumstance.

Prayer — Father God, in this life it often seems like the oppressor, the evil person, the person without scruples or morals is the one who gets ahead. But my goal, my focus is your Kingdom and building success that lasts all eternity. Help me to always focus on that and never be tempted to try out the ways of the oppressor. Thank you, Father, for always having my back, watching out for me and rewarding me for living the humble, wise and obedient life you have called me to live. Strengthen me in my walk, oh Lord, and guide me always. Help me to live the life that Jesus lived. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 14 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Withholding Good

Proverbs 3:27-28 [NKJV] 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do [so]. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give [it]," When you have it with you.

God is looking for generous daughters who, when they see a need, respond with giving whatever they have to give. We should not think only of “things” that might be given – money, clothes, or food, for example, although it is important to give those things. Verse 27 says “Do not withhold good”, not “goods”. Although other scriptures do specifically encourage us to give of the things we possess, we don’t always have a lot to share in the realm of material possessions.

People in need often do need clothing and food and money for rent. But they are almost always also equally in need of prayer, encouragement, the good news of the Gospel, someone to listen to them, someone to care, or just to spend time with them.

I don’t know about you, but I do not carry extra clothes or food with me in my purse or car. In the case of coming upon someone in need of food or clothes, I would have to say, “I’ll bring them to you later”. Many times, I don’t even have any significant money with me to hand over.

However, I always have ears to listen, a mouth to speak words of encouragement or to speak of the love of God and His plan of salvation for all. As busy as my life may seem, I often have the time to stop what I am doing and pray for others or with them. And if I am committed to giving good at the moment it is needed or requested, then stopping right then to pray with or encourage them is what I should do.

Remember the example of Peter in Acts 3. He was asked for money and he didn’t have any. But he did not ignore the beggar. Instead, he gave the beggar much more than the beggar requested. Peter took the time to stop, acknowledge the beggar and heal him by the power of Jesus.

You and I may not have the gift of healing. But we do all have the gift of time. We can heal a broken spirit by showing care and concern – by taking the time to stop on our way to whatever else seems (or is) oh, so important to encourage another person.

Sweet sisters, we must recognize these opportunities and be willing to pause our busy lives to give good when we have it to give. We all have good news to give. We all have time to give. We all have love to give. These things represent the good we are to give others in their time of need.

Prayer — Father God, You have given me so much. You give me each new 24-hour day. Help me to generously give some of that time to others whenever possible and when it is asked of me. You have given me Jesus and the knowledge of your plan of salvation for all. Help me to give the good news whenever it is asked of me. And when goods are required, if I am able to do so, help me to freely give of that too, so that I can be more like Jesus who set the example for me. In His name I pray. Amen.

Your thougts:

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Day 13 – 90 Day in Proverbs - Daddy’s Girl

Proverbs 3:13-20 [NKJV] 13 Happy [is] the man [who] finds wisdom, And the man [who] gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds [are] better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. 15 She [is] more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace. 18 She [is] a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy [are all] who retain her. 19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; 20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.

Proverbs 3, verses 13-18 encourages us to actively pursue wisdom and gives us the benefits of doing so. The benefits of pursuing wisdom, once you have grabbed her, include riches and honor and peace. Pursuing wisdom and its benefits are recurring themes in the book of Proverbs.

And then, in verses 19 and 20, Solomon pivots from telling us about pursuing wisdom for the good it brings us to explaining how the Father used wisdom in creating the heavens and earth. It seems to me that he pivoting from saying to pursue wisdom in order to reap its benefits to saying “pursue wisdom so you can be more like the LORD” – more like the creator who used wisdom in His creation. Solomon is saying wisdom will make you more like your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5 also encourages us to act a certain way in order to be more like our Heavenly Father, especially verses 44 and 45. The chapter concludes in verse 48 with this: Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

I was a “daddy’s girl” growing up and everyone knew it. One story often told about me is that I would sit on my father’s lap and eat “stinky cheese” just to be more like him. He had a love of exotic cheeses. And I must say that, because of the time I spent trying these cheeses with my father, I do enjoy a variety of cheeses to this day.

Because I imitated Dad, I eventually became more like him in this aspect.

If we seek wisdom we will reap the benefits of it. If we use wisdom we will be more like our Heavenly Father who is wise and used wisdom in all His creation – from creation of plants and animals, to creation of man and creation of His plan for all mankind.

When we use wisdom in all we do, we will find that we have become more like Abba.

Sweet sisters, let’s all be “Daddy’s girls” by seeking His wisdom and using it every day.

Prayer — Abba, Father, please help me to gain wisdom – Your wisdom and not the wisdom of this world. I desire to have the quality of being wise and to have it show in everything I do – just as your wisdom is evident in all creation. Your wisdom will bless me far more than physical wealth can do. Father, make me over into Your image. I want to be more like You. Help me to be a “Daddy’s girl.” I ask this in the name of the One who showed us how to truly be the image of You – Jesus Christ. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 12 - 90 Days in Proverbs - A Father's Correction

Proverbs 3:11-12 [NKJV] 11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son [in whom] he delights.

Solomon uses three different Hebrew words here for chastening, correction and corrects – covering all the bases of the discipline from instruction to correction to punishment. God, our Father, who knows us better than we know ourselves, like any good parent, has more than one correction tool in His toolbox for working with His children.

It’s amazing how closely this scripture aligns with one in the New Testament.

Hebrews 12:7-8 [NKJV] 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

Well, maybe it isn’t so amazing that these two scriptures are so perfectly in synch, since God inspired both Testaments and both writers.

Why does God do it – why does He instruct, correct and punish us at different times? Out of love for us, of course, as Proverbs 3:12 tells us. But also for our growth.

Hebrews 12:11 [NKJV] Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

The fruit of correction by a loving Father, given to a child who seeks to obey, is righteousness. Instruction, correction and punishment lead to righteousness in us.

In 1 Chronicles 21, David was given the choice of three punishments for his sin of numbering the people. Here is the account of what he selected and why:

1 Chronicles 21:13 [NKJV] 13 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies [are] very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."

The passages in both Proverbs and Hebrews acknowledge that no one likes punishment or correction. But, we must understand that it is necessary for us, just as it is necessary for our own children.

And, just like David did, we must learn to trust God’s correction and His mercy more than that of any human father, more than any government, more even than any friend. The best human fathers are flawed. Parents make mistakes. We have our own sins and faults to work around.

But God, our Father, is perfect. He has no sin nor fault to cloud His judgement. Through His correction, He seeks to make more like Him. He seeks to make us children of righteousness. The path may bring us sorrow or pain, but the end result is worth the process.

Prayer — Father God, I know I need to be corrected in order to become more like you. I seek your correction, as David did, and trust in it as I trust in your love. I submit to your correction because I love You and because I want to become more like You. Guide me daily by Your Holy Spirit so that I need less correction. Please correct me with gentleness when I need it. In the name of Your only perfect Son, I ask. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 11 – 90 Days in Proverbs - God’s Economy

Proverbs 3:9-12 [NKJV] Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

In God’s economy, giving away your goods results in prosperity. This is NOT how the economies of the businesses and governments work in the world today – whether that economy is based on capitalism, socialism, communism or any other economic “ism” man has devised.

God’s economy, where giving away results in wealth, is also true when we are giving of our spiritual wealth – spiritual gifts and talents – to the service of the church or to the world at large.

The Proverbs are not alone in advising us that the way to wealth is by giving away what we have. Ecclesiastes 11:1 tells us: Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days

Matthew 25 reminds us that when God separates the sheep from the goats it will be along the lines of what they gave away – time, attention, worldly goods. And 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that our frame of mind matters too: [So let] each one [give] as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

So, for God’s economy to work, it takes a changed heart and a God-inspired focus on what being wealthy and filled actually means. It takes valuing people and God’s marker of success, and it takes a commitment to God’s business plan – one that focuses on His blessed children freely and willingly giving what they have – both physical and spiritual goods, to the less fortunate. The purpose of the blessings He gives to each of us is specifically so that we can freely give to others from the blessings He gives to us.

If you study the economic laws God gave to Israel in the Old Testament, you will find that they were to take care of the poor directly, but also were forbidden to harvest the corners of their fields, or pick up grain that was dropped in the harvesting, or go over their grapevines a second time – all for the purpose of providing for the less fortunate to come in and share the bounty that your own hard work created.

It isn’t only goods and services we are to be giving away, but also the knowledge of God and Jesus and of God’s plan of salvation. God freely gives [Romans 8:32] and we are to freely give as well [Matthew 10:7-8; Proverbs 23:23]

Dear sisters, it is my hope that you have abundance, at least in spiritual goods. And it is my hope that from your abundance, whether it is time, health, wealth or knowledge, you will find many opportunities to freely give to others. It is the backbone of God’s economy.

Prayer — Father God, You give generously to me and I want to be like you, giving to other others from the many blessing You have provided for me. Please lead me to see and follow all the ways you would have me to give and serve. Thank You for Your many blessing to me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 10 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Healthy core

Proverbs 3:7-8 [NKJV] 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

Proverbs 1:7 tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 9:10 that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. While knowledge is just being educated or aware, clearly wisdom is more than just knowing, it is doing.

In Proverbs 3:7, we are told to actively move away from evil – to make the decision to walk away from it. The Father knows that human nature, led by Satan, will default to the path of evil more often than not. If I don’t have the fear of the LORD as part of my life, I may walk with evil instead of walking away from it.

Fear of the LORD not only starts us on the path of knowledge and wisdom; it is not just academic information, it is also drives us to walk away from evil. Fear of the LORD identifies evil so that we can take action. Fear of the Lord changes our hearts and minds, leading us to want to do good and not evil. It leads us to want to follow the path of righteousness.

And who benefits from this walking away from evil? We all do. There is healing for us in the action of walking away from evil. We know that our spiritual health depends on it.

James 5:14-15 also makes a connection between sin and sickness; between trusting God and health. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [NKJV]

It is not for us to decide if someone is sick because of sin or circumstance. It’s possible that God will not even let us know if own illness is due to sin or not. However, dear sisters, we must focus on our own lives and the benefits to us of walking away from evil and trusting in the LORD rather than our own wisdom. Those benefits include healing to our flesh and bone but also, and more importantly, to our souls.

The exercise program I do points out in almost every session that a healthy core is important to all aspects of exercise – to muscle and bone health. Sisters, fear of the Lord and love of wisdom lead us to a healthy spiritual core that is the center of our hearts, minds and lives. With a healthy spiritual core, we will be able to walk away from evil.

Prayer — Father God, I trust in you and not my own wisdom. I choose to fear and obey you, walking away from evil, from sin. Help me to be spiritually healthy always. I trust in you for healing, body, mind, soul and spirit. I ask it all in the name of my Savior, Jesus. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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Day 9 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Trust Factor

Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV] 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

We have a trust problem in this world – not surprising when politicians, business leaders, priests and pastors have very publically failed the trust we have placed in them. Money laundering. Putting personal gain above public service. Sexual misconduct. Lying. These are too often the hallmark of those who are to be our leaders, servants and benefactors.

These so-called “leaders,” rather than setting a good example, have failed to show themselves worthy of our continued trust. When we put our trust in the leaders in this world, experience has shown that we might be disappointed more often than not. Little wonder we have a trust problem in this world.

But we also have to watch out when we are tempted to follow the often quoted advice of “trust your gut.” You see, Proverbs 3:5-6 indicates that we have to be careful about trusting out own human hearts, thoughts and perspectives.

Our own human hearts can deceive us, if we are not careful, because human nature is easily lead by Satan. Jeremiah 17:9 [NKJV] tells us The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

God asks us, instead, to completely trust Him – in His guidance and direction for our lives. And He makes the point that His ways and His thoughts are completely different from our own, natural ones. Isaiah 55:8 [NKJV] "For My thoughts [are] not your thoughts, Nor [are] your ways My ways," says the LORD.

God, who never changes [Malachi 3:6], is completely trustworthy. He always leads in the right direction. He always has your best interest at heart. His laws, His ways, His standards and His behavior are not impacted by pop culture or situational ethics.

You can put complete trust in God because He has earned our trust through the ages. We read about His complete trustworthiness in the Bible and, if we have worshipped Him for any period of time, we’ve seen His trustworthiness in action in our own lives. Whatever comes your way in life, dear sisters, you can put your complete trust God to be who He says He is and to do what He says He will do. Human leaders: not so much.

Prayer — Father God, I trust in you. I will lean on Your Word and will follow Your directions. I trust you over my own heart and understanding. Lead me by Your Holy Spirit to be as steady in goodness and obedience, faith and love, as You are in steadfast in Your love and care for me. In Jesus name I ask. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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Day 8 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Hang on

Proverbs 3:3-4 [NIV] 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

I might rephrase this in this in more modern terms this way: “Hang onto love and faithfulness with all your might. Make them a part of you. They will serve you well in this life and in the next.”

When you think of writing something on the tablet of our hearts, you may think of the word “internalize” – as in, “we must internalize love and faithfulness.” Love and faithfulness must be a part of our own character and makeup. This is what comes to mind for me.

What do you think of when the scripture says “bind them around your neck?” It makes me think of something that is right there, always visible. People should easy see love and faithfulness in our lives.

Also, our necks are close to our mouths. Calling to mind the proximity to my lips and the need for my words to be filtered by love and faithfulness.

Binding love and faithfulness around my neck also makes me think of something like a necklace that adorns us. Love and faithfulness provide adornment to our lives when we internalize them.

Love for God and love for others more than self are things that will make us stand out in the world. Faithfulness to God’s law of love, of which acts of service are a big part, will also make you stand out in this world.

Twice in Matthew 25, Jesus recounts these words for those the obedient servant: He lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Goodness (the acts of love) and faithfulness receive the promise of entering “into the joy of the Lord” in the future.

Sisters, I pray you are adorned with love and faithfulness today and always. I pray you will hang onto them as precious gifts of the Holy Spirit. They will make you stand out in this world and they will stand you in good stead for your eternal future.

Prayer — Faithful Father God, all goodness comes from You, for You are love. Help us to be Your true daughters by internalizing love and faithfulness and set them as the adornment of our lives so that we may be known as your true daughters. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 7 – 90 Days in Proverbs - That Woman!

Day 7 – That woman

Proverbs 1:20-33; 2:1-22  The rest of chapter one and all of chapter two in Proverbs provides a long discourse on the virtues and properties of wisdom, and the benefits of listening to and following “her”.

• She seeks you – Proverbs 1:20-21

• · She will mock you if you refuse her – Proverbs 1:24-28

• The benefits of listening and following her, which include:

o   Understanding – Proverbs 2:5, 9

o   Protection – Proverbs 2:11-12

o   Delivery from evil/evil ones – Proverbs 12, 16

Wisdom isn’t just about knowing stuff – that’s education. Wisdom is choosing the right, the obedient, actions. It begins with knowing God and His word intimately.

Godly wisdom should guide our thoughts to be more in line with God’s. It should guide our words to be full of love, patience, peace, comfort and hope. It should guide our actions toward service of others.

Sisters, I pray that you will make wisdom your best girlfriend and spend time with her (via God’s Word) every day. She will not gossip about you. She will not steer you wrong. She offers good advice, protection from sin and delivery from evil.

And, ultimately, you will be that wise woman yourself – you will become wisdom personified.

Prayer — All-wise God, please help me to be wise in all my thoughts, words and deeds. Place wisdom in my heart and mind through your word and the in-dwelling of your Holy Spirit. Let me led by her until I come to the place where personify her in every aspect of my life. In the name of my all-wise Savior I ask this. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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Day 6 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Influencers

Proverbs 1:10-19 [ESV] 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; 12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; 14 throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse"-- 15 my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. 17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, 18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. 19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

When I read this proverb, I think “Was this really a common problem in Solomon’s day: people just inviting others to attack innocent folks for no apparent reason?” If so, then the level of crime in that time must have exceeded what we see in even the toughest cities in the world today.

Bullying in schools, gangs, human trafficking, drugs – all problems of our modern world -- begin with one person inviting another to join them in sin. A person might shop lift on their own, but other sins rely on a pack mentality or a least the help of one other person. So, those already steeped in evil behavior do their best to influence others and draw them into sin. And it can be very difficult to break out from the pack once you’ve thrown your lot in with them.

But other instances of influence to sin might not be quite so obvious and dramatic. We can be influenced toward lust or greed by commercials that tempt us to buy beyond our means or to spend on ourselves instead of helping others. We can be influenced toward foul language or risky behavior by the TV shows we watch. We can be influenced to steal from the office or cheat the boss because others are doing it and getting away with it.

Although there may be many influences for evil in the world around us, we believers have the opportunity to influence others toward good. This is one of the important goals of a Christian’s life – to set an example that influences others to seek God and obey Him.

Matthew 5:13-16 [NKJV] 13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house. 16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

In these modern times, there are actually people whose job title is “influencer.” An influencer will have a following online regarding fashion or makeup tips and eventually the following gets big enough that the influencer gets paid by a company or several companies to test and talk about their products. I think I would love that job.

Although you may not be a popular media star, sports figure, politician, or online influencer, you still have the power to influence your mate and children, your coworkers and friends for good. You can influence them by example and also by inviting them to church or a Bible study, or just talking to them about what God has done for you.

This work of an influencer is what God asks us, as His children, to do. Sisters, I pray you will be a force for good. I pray that your words of hope, your life of good works, and your example of forgiveness and love will call and influence others to join you in obedience.

Prayer — Father, please influence my every thought, word and deed through Your Word, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in me and through the example of Jesus Christ my Lord. Please help me always be an influence for good in this world – the salt and the light that make this world a better place and directs others to glorify You.

Your thoughts —  ___________________________________________________________

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Day 5 – 90 Days in Proverbs - A Little Bling

Proverbs 1:8-9 [NKJV] My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they [will be] a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.

I like jewelry and I am known for my “fancy” fashion sense. Statement earrings or a cascade of stacked necklaces can really enhance an outfit and I often use them to do so. Let’s just say that I am not much into blending in with my attire. Instead of saying “an ornament on your head,” the ESV says “they are a graceful garland for your head” which makes me think of a wreath of flowers. So the idea that obedience adds a little spiritual “bling” – some flowers or jewelry – to my nature is something that appeals to me.

This is not the only place where women are asked to consider what adorns their persons or natures.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 [ESV] says, 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness--with good works.

Although Paul advises against a focus on fancy apparel, he also mentions the need to be clothed in self-control and good works.  We should focus on good works and self-control as ways to stand out in this world, rather than expensive or flashy clothing.

This is something that we mothers should teach to our daughters. It is also something we older women in the church should model for the younger ones.

Titus 2:5 [ESV] also covers this, speaking of older women teaching the younger to be “self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

Don’t think this applies only to women, though. The following verses deal with young men and even Titus himself: [Tit 2:6-7 ESV] 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity

Of course, these are just a few of the character qualities that meant to “adorn” Christian men and women. But obedience to our Father God and our parents, good works and self-control are very much “stand out” types of ornaments of a person’s character.

Sometimes when I wear a new necklace or other piece of clothing, people notice. Sometimes they don’t.

However, even if the world fails to notice the adornments of these Christian character qualities, we can rest assured that the Father will see them from heaven. We can be thankful that the Father will always notice our “spiritual bling.”

Prayer — Father, let me always be clothed with beautiful spiritual attire. Help me, by your Holy Spirit dwelling in me, to shine brightly with the bling of Christian character and to teach others to do so as well, whenever you give me the responsibility to do so. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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