God's Wisdom For Today

“We still do not know one-thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us.”   ― Albert Einstein

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:19-20

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

    by understanding he established the heavens;

by his knowledge the deeps broke open,

    and the clouds drop down the dew.  (ESV)

By Wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth.

By understanding he established the heavens.

By his knowledge the deep waters were divided,

    and the skies dropped dew.  (GOD’S WORD)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3)

“Picture yourself as a farmer in the Near East, far from any lake or stream. A few wells keep the family and animals supplied with water. But if the crops are to grow and the family is to be fed from month to month, water has to come on the fields from another source. From where?

Well. the sky. The sky? Water will come out of the clear blue sky? Well, not exactly. Water will have to be carried in the sky from the Mediterranean Sea, over several hundred miles and then poured out from the sky onto the fields. Carried? How much does it weigh? Well, if one inch of rain falls on one square mile of farmland during the night, that would be 27,878400 cubic feet of water, which is 206,300,160 gallons, which is 1,650, 501,280 pounds of water.

That’s heavy. So, how does it get up in the sky and stay up there if it’s so heavy? Well, it gets up there by evaporation. Really? That’s a nice word, what’s it mean? It means that the water sort of stops being water for awhile so it can go up and down. I see. Then how does it get down? Well, condensation happens. What’s that? The water starts becoming water again by gathering around little dust particles between .00001 and .0001 centimeters wide. That’s small.

What about the salt? Salt? Yes. The Mediterranean Sea is salt water. That would kill the crops. What about the salt? Well, the salt has to be taken out. Oh. So, the sky picks up a billion pounds of water from the sea and takes out the salt and then carries it for three hundred miles and then dumps it on the farm?

Well, it doesn’t dump it. If it dumped a billion pounds of water on the farm, the wheat would be crushed. So the sky dribbles the billion pounds of water down in little drops…” - John Piper

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

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“Sorrow is knowledge, those that know the most must mourn the deepest, the tree of knowledge is not the tree of life.” - Lord Byron

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:17-18 

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

    and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;

    those who hold her fast are called blessed.  (ESV)

She will guide you down delightful paths;

    all her ways are satisfying.

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;

    happy are those who hold her tightly.  (NLT)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9)

Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” (Genesis 3:22)

After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. (Revelation 22:2)

Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. (Revelation 22:14)

And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (Revelation 22:19)

“In Eden, the tree appears to have been a source of ongoing physical life. The presence of the tree of life suggests a supernatural provision of life as Adam and Eve ate the fruit their Creator provided. Adam and Eve were designed to live forever, but to do so they likely needed to eat from the tree of life. Once they sinned, they were banned from the Garden, separated from the tree, and subject to physical death, just as they had experienced spiritual death. Since Eden, death has reigned throughout history. But on the New Earth, our access to the tree of life is forever restored.” Randy Alcorn

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

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www.graceandthegravelroad.com

“Whatever the heart desires, it purchases at the cost of soul” - Lawrence Durrell

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:13-14 

She is more precious than jewels,

    and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand;

    in her left hand are riches and honor.  (ESV)

Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth;

    nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.

With one hand she gives long life,

    with the other she confers recognition.  (MSG)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

“A happy life extended to old age is given to the lovers of wisdom; or if cut off in the midst of their days, they are no losers. They cannot even in this case complain that God is unfaithful to his promise, for in another world they enter on a state of life which excels the present as much in value as in duration. If a man promises to give us threescore and ten acres of ground in a barren country, and instead of them gives us ten thousand in a fruitful soil, watered by the river of God, and blessed by the smiles of heaven, he is not worse, but a great deal better than his word.” - George Lawson

“The fear of God may add length to life by causing one to avoid violent activities, to refrain from unhealthy eating, to abstain from illicit sex, and to say no to harmful drugs and other addictive things. Having the fear of God also promotes a greater level of self-control and personal responsibility, resulting in a lifestyle of working hard to provide for daily needs and regular sleep to maintain long-term health. Relationally, a person who fears God will regularly spend time in prayer, develop godly relationships, and seek to live in harmony with family members and friends, resulting in a lower stress level and the lifestyle benefits that come with that.” - gotwisdom.org

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

Free journal pages to follow the study:  www.getwisdom.link/email

www.getwisdompublishing.com

www.graceandthegravelroad.com

“Thankful, grateful, blessed”  - every Christian social media account in the world

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:13-14 

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,

    and the one who gets understanding,

for the gain from her is better than gain from silver

    and her profit better than gold.  (ESV)

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,

    the one who gains understanding.

For wisdom is more profitable than silver,

    and her wages are better than gold.  (NLT)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

One commentary said “But Jesus used the term blessed in the framework of the Beatitudes to describe the inner quality of a faithful servant of God. This blessedness is a spiritual state of well-being and prosperity—a deep, joy-filled contentment that cannot be shaken by poverty, grief, famine, persecution, war, or any other trial or tragedy we face in life. In human terms, the situations depicted in the Beatitudes are far from blessings, but because God is present with us through these difficult times, we are actually blessed by Him in them.”

Vaneetha Rendall Risner says, “What is blessing, then? Scripture shows that blessing is anything God gives that makes us fully satisfied in him. Anything that draws us closer to Jesus. Anything that helps us relinquish the temporal and hold on more tightly to the eternal. And often it is the struggles and trials, the aching disappointments and the unfulfilled longings that best enable us to do that.”

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

Free journal pages to follow the study:  www.getwisdom.link/email

www.getwisdompublishing.com

www.graceandthegravelroad.com

“No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No stream or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.  - Harry Emerson Fosdick

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:11-12 

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline

    or be weary of his reproof,

for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

    as a father the son in whom he delights.  (ESV)

But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;

    don’t sulk under his loving correction.

It’s the child he loves that God corrects;

    a father’s delight is behind all this.   (MSG)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly

or lose heart when you are reproved by him,

for the Lord disciplines the one he loves

and punishes every son he receives. (Hebrews 12:5-6)

“As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline.” (Revelation 3:19a)

See how happy is the person whom God corrects;

so do not reject the discipline of the Almighty. (Job 5:17)

Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead. (Hebrews 12:7-13)

Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. says, “when we suffer, it isn’t God angrily taking from us, it is God lovingly reinvesting in us.”

CR Wood makes this conclusion about these verses “The pain of suffering sometimes keeps us from seeing what God is doing in our lives. Sometimes He melts us in the furnace so He can stamp us with His own image. He wants us to partake of His holiness so we can partake of His happiness. If we compare our chastening with our sin, is it not a marvel that it is not heavier?”

Ortlund says, “Our wise pathway through suffering is to accept it and wait while God fulfills his purpose. If you are suffering right now, you are probably being tempted in two opposite ways. Both are here in verse 11--either to despise the Lord’s discipline, which is the active response of anger, or to be weary of his reproof, which is the passive response of despair. What is your only path forward? ‘Be trained by it’” 

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

Free journal pages to follow the study:  www.getwisdom.link/email

“No one has ever become poor by giving.”  Anne Frank

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:9-10 

Honor the Lord with your wealth

    and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

    and your vats will be bursting with wine.  (ESV)

Honor God with everything you own;

give him the first and the best.

Your barns will burst,

your wine vats will brim over.   (MSG)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

Free journal pages to follow the study:  www.getwisdom.link/email

www.getwisdompublishing.com

www.graceandthegravelroad.com

“Sometimes I cannot say much about why I go to church other than what people who go to the gym say: I always feel better once I'm there; I feel better after; it is always good for me, not good in a take-your-vitamins way, in a chidingly moralistic way, but in a palpable way.” - Lauren F. Winner

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:8 

This will be healing for your body

and strengthening for your bones.  (CSB)

Your body will glow with health,

your very bones will vibrate with life!   (MSG)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

My heart is broken within me,

and all my bones tremble.  (Jeremiah 23:9a)

All my bones shall say,

    “O Lord, who is like you,

delivering the poor

    from him who is too strong for him,

    the poor and needy from him who robs him?” (Psalm 35:10)

A Forbes article quoting a Mayo clinic publication:

“Most studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety, depression, and suicide. Several studies have shown that addressing the spiritual needs of the patient may enhance recovery from illness.”

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

Free journal pages to follow the study:  www.getwisdom.link/email

www.getwisdompublishing.com

www.graceandthegravelroad.com

"If you want your life to count now and forever for Christ, here is all you need to do. Fear the Lord. Turn away from evil. Do that alone and your life will be magnificent." - Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.

Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise in your own eyes;

  fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (ESV)

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.

  Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.  (MSG)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. (Romans 12:16)

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes

And clever in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:21)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

Fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7) [[ theme verse]]

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:28-29)

Then you will discern the fear of the Lord

And discover the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:5)

Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. says, “Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Yes, it’s a simple thing to say. But we need to be told, because it is radical. The first of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses was this: Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ in saying, “Repent, “ intended that the whole life of believers should be repentance. You probably have a to do list for this coming week. Here are the priorities God wants at the top of your list in terms of urgency. #1: Fear the Lord. #2: Turn away from evil. #3: As time permits, breathe. That is the urgency of your life this week. It will add greatness to your life. It will add life to your life. It will save you from a wasted life.”

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

Free journal pages to follow the study: www.getwisdom.link/email

www.getwisdompublishing.com

www.graceandthegravelroad.com

"Pseudo-faith always arranges a way out to serve in case God fails it. Real faith only knows one way and gladly allows itself to be stripped of any second way or makeshift substitutes….And not since Adam stood up on the earth has God failed a single man or woman who trusted him. " - A. W. Tozer

“When we enthrone God's law in our hearts, our priorities are dictated and our paths are directed.” - John Phillips

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:4. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths.  (ESV)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

    he’s the one who will keep you on track. (MSG)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; (Psalm 37:23)

Adam Clarke says, “Self-sufficiency and self-dependence have been the ruin of mankind ever since the fall of Adam. The grand sin of the human race is their continual endeavor to live independently of God.”

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

Free journal pages to follow the study:  www.getwisdom.link/email

www.getwisdompublishing.com

www.graceandthegravelroad.com

"You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do" - Henry Ford

“As Christians, our number-one priority is to represent Christ well to this lost and broken world (Acts 1:8). Because Jesus is honest, kind, loyal, and honorable, we should strive to be those things as well (Ephesians 5:1), and all of those qualities contribute to a good reputation. People evaluate the worthiness of our message based on our reputations as people of character. If we have poor reputations, our message is tainted as well. Dishonesty, gossip, and hypocrisy damage our testimonies and do not reflect the character of Jesus. Many will not heed our words when our reputations do not match what we claim to believe.”

Today’s Scripture:  Proverbs 3:4. 

So you will find favor and good success

    in the sight of God and man.  (ESV)

Earn a reputation for living well

    in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people. (MSG)

Other verses mentioned in the episode:

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:8)

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

    and favor is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. (Luke 2:52)

If you want a place to see and answer the questions I ask in the episode and to keep track of the discoveries you make as we study Proverbs, we include a set of free journal pages for this devotional series in each of our Sunday emails 

Free journal pages to follow the study:  www.getwisdom.link/email

www.getwisdompublishing.com

www.graceandthegravelroad.com