Proverbs 4:14

Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil.

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There’s a joke about a new preacher who came to a church and preached a powerful sermon. The people loved it so much they asked him back.He came back the next week and preached the exact same sermon. It was a little strange, but they loved it anyway and invited him back for a third week. He came back a third Sunday and preached the same sermon, word-for-word repeat. By now, the people were concerned, and approached him after the service. "Pastor," they asked, "why are you preaching the same sermon every week?” He looked at them with a kind smile and said, "Once you live out what I've told you, then I'll preach something new."

That’s kind of how I felt reading Proverbs 4:14:

“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

How many times does the Bible tell us to stay away from evil?

Proverbs chapter 4 alone starts at verse 14 with that command, then verse 15 repeats and amplifies it–then he circles back in verses 16 and 17 like we didn’t hear it earlier. And it doesn't stop there. He’s back at it in verse 19, and verse 24, and verse 27. That's at least 6 distinct warnings about staying away from evil in one short chapter!

As a kid, I probably would’ve thought, “Dang, Granddad sure don’t like evil people!” He talk about them too much…

But now I get it. And just in case you were wondering (and don’t act like you wasn’t) the word evil appears in at least 1826 verses! So…yea…the old man was trying to tell us something.

But sometimes the repetition isn’t rambling—it’s urgency. Solomon wasn’t just ranting—he was trying to reroute the youth before they self-destruct.

Like Paul said in Romans 7:7-8, sometimes the law itself stirs up the worst in us—“DON’T touch” suddenly makes us WANT to touch. But wisdom knows: not all paths are equal. Some roads lead to ruin.

And today? Evil isn’t hiding in shadows—it comes directly to your device on your For You Page. It’s in:

* Greedy corporations poisoning water for profit

* Billionaires dodging taxes while workers beg for living wages

* Governments funding war machines instead of healing systems

* Pharmaceutical giants pushing addiction in the name of medicine

* Media industries that purposely numb us with violence and vanity

* Food companies engineering addiction into our groceries

* Tech empires training on our attention and trading on our souls

Yeah… I sound just like that old man yelling at the clouds. Right? Maybe the old man was right. See it has to be said again and again—why? Because we still haven’t learned.

Proverbs repeats it because the stakes are high. There is a better way. There is a path of peace. There is a rhythm of righteousness. And wisdom is still calling out in the streets—hoping we’ll finally listen.

So Listen:

God repeats Himself not because He’s on a rant—but because we are hard-headed.

🙏🏽 Prayer

Open my ears, God—don’t let me miss wisdom’s warning.

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Look at the paths you’re on—online, in thought, in habit. And ask: “Is this leading me toward peace or poison?” Then reroute one area today toward righteousness.

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

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💤 Sacred Shutdown

We grind. We hustle. We burn both ends of the candle—and then wonder why our soul is weary! Maybe it’s because we’re exponentially adding to our burden by not getting enough sleep.

I know something as simple as sleep often gets overlooked, but sleep is not just a passive pause button—it’s a spiritual strategy.

God wired us with a rhythm: work, then rest. Go hard, then get horizontal and go on mute. Do what you can and all you can…then take the time to do nothing. Yet in a culture of caffeine shots and notification drops, we treat sleep like a luxury instead of the launchpad it really is.

At the beginning of 2025, I read a book by Shawn Stevenson called Sleep Smarter, and I’m so glad I did. He said it best:

“There isn’t one facet of your mental, emotional, or physical performance that’s not affected by the quality of your sleep.”

This book blew my mind. Did you know some of the greatest athletes at the top of their game have discovered that when they add a strict sleep routine to their regimen, they perform better and suffer fewer injuries?

Like LeBron James intentionally aims to sleep around 12 hours daily, especially during playoff seasons, because he considers sleep the supreme foundation of his recovery strategy. I know some of y’all like, “LeBron rich…” But maybe that rest is helping him keep those riches!

See when you skip rest, your brain can’t clean-house. Your hormones misfire. Your decision-making tanks. But when you sleep, you restore, rebuild—and maybe receive.

That’s right—sleep is where God meets us and moves us.

Think about how many pivotal moments in the Bible happened during deep sleep or dreams:

* From Adam’s deep sleep—God created Eve from his rib.

* God cut a covenant with Abraham while he was knocked out cold.

* Jacob dreamed of a ladder and saw heaven and earth meet.

* God granted Solomon divine wisdom from a request he made in a dream.

* Joseph got prophetic direction for All of Egypt in someone else’s dream.

* Peter saw a vision that redefined the Gospel for the world...in a dream!

Wow…God might be waiting on the other side of REM sleep to download your destiny!

But what if you’re someone who struggles to sleep? What if your mind races or you dread lying awake?

Here are 5 quick solutions from Sleep Smarter to help you prepare for sweet sleep, just like the Scripture promises:

* 🌓 Limit screens 90 minutes before bed – Blue light blocks melatonin.

* 🧊 Keep your room cool – 60–68°F is ideal for deep sleep.

* 🕯️ Create a wind-down ritual – reading, prayer, soft light, or journaling.

* ☕ Cut caffeine by 2 PM – It lingers in your system far longer than you think.

* 🌞 Get morning sunlight – It sets your internal clock for better nighttime rest.

Deep Sleep, and Sweet Dreams…they aren’t fluff—they’re frequencies. So tonight, don’t just crash—surrender. Be intentional. Turn off the noise. Dim the lights. Grab Sleep Smarter. Build a rhythm. Tell your soul: “You are safe. You are held. And God is near.”

Go to sleep—and check in with God.

🙏🏽 Prayer

In sleep, God, meet me—I'm ready to receive revelation.

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Honor your sleep like you honor your hustle. Tonight, shut the screens, cool your space, say a prayer of surrender—and let God meet you in the sacred stillness of sleep.

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 2:1

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,

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One of the most powerful words in the English language… is only two letters long: “If.”

Small in form—but massive in function.

It’s just two letters in English. Only one syllable. Just a whisper in Hebrew—“אִם” (im). And in Greek? Even shorter—“εἰ” (ei).

But this word unlocks whole new worlds. It opens doorways to possibility, to contingency, to hope. It’s the gap between where you are… and where you could be.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word if dates all the way back to Old English, and it's always carried the weight of condition. It's not just hypothetical—it's hinge language. It’s the door that swings open to everything that might be, depending on what you do next.

And that’s exactly how Proverbs 2:1 opens:

“My son, if you accept my words...” That’s verse 1—and it starts a chain reaction. A cascade of ‘ifs’ that run through verse 4:

* If you turn your ear...apply your heart

* If you call out for insight...cry aloud for understanding

* If you seek it like silver...hunt for it like treasure And then—boom—verse 5:

“Then you will understand the fear of the Lord.”

If → If → If → If → Then. You see that pattern? Wisdom is always beginning with an if.

🦸🏽‍♂️ Let’s take a page from pop culture.

In 1977, Marvel Comics launched a series called "What If?"

The idea was to take major moments in Marvel history and twist them around. Like:

* What if Spider-Man had joined the Fantastic Four?

* What if Captain America had become President?

* What if the Avengers had never assembled?

These stories asked: What would happen if one moment shifted? It was a creative playground of alternate outcomes—just from one changed decision.

Now apply that to you. What if your next decision triggered a holy plot twist?

Think about it: Your Imagination Is God’s Playground

You already know how to use your imagination:

* What if I made the team?

* What if she says yes?

* What if I got that job?

Since we already flex the muscles of imagination in our daily lives, what if you used your imagination to picture the version of you that God sees? The version of you walking in purpose. The version of you living full of wisdom, guided by the Holy everyday.

Imagination isn’t childish—it’s sacred technology. In fact, the Hebrew word in Isaiah 26:3, where it says:

“You will keep him in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on You,” That word for mind—“yetser”—can also mean frame, conception, or imagination. It’s not just thought—it’s the creative blueprint of the soul.

So… What if your imagination was the space where wisdom starts? What if God is waiting on you to dream with Him again?

Look:

Imagination + Intention x the wisdom of Love = Holy Momentum.

What if you dream it? What if you align to it? What if it happens just you knew it could?

💡 So Remember This:

Proverbs 31 isn’t pressure—it’s praise. A love supreme for every home. Stay in step to the tempo of that kind of love and you’ll be alright.

🙏🏽 Prayer

What if You open my eyes—Seeing what You see

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Write out your “What if…” sentence. Not for fantasy. For faith.

Examples:

* What if I trusted God fully?

* What if I finally forgave them?

* What if I gave up that toxic habit?

* What if I lived for God full throttle?

Then: Take one action today that says “Yes” to that holy what if. Let the chain reaction begin

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 1:31

They will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

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You know your body has a built-in autopilot, right? It’s called a reflex.

Touch something hot—your hand jumps back. Hear a loud pop—you duck. The doctor taps your knee with that little hammer—and bam—your leg kicks.

No thought. No premeditation. No prayer meeting. Just reaction.

And most times, that built-in reflex is a good thing. But there’s something deeper… Something more complex and savvy.

It’s called reflection.

That’s the pause. That’s the: “Hold up… wait a minute—let me put reflection in it.”

Because what happens when you put ‘reflection’ in place of the spot where ‘reflexes’ used to run the show? You begin to build a gap— Between how you naturally react... And how you supernaturally respond.

📖 Proverbs 1:31 gives us a sobering & prophetic picture:

“They will eat the fruit of their ways, and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.”

Notice—Understand: this is not God dishing out punishment. This is people getting full, or fed up–’choking’… with the aftermath of their own schemes.

It’s not just judgment... It’s consequences. The consequences that come from living off reflex— Instead of choosing to reflect.

 You see that word play that we do in that little scheme we’re playing with these words? Reflex–Reflect–Reflex–Reflect–which one are you gonna do? Well see, I get it. See, I’ve been there.

That mouse trap looked good. And I knew better. But I reached anyway...again and again. And every time I was thinking, “This time will be different.”

But it wasn’t. Snap! And just like that—caught in the same old reflex. Again and again…

That’s what reflex-living looks like: React. Regret. Repeat.

But reflection? Ahh that’s where the real power is. Reflect. Respond. Repose. That’s the divine pause. That’s the space where change gets a fighting chance.

👤 Holocaust survivor and psychologist—Victor Frank—put it like this:

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. And in our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Come on now.

There’s a space—A sphere. A sanctuary. Between the thing that triggers you… and the you that responds to the trap.

So the question is:  Are you living in that space through reflection? Or just reacting through life by those old reflexes?

Now here’s the good news: Reflex is natural. But reflection is supernatural.

You can train your reflexes through the power of reflection. by embracing the pause. You can say: “Wait… this fruit? I’ve tasted it before. I know what it costs. Nah…I don’t want it anymore.”

You are not bound to your past patterns. You can even leverage those failures. And map out your way to success by knowing and charting what we “ain't going to do no more”.

🎯 Remember: There’s power in the pause. Find the space between what hits you… And how you hit back.

That’s where wisdom lives. That’s where freedom grows. That’s where you build the space between reflex… and reflection.

🙏🏽 Prayer

Lord, help me find the space between reflex and reflection.

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Find your space.

What’s that one trigger that always gets you snapping?

Pause.

Breathe.

Reflect before you react.

Let your next move be wise—not just fast.

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 31:10

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

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Let’s talk about one of the most beautiful openings in all of ancient wisdom literature:

“An excellent wife who can find?” “She is far more precious than jewels.”

Proverbs 31:10 opens one of the oldest and most exquisite poems in all of Scripture. But it’s not just a love song. It’s a carefully designed masterpiece.

From verse 10 to 31, the poem forms an acrostic—each line starting with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from Aleph to Tav. That structure doesn’t just show poetic skill—it’s really suggesting a completeness. A Wholeness. As if to say: Every part of this person is worthy of my praise. From A to Z! (Right?!?!)

Here’s a cool fact: acrostics in ancient Hebrew poetry helped with memorization. This wasn’t meant to just be read from a book—it was meant to be recited by heart, and passed down through generations.

And get this: In Orthodox Jewish homes, this poem is still recited by husbands to their wives every Friday night before Shabbat. It’s called the “Eshet Chayil”—the Woman of Valor.

But in Jewish mysticism, it goes further.

The Shekinah—God’s tangible, indwelling presence—is often represented through the feminine.

So on Shabbat, the wife is honored not just as a partner…

but as a reflection of God’s beauty and nearness in the home. Ahh that’s beautiful.

That’s why this poem was never meant to be a checklist of impossible expectations. It’s designed to be a song of praise that you can keep in step with as you recognize the reflection of the divine in your partner. It’s more of a guiding star—than a measuring stick.

Now, back to the opening line:

“Who can find her?” That’s no shade being thrown—it’s a rhetorical setup. A declaration that someone like this is rare and priceless.

“She is far more precious than jewels.” Jewels like rubies, and diamonds, and pearls are scarce. Symbolic of wealth and status. That’s a poetic way of saying: “They’re irreplaceable.”

That takes me to The Spinners’ 1972 classic: “Ain’t No Woman Like the One I Got.” Ohh a love anthem. Soulful, smooth, timeless right?! Except for that one line:

“And My words, my very words she’ll obey! Ooooohhh.”

That lyric might’ve worked in the '70s—but try that line today and… let’s just say it won’t chart well in 2025. That song hasn’t aged like Proverbs 31.

Here’s the irony: A love song from the 1970s now sounds outdated. A love poem from 2,500 years ago still speaks. Why? Because it’s built on honor, not control. On esteem, not ego.

It’s not just for women either. This is a song for anyone who wants to love and cherish their spouse. Husbands need to hear it. Wives need to feel it. And anyone in a relationship should live it.

Dr. John Gottman, one of the most respected relationship psychologists today, teaches that the foundation of lasting love is this:

Always keep the posture that you’re lucky to have them in your life. That’s what Proverbs 31 does. It says: “You are my rare find. My jewel. My crown.”

💡 So Remember This:

Proverbs 31 isn’t pressure—it’s praise. A love supreme for every home. Stay in step to the tempo of that kind of love and you’ll be alright.

🙏🏽 Prayer

Thank you God for love, a priceless, cherished gift. Amen

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Think of one rare jewel in your spouse—And if you’re single–think of one rare jewel you see in yourself Something that reflects God’s presence. Now, say it. Tell them…or tell yourself. Let today be your Proverbs 31 moment.

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 30:9

Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I’m too full, I might get independent, saying, ‘God? Who needs him?’ If I’m poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God.”

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Remember that part of the Prayer Jesus taught his disciples:

“Give us this day our daily bread”?

You know he didn’t just pull that out of the air. He was echoing wisdom already etched in the sacred scriptures— and Proverbs 30:9 may be the very verse that sparked it.

Jesus was rooted in this wisdom tradition, and this proverb is a masterclass in brutal honesty.

It’s not just a request for food— it’s a confession of inner vulnerability.

The writer basically says,

“God, I know myself. When I get too much—I show out…and I might just forget You. When I get too little—I show out…and I might just betray You.”

Whew…Now that’s brutal–but it’s honest.

Especially today, where we’re told more is always better. So we stockpile. We grind. We chase “overflow” and then have the nerve to call it “blessing.” But too much food can blind you to the fact that you can still only eat one bite at a time.

You can only swallow so much before you choke.

I know, I’ve been there. Expecting things to just go my way, Feeling privileged and entitled to more than I need— and forgetting that I was never promised more than enough.

But the other extreme is just as real.

The writer says,

“If I’m poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God.”

When you’re desperate, you can justify almost anything.

You ever hear someone say,

“I had to do what I had to do”?

Sometimes, that’s a cry from someone trying to survive a system that was designed against them in the first place! But other times, it’s an excuse we give when fear hijacks our faith.

Think about Abraham. The man who walked by faith— until Pharaoh took a good look at Sarah, and was like, “I want that”.

And Abraham felt that threat.

Suddenly, his wife Sarah becomes… “his sister.” Why? Because when his throat was on the line, his trust turned a little thin. He didn’t plan to lie. He just panicked. And had to do what he felt he had to do.

And we all do it.

The writer of Proverbs 30 doesn’t pretend he’s above any of that. He just owns it. He says: “Lord, I know me.”

And that’s the invitation for us today. No shame. No guilt. No Diddy (OK, that was wrong I know…) Just brutal honesty.

Because balance only comes when we admit where we tend to tip.

🧠 So Remember This:

Balance begins where brutal honesty meets daily dependence.

🙏🏽 Prayer

God, teach me to live satisfied with just enough today.

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Do a quick self-check. Where are you tipping right now—toward over-indulgence or desperation? Write down one brutal truth about how you’ve handled “enough.” Then, invite God into that place— the place between too much and too little.

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 29:22

The source of strife is found in an angry heart, for sin surrounds the life of a furious man.

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In 1985, August Wilson debuted his Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences, part of his legendary series of 10 plays chronicling the African American experience across the decades. Set in the 1950s, Fences focused on Troy Maxson, a bitter former Negro League baseball player turned garbage man, who builds emotional and physical fences around himself and his family.

It was first brought to Broadway with James Earl Jones in the lead—and you know his performance was thunderous and raw. Later, actors like Ossie Davis took the role on stage with powerful conviction. Then in 2010, Denzel Washington and Viola Davis starred in the Tony Award–winning play—and later brought it to the big screen in 2016, where Viola won an Oscar.

There’s a line from the movie where Troy says:

"Some people build fences to keep people out…

and other people build fences to keep people in."

Hmmm…When I look at Proverbs 29:22 and how it says:

“The source of strife is found in an angry heart, for sin surrounds the life of a furious man.”

I think about that character Troy, an old bitter person so at home with anger and fury, that they don’t realize that they’re locked in with constant strife and fenced in by their own sin. See, what offends you often reveals what still needs to be healed within you.

Because fences, in the emotional sense, start out as barriers to unwanted pain, but can become prisons of unresolved pain. And if we’re not careful—our anger will build up a fence: And before long, we’re not keeping danger out—we’re keeping love from getting in.

You ever see someone that’s just always into it with someone else? It doesn’t even matter, it’s like they live for the battle and don’t know how to put their weapons down and find peace. A person like this seems like a good ally to have because they’ll fight for you no matter what…but just as quick as fighting for you, you know they can just as quickly turn on you and fight you. Anger turns differences into dissension. Curiosity into criticism. Boundaries into battlegrounds. Angry hearted people abide in offense. They’ve made bitterness their home address.

Now the Truth is:

We’ve all got an angry side. And a grudge-holding side. A guarded side. As well as a generous side. A joyful side. A side that can just let things go and start all over again…

So here’s the secret:

Don’t let the worst of you get the best of you.

Because the angry version of you will always build fences. And the wise version of you knows:

Some fences are for protection…But others are prisons in disguise.

🙏🏽 Prayer

Tear down every fence built by fear, pain, or pride.

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Pause today whenever you feel offended. Ask: Is this a boundary—or a fence I’m building out of anger? Then choose to respond, not react.

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 28:6

A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.

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I’ll never forget a night deep in the South—Hattiesburg, Mississippi. ( Shout out to all my folks in Hattiesburg) After a ministry event, I was kicking it with a small  crew of people. We were just breaking things down and just having a good time. Not a dollar to our name—but the laughter? Rich. Pure. Deep from the belly you know what I’m saying? And full of soul. It wasn’t performative. It was real. It was alive.

And then I contrast that with another memory of that same time: A private gathering of the financiers and fundraisers from that same event. Everyone had something—businesses, land, planes, portfolios… But the laughter there in that place? It echoed like an empty hallway. Nervous. Rehearsed. Tinted with fear— As if wealth had bought silence… and sold off integrity.

When I saw Proverbs 28:6, it triggered this contrasting memory from my past.

“Here you have the poor who don’t have a lot, but they have their integrity And then you got the rich, who have so many ‘things’ but “off rip” you can tell that the “things got them”

💡 Let’s Break This Down:

This verse cuts through a common cultural lie— That being rich means you’re righteous. And being poor means you’re cursed.

Back then—and even now—wealth was seen as divine favor. Poverty? A sign you somehow missed the blessing. Even the word “misfortune” says it: a missed fortune. A life that should’ve gone better.

But do you see the flip in this verse? And why it’s so powerful? Better a poor man with his integrity Than a rich man with twisted ways.

Let’s get nerdy real quick. The Hebrew phrase for “his integrity” is בְּתוּמָּתוֹ (b’tummato):

* תוּמָּה (tummah) = integrity, wholeness.

* -וֹ (-to) = “his” (3rd person masculine singular possessive).

 The Hebrew phrase for his integrity, once again, has a third person masculine, singular, possessive, attached to it.  So it's not just integrity, but it's an owned integrity.

Just like ‘foolishness’ yesterday that we talked about–where it was “his foolishness. This shows that integrity  can be something that is owned by someone. It’s not something you stumble into. It’s something that you have to cultivate, you have to build and choose for yourself.

And that kind of integrity? It has a currency that does not crash. It could be cashed out on earth as well as up in heaven.

Someone can own riches and still be bankrupt within. Another can be broke and spiritually rich beyond measure.

That’s why the laughter from that night in Mississippi Rang so much louder than the laughter from the luxury room.

Because truth rings clearer than pretense. And soul-level joy can’t be bought.

🧠 Remember:

True wealth isn’t about what you own— It’s about what owns you.

🙏🏽 Prayer

I choose the riches of integrity, even if nothing else.

💡 Today’s Challenge:

What’s your most valuable possession—really? Reclaim one area where you've traded honesty for image. Invest in what no one can steal: your integrity.

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 27:22

Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.

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The ancient world didn’t have food processors. They had mortars and pestles. (What are those???) Stone bowls and blunt tools used to crush, grind, and break things down. You didn’t cut grain—you crushed it. And that’s the image in Proverbs 27:22.

“Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.”

On first read, it feels a little harsh. Like an old man ranting,

These youngin’s just wild today, you can’t even beat the foolishness out of em’!

And honestly? That was me.

As a preteen I got caught in Sausalito California for stealing a car…(don’t ask) But it landed me in Juvy—and as hard as I was trying to be, at twelve years old hearing that jail door clink broke me!

I still remember the prayer I prayed that night in the cell.

“Lord, if you get me out of this mess…” (you can probably finish it right??) “I’ll never do it again.”

And to God’s credit—He did. I got out the next day as a minor. Joy riding–and we promised never to do it again (boy the 70’s right? It was different back then) But guess what? Within 30 days, I was trying to boost candy bars from a corner store–all over again. Why? Because the real solution wasn’t to scare me into straightening up. The true solution was about getting my heart right.

See the difference?

Just going through a grinding process doesn’t guarantee growth. You can be crushed by consequences and still cling to your old mindset. The mortar can grind the grain—but it can’t change the seed.

Here’s the key phrase hidden within that Proverb: "His foolishness. "Once again: Grind a fool with the hardest process, but you won’t remove (what?) HIS FOOLSISHNESS from him.

The Hebrew word is אִוַּלְתּוֹ ('iûeleṯ)—which generally translates to folly or foolishness. But the suffix used is the 3rd person masculine singular possessive pronoun, (which is Bible Nerd talk that basically means “his folly.”)

So, not just foolish behavior. This is ownership of the foolishness. This is ‘doing dumb and thinking it’s cute’ It’s making foolishness your identity.

That’s why the process doesn’t work. Because until you choose to change your nature, even the fire won’t refine you. It’ll just burn you.

But Ohh one other night, I prayed:

And instead of praying “God, if You get me out of this mess…” I changed the prayer to a sincere request:

“God, if You get this mess out of me…”

The moment I prayed that better prayer— the moment I said, That’s when everything began to change.

Here’s the point:

Your breakthrough doesn’t start when your situation changes. It starts when your heart does.

🙏🏽 Prayer

God, take this mess outta me–I will be free

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Think of a habit or mindset you’ve clung to for too long. Ask yourself honestly: Is this still part of who I want to be? Then take one step today—pray, call someone, confess, change course—

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Proverbs 26:7

A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle.

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Did you know the phrase "Hokus Pokus" actually has religious roots?

It wasn’t always just magician-speak.Historians trace it back to the Latin phrase spoken during Catholic Mass:

"Hoc est enim corpus meum"

—"This is My Body"—a sacred line used during the Eucharist when the bread and wine were believed to become the body and blood of Christ.

For centuries, the Mass was conducted in Latin—an ancient language the common people didn’t speak. So, to the average peasant, the priest’s invocation sounded like… “hokus pokus.”

Over time, the phrase morphed into a kind of mystical shorthand, used by street magicians and illusionists to imitate the sacred and powerful moment of transformation. What was once reverent became a ritualized gimmick.

Now hear me clearly: I was raised Catholic, and I say this with deep respect. The Church itself eventually shifted from Latin Mass to modern language for this very reason—to reclaim the meaning, not just mimic the magic. Because the mystery of the Divine was never meant to be reduced to a catchphrase.

And neither is wisdom.

That’s the warning of Proverbs 26:7:

"A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle."

In other words—wise words don’t work like spells. Truth doesn’t carry weight just because you say it. Quoting Proverbs doesn’t make you wise. It’s alignment that activates power—not just repetition.

The Bible isn’t a book of incantations. It’s an invitation to transformation.

This reminds me of Romans 10:9-10:

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

It’s a both/and. Confession and Conviction. It’s what you say plus what you believe. An alignment of the mouth and heart.

I’ll take it further, I’d call it an alignment of the mind, mouth, heart, and gut.

Not just words. Not just feelings. But an embodied union of the whole self.

And I get it—some folks may not like hearing this. But just saying a prayer after someone isn’t the full picture. Salvation is not a script. It’s a surrender.

Look, I started with a repeated prayer too—and I’m grateful for it. But somewhere along the journey, you have to move from reciting to relating. From formulas to friendship with the Divine.

You can’t name it and claim it if your heart doesn’t own it. You can’t blab it and grab it if your character can’t hold it.

Talk to me!

Some folks “manifest” their desires only to find out…They wished for something that became a burden. Because power without alignment is very dangerous. And words without wisdom it’s just noise.

🧭 So Remember this:

Faith isn’t hocus pocus. It’s an embodied alignment of the whole self.

Don’t settle for formulas. Live the kind of life where truth flows from integrity—not illusion.

🙏🏽 Prayer

Align my words and heart—no gimmicks, just grace, Lord.

💡 Today’s Challenge:

Listen to what you’ve been repeating. Is it real for you—or just ritual? Take one phrase you say often—spiritual or motivational—and ask: Do I embody this? Or am I just repeating Hokus Pokus?

 If you are just repeating hocus pocus, then pause. Recalibrate. Reclaim the power of integrity.

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Be Wise and Be Well...peace.

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