Proverbs 24:32

When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw:

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I grew up surrounded by a mixed bag of people:Entrepreneurs and confidence men.9-to-5 diehards and gangsters.Preachers, priests—and a few people who were a mashup of all of the above.

And here’s what I discovered:You can learn something from everything.

Wisdom doesn’t always come from a classroom.And the testing of your wisdom? It rarely shows up on a screen or a piece of paper.It shows up in life. That pop quiz will certainly pop out and show you something. Sometimes what you thought you knew… What you really didn't know, whether it's in your friendships or your failures or your pain.

A professor once told me:

“Make new mistakes. Don’t waste your life repeating the old ones someone else already paid for.”Man, that hit me then—and it still does.

Later, reading Richard Rohr’s The Universal Christ helped solidify it.Rohr writes that Christ isn’t just in church buildings or holy books—but in everything.He says a mature Christian sees Christ “in everything and everyone else.”He talks about embracing the “messy incarnation”—meaning that even our wounds, setbacks, and slip-ups can become the greatest and most sacred of teachers.

That’s what Proverbs 24:32 is about.

The writer notices a neglected field. Overgrown. Broken down.And it wasn’t a lecture. It wasn’t an audible voice from heaven.It was just a moment of divine observation that hit him. He said,

"I saw… I considered… I received instruction."

 He didn't rush past the moment. He sat in the moment and the moment gave him a message He paused. Reflected. Learned.

Because wisdom is everywhere—if you’re watching.

The wise aren’t just book-smart. They’re life-aware. They listen to the silence. They learn from pain, from people, from patterns— whether it's in themselves or in others,

Sometimes the deepest wisdom doesn’t come through your own failure—It really does come from watching someone else fall… and taking notes.

Let their burnout shape your boundaries. Let their shortcuts show you the long way that actually lasts. Let their collapse build your caution—so you can walk more freely.

And yes—you can learn from your pain, too. From your failures. From the failures of others. Don’t waste pain—especially when it’s not yours.

Jesus taught this way. He saw meaning in mustard seeds and lost coins, runaway children and broken systems. He pulled eternal truth from everyday life. He learned—and taught—from everything.

So can we. So must we.

Bottom Line:

Wisdom is in the weeds—if you’re willing to look. You can learn something from everything. But you have to see it, consider it, and receive it.

Let that neglected field remind you to tend to your soul. Let that fractured friendship teach you to speak truth earlier. Let that burnt-out leader warn you about saying “yes” too much.

Grow wiser—not just through what you go through……but through what you notice.

Prayer

Teach me to see, reflect, receive—and grow through everything.

Today’s Challenge

Slow down. Observe your surroundings. What failure—yours or someone else’s—is trying to teach you? Don’t judge it. Learn from it. Write one insight down, and carry it into your next step.

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 23:4

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.

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Are we hustling ourselves to death?

Notice—I didn’t say working.... I understand hard work. I value it. But I’m talking about the hustle— that constant exchange of our attention, our energy, and often our very essence… in exchange for what?

Maybe something worse.

If we’re investing our all, is the return a mutated, less optimal version of ourselves?

Phones constantly in hand. Minds tethered to content, which is linked to algorithms, which is attached to outrage, also conveniently connected to our jobs, and our need to be seen and be heard…and so on and so forth You know, the more we’re attached, the harder it becomes to detach—and retrieve what’s been lost.

In ministry, the danger runs even deeper. You can’t say you’re tired. Or empty. Say that—and you risk losing influence, followers, shares, likes.

It’s the Hustle. And we’ve been convinced it’s good—until it’s not. Yea, hustle can easily become self-harm.

You can chase something so hard that you forget who you are. You can grind so long, you find yourself ground all the way down.

So if the hustle is wearing you out right now: Proverbs 23:4 has some good advice:

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint."

The Hebrew phrase for “wear yourself out” is תִּיגַע (ya·ga)—It means exhaustion. Depletion. That soul-deep fatigue not born of purpose, but compulsion.

This verse comes with this warning: Stop trusting your own wisdom about this. Because fear disguised as ambition can make you sell out your soul in endless installments.

Every dollar you chase costs you something. And often, what you’re spending… is you.

I feel it, you feel it, we all feel—because it's a system problem. A modern-day “bricks without straw” problem. Just like the Hebrews under Pharaoh, we’re being asked to produce more with less. And if you speak up? You're targeted.

But the God who showed up for them, He still shows up now— And He’s always on the side of the marginalized. Breaking oppressive systems built on greed and the grinding, at the cost of human exhaustion.

Now understand this: Wealth isn’t the enemy. Obsession is. God wants you to have things— but not at the cost of your peace, your relationships, your self.

And this warning shows up everywhere:

* In Greek mythology? It’s Midas. Everything he touches turns to gold. But what’s the cost? His food. His daughter. His joy. He gains the world—and loses his life.

* In Indigenous folklore? The Windigo. Once human. Now a beast. Consumed by hunger. Devoured by greed. His desire for more erases his identity.

* In Buddhist teaching? Lobha. Greed—one of the three poisons of the soul. The more you cling to possessions, the more they cling to you.

* In Islamic wisdom? Dunya. The obsession with worldly life—that slowly erodes the “real self” until only shadow remains.

* But what touches me the deepest is Jesus’ depiction of the Rich Fool.

Building bigger barns, stacking riches, while his soul’s clock runs out.

In every story, the danger isn’t what you gain— It’s what you lose in the process.

Bottom Line:

Your soul has a value that hustle can’t match. So don’t wear yourself out building a life that costs you you.

Prayer

Keep me wise, grounded, and faithful to my real self.

Today’s Challenge

Take an audit of your hustle. What are you chasing—and is it chasing you back? Reclaim one thing today that reminds you who you really are. Then make space for that.

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 22:13

The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”

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True story: When my kids were younger, we took them to the zoo. At the end of the day, crowds started gathering by the lion enclosure. Somebody said, “Stick around—he’s about to roar.” So we waited.

Eventually, the lion stood up, stretched, began to warm up with quick bark like growls, and then…roared! And when he did, the vibration of his roar went through me…It pierced the air—shook my bones, and for a split second paralyzed my soul. I strapped my kids into the stroller and practically ran out of the zoo!

Look, a lion is no joke. And that was a domesticated lion in the zoo, what do you do with a wild hungry lion? A wild hungry lion hunts. It pounces. It kills. It eats.

So when Proverbs 22:13 says, “The lazy person claims, ‘There is a lion out there! I shall be killed in the streets!’” —I get that.

But here’s the tragedy: the lazy person hasn’t even faced the lion. They’re paralyzed not by danger, but by the idea of danger. They don’t prep. They don’t plan. They don’t move. Fear forges a strategy of avoidance, not a plan of action.

That’s the difference between instinct and intellect.

Lions have instinct. Humans have instinct and intellect.

So here’s the edge you have that the lion doesn’t: As a human—homo sapien—you were literally named “the wise one.” (Yes, "sapiens" comes from Latin “sapere,” meaning to think, to be wise.)

You're not just a creature who reacts. You’re a being who can reason. Who can plan. Who can strategize.

Let’s keep it a buck: Instinct tells the lion: hunt. Instinct tells the human: run or hide. But intellect says: wait—how do I outthink this? How do I fight back?

Instinct reacts. Intellect reflects and responds.

Instinct says: stay inside. Intellect says: step out with a strategy, cause you gotta eat too.

The lazy person doesn’t just fear the lion—she forfeits her divine edge: her God-given mind. That’s the real loss here.

There’s a whole world of purpose, promise, and provision on the other side of your front door. The opportunity won’t come inside—you’ve got to outthink the fear and walk forward.

So BECAUSE there’s a lion outside, the diligent person says:

Then I better train. I better build. I better move smarter.

BECAUSE there’s a lion outside:

I better armor up in courage—

I gotta surround myself with a circle of lion hunters and lion eaters!

Because there’s a lion outside! And if there’s a lion outside... Then I’ve got a reason to rise.

Don’t make it easy for the lion. Outsmart it. Outwork it. Outlast it.

Prayer

God, guide my thoughts, my circle, and my courage today.

Today’s Challenge

Identify one ‘lion’ that’s keeping you inside. Now ask: What would wisdom do here? Use your mind, your circle, and your discipline to move forward today—one strategic step at a time.

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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Thanks for reading Proverbs Daily! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get it out there in them streets with them Lions!

Proverbs 21:30

There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the LORD.

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Hey hey hey! It’s July 21st, 2025. And I need you to recognize something right now:

You are still breathing. Do you need to check to be sure? Yea…still breathing. Not because you planned to. Not because the government passed a law. You’re breathing right now because God’s plan is still active in your life. That’s God’s Plan. Let that sizzle for a second.

This is the 202nd day of the year. And guess what? You haven’t stopped breathing all year long. Even if you tried to hold your breath, (shout out to all my breathwork homies…we be trying to hold our breath and ooohhhhmmmm….) but that nervous system kicks in right? And before you know it your body’s like, “Nope—we got work to do.”Why? Because your breath was never your plan. That’s God’s Plan!

📊 Let me give you some numbers. The average person breathes about 21,600 times a day. That means, by the time you’re engaging this Proverbs Daily devotional, you’ve already taken more than 4.3 million breaths in 2025 alone!

And if it’s still morning—let’s say around 9 AM—you’ve probably taken about 8,100 breaths already today. You didn’t count 'em. You didn’t schedule 'em. But they happened anyway. Because…say it with me: That’s God’s Plan!

❤️ And then there's your heartbeat...

Your heart? What a miracle.

You didn’t start it. You can’t stop it. It’s been beating since before you were born. And it’s still going.

The average heart beats 100,000 times a day. That means in just the first half of this year, your heart has already beat more than 20 million times.

Right now, as you’re hearing these words, as you’re scrolling this post, as you’re sipping your drink or getting dressed for work…your heart hasn’t skipped a single beat that God didn’t allow.

Plans might’ve failed. Jobs might’ve changed. People may have walked away from you. But God’s plan? It’s still pulsing. Still pushing. That’s God’s Plan.

🔬 And deeper than that—God’s still rebuilding you...

Here’s one you probably didn’t know:330 billion cells in your body die and get replaced—every single day. That’s about 1% of your entire body, renewed automatically every 24 hours.

You’re literally being rebuilt while you sleep. While you scroll. While you pray. While you cry.

God’s plan is not just preserving you—it’s renewing you. He’s working in your bloodstream, in your skin, in your DNA. Stuff you can’t even see. Unstoppable. Undeniable. Divine.

🙌🏾 So what am I saying?

Proverbs 21:30 says:“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”

That means:✅ Not your enemies' plans.✅ Not your failed business plans.✅ Not even your own plans…You know, the one that made God laugh...yea that plan.

But what about God’s plan? UNDEFEATED. And the proof?💨 You’re still breathing.❤️ Your heart’s still beating.🔁 Your body’s still rebuilding.

You're not here by accident. You didn’t “just make it” to today. You were carried this far. And I believe that if He brought you this far, He’ll carry you right on through. Why? Say it with me: Cause that’s God’s Plan!

Prayer

Oh my God–I trust in your plan for me.

Today’s Challenge

Take a breath—right now. Put your hand over your heart and still yourself until you feel the heartbeat. Let this moment remind you: You are proof of God’s ongoing plan.

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 20:13

Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.

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I gotta confess—I still have some work to do when it comes to my eating habits.

Over the years, I’ve definitely improved (shout out to growth!), but one of my long-time struggles is this: I eat fast. Like, too fast.

I developed the habit as a kid when I felt like food wasn’t always guaranteed or abundant. So I’d eat quick—gobble everything down before someone could ask for a bite. And I was slick, I had tricks! Like I’d mix my food all together into this “food  jambalaya” that looked so weird my siblings wouldn’t even think of asking for some:

“Oh you want some of my beans…the one’s with the Bread N Butter pickles? Oh you don’t OK…

But old habits have a way of following you. Now, even as an adult, I catch myself shoveling food in—I mean just racing through a meal without tasting it. And what’s wild? When I eat like that, I almost always go back for seconds. Sometimes thirds. (But hey, at least I don’t go for fourths anymore… shout out to progress)

Shout out to My wife, every now and then when she sees me galloping through a meal, in her gracious wisdom, she’ll catch me mid-gobble and say, “Baby…(that’s how she says it with that Southern flow…Babaaay)…Slow down…Chew your food…Enjoy the moment.” And for a split second, yeah I get a little offended—like,

“What you mean? I’m over here minding my business, enjoying my foo…”

And then I realize:

Hold up…I’m not even really enjoying this food…

I’m just consuming. Mindlessly. Almost like I’m eating in my sleep.

Think about that phrase: Eating in your sleep.

Because Proverbs 20:13 doesn’t just talk about physical sleep—it’s about living in a fog. A dreamlike state where you’re unaware, unsatisfied, always reaching for more—without realizing you already have enough.

“It’s only when you wake up that you notice you are dreaming.”

That’s the quote my wife sent me recently. (Shout out to spouses who send the coolest quotes and memes and posts to your phone all day) When I read this quote, I started thinking… How many of us live in a dreamlike fog—scrolling, numbing, comparing, consuming—but never waking up to the blessings right in front of us?

Jesus taught us to pray:

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Not a banquet. Not a buffet. Bread. And then immediately, according to the order of the prayer, He told us to ask for forgiveness… Why? Maybe because we don’t always see the bread God has already provided. Or worse—we step over the bread on our way to chase something shinier.

But when you awaken… when you become present… You realize: You already have enough. You slow down. You taste the moment. You chew it. You savor it. And suddenly… you’re satisfied with so much less.

Let’s Be Clear—Sleep Isn’t the Enemy in this verse.

God created sleep. Rest is sacred. And in our hustle culture, we actually need more of it.

But that’s not what Proverbs 20:13 is warning us about.

This is about the kind of sleep that numbs your purpose. That fog of distraction. That laziness that refuses to stay woke to responsibility, to relationships, or reality. You know it when you feel it—that emotional autopilot. The groggy soul that misses divine opportunities because you’re too fogged out to notice.

In this context, you can see how that zombie-like state of living leads to poverty, not just financial—but a spiritual and emotional emptiness that comes from living disconnected from your moment.

So, wake up.

Look around.

Taste and see.

You already have enough.

Prayer

Help me slow down and see this moment’s full provision.

Today’s Challenge

Pause and savor something simple today—a meal, a moment, a conversation. Say out loud: This is ‘bread from God’ . I will accept it and be full.

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 19:9

Tell lies and you’re going to get caught, and the habitual liar is doomed.

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Ever want to win so bad you’d cheat?

Not rob-a-bank cheat—just bend things a little. Skew the story. Cast yourself the hero. You know: the victim, the righteous one. Maybe you felt you deserved the win more than anyone else. Maybe the system is rigged. So you conspire: kneecap your opponent, flood the zone with outrage, frame the debate in your favor.

And suddenly, you’re not just making an argument—you’ve got a mob behind you.

But mobs are monsters.

You don’t lead a mob—you leverage it. It’s not built on truth. Not trust. Just tactics.

A mob will lift you up—often higher than you could lift yourself—but only to watch you fall. It’ll crown you king today and demand your head tomorrow. It’ll burn bridges just to light up the moment. And when the heat comes? A mob won’t course-correct. It can’t pivot, rethink, or repent.

Because mobs are monsters.

AND CREATING A MONSTER… is easy

All you need is fear, a little rage, and some one-sided social posts. Stoke the fire. Find an enemy—or invent one. You create a monster… then promise to protect the people from it.

That’s how the Trump–Epstein playbook worked.

Maybe he was too close. But Trump didn’t just see Epstein as a scandal—he saw him as a weapon. He sowed fear. Spun conspiracy. Told his base: “They’re hiding the truth.”

He crafted a creature of distrust, envy, and rage—then painted himself the hero to slay it.

But the monster wasn’t Epstein. It was the doubt, the disgust, the suspicion in our fellow man that was born from weaponized outrage.

Proverbs 19:9 says:“Tell lies and you’re going to get caught, and the habitual liar is doomed.” (TPT)

Imagine flooding the airwaves—or as Proverbs put it, “pouring out”—just enough misinformation to make yourself look good and your opponent look like a villain. That’s not just lying. That’s bearing false witness. It may work for a while—but lies rot from the inside out. And monsters don’t stay quiet forever. They get hungry. They get Angry. They get Hangry. Yeah go ahead and FEED THAT MONSTER…

Cause Monsters don’t just live off of one lie—they need daily meals.

Every tweet, every “they don’t want you to know,” every hot take? Those are just snacks baby.

The more outrageous the claim, the stronger the monster grows. And it gets addictive. Followers crave a new enemy. A fresher scandal. A bigger betrayal. The monster demands the drama. And it always wants more.

UNTIL YOU GET BIT BY THE MONSTER

Now, the beast is turning.

Loyalists are calling him out. Some say his defense is the betrayal.

This is the trap: when you feed a movement on deception, the hunger never ends. And when you can’t satisfy it anymore, it’ll turn on you. The creature you created becomes your accuser. The smoke you used to blind others now clouds your own escape.

Bottom line? Stop lying—and you avoid its doom.That’s not just Scripture. It’s a strategy.Lies don’t just catch up. They circle back.And when they do, they come with teeth.

And if they don’t catch you with them teeth and them claws–they’ll circle back…and when they do…you’re gonna get bit

🪩 RememberThe monster you create to rally others may one day consume you.

Prayer

Lord, guard me from feeding fury—and make truth my platform.

Today’s Challenge

Wherever you lead—online, at home, or in public—check yourself:Are you stoking fear or promoting facts?Is your influence built on truth or a manufactured monster?

Take one action to defuse a divisive narrative:Speak peace. Share wisdom. Choose integrity.

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 18:16

A person's gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people.

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I’ve been blessed to have a rap career that’s spanned over three decades. Earlier in 2025, my group P.I.D. dropped a song called “Steele Gifted” — a milestone marker of rhyming at 50+ years of age. The scripture that inspired it was Proverbs 18:16: “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.”

In that song, I dropped these bars:

Born with the gift / endured storms with the gift / in many forms lifted the gift /

Till the gift shifted the span of my width.

Let me unpack that real quick.

“Born with the gift.”

I believe everyone is. We don’t all recognize it early — or even understand it fully — but the gifts we carry are woven into our wiring. Romans 11:29 reminds us that the gifts and callings of God are “without repentance.” God doesn’t renege. He doesn’t revoke. You were born gifted.

Then the next line said:

“Endured storms with the gift.”

Sometimes the very thing that brings blessing also brings burden. Like a lightning rod, the gift attracts friction. Testing. Fire. But those storms root the gift deeper. They teach you to stand. The gift isn’t just for the spotlight — it’s for the survival.

Then I said:

“In many forms lifted the gift.”

That’s about consistency. Whether I was up, down, inspired, or exhausted — I kept lifting the gift. Not for ego, not for applause, but because honoring the gift was bigger than my mood. Lifting the gift shaped me, steadied me, saved me.

And then the last part, I said:

“Till the gift shifted the span of my width.”

This is the punch. The gift makes room. It expands your territory, widens your reach, puts you in spaces your résumé might not. You don’t have to elbow your way in. Let your gift go first.

But here’s the tension:

Your gift may get you in the room, but only your character can keep you there.

“Come on somebody”

Talent opens doors. Integrity keeps them from closing.

That’s why the real heavy lifting isn’t pushing your way in — it’s letting the gift do its work while you do yours behind the scenes. Developing discipline. Cultivating humility. Growing in integrity. That way, when your gift brings you before greatness, you’ll be grounded enough not to fumble the moment.

So let your gift go first — but don’t let it go alone.backbone.

Prayer

Lord, help me resist evil by choosing what gives life.

Today’s Challenge

Reach out to someone fighting for good—encourage them.

Then ask: Where can I show up and resist wrong… by living right?

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 17:28

Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent with their mouths shut. They seem intelligent.

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There’s an old saying:

“If you’re quiet enough, the universe will tell you everything you need to know.”

Now, that’s not just new-age fluff.That’s Proverbs 17:28 in disguise.

We’re in full-blown summer right now. And for the last 40 years of my ministry career, summers have meant one thing—camp season.

Right now, as you’re checking out this episode, I’m deep in the wilderness of North Texas somewhere, speaking at another student camp. And let me tell you—I still love it.

I love getting there early, watching the energy build. Vans pull up. Students spill out with duffel bags, flip-flops, energy drinks, and TikTok jokes. They're loud, hyped up, ready to make memories.

But I always look for the quiet kid. You know the one—They drift away from the group.Wander to the woods.Sit near the trees.Soak it all in before the week begins.

Those are the ones I watch.Because I know: Still waters run deep.

🙏🏾 Silence is a Type of Knowing

We fill space with noise—music, podcasts, arguments, opinions—not because we’re informed, but because we’re uncomfortable with our own thoughts.

But it’s in silence—beyond the chatter—that we touch deeper wisdom.Silence doesn’t mean ignorance.Silence is receptivity.It’s listening at the soul level.

Couples who truly love each other know this. They can sit side-by-side in silence—and feel full, connected, and complete.No forced words. No fillers.Just presence.That’s intimacy.

And God?God meets us like that, too.

Proverbs 17:28 says:

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise.”

Now that’s divine comedy—and divine mercy.

Silence gives space.And that space allows room for heaven to fill in what you don’t know.

You don’t need all the answers to appear wise.You need humility.You need pause.

Because even the angels are watching.Even creation listens.And the silence you offer isn’t empty—It becomes an invitation for wisdom to enter.

🪩 Remember this:

Silence is a sanctuary where wisdom whispers. Make room for it.

Prayer

Quiet my spirit, Lord, so Your wisdom can speak clearly.

🎯 Today’s Challenge

Practice 5 minutes of intentional silence.

No music.No scrolling.Just sit.Breathe.Observe.

And ask:“What do I need to hear that noise keeps me from?”

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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Be Wise and Be Well...shhhh.

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Proverbs 16:17

The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life.

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So, the 2025 BET Music Awards just gave the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award to GloRilla, Kirk Franklin, and Maverick City Music for their song “Rain Down On Me.”

And whew! Some folks in the church—especially in the CHH community (that’s the Christian Hip Hop Community for those unaware, of which I’ve been a part of since its inception...heck, I’m one of the ones that helped incept it)—man, they having a fit!

Now, I promise you, I ain't mad, but I do recognize the irony I ain’t gonna lie.

If you’ve heard any of GloRilla’s umm…catalog…you know it's… different. And for her to hop over into Gospel, drop a few bars, and then boom—snag one of the biggest awards in the space? Meanwhile, many of us who’ve been doing this for decades—trying to live right, spit truth, and grind with integrity—and the only award we’ve heard is...crickets.

It’s ironic. But if you zoom out to how heaven sees all of us? Well, all our righteousness is like filthy rags. And not just dirty laundry… the prophet literally referred to used menstrual cloths. Now that’s Jus Nasty! (Yeah. The Bible is a pretty raw book.)

But that’s irony.

Just a generation ago, in 1971, Bob Marley recorded a stripped-down acoustic medley in Sweden (it’s on the Songs of Freedom box set). It was just him, his guitar, and a soul spilling through his songs. Right in the middle of his classics, he began to strum and sing an old gospel tune:

“This train is bound for glory, this train... This train is bound for glory… This train carries no unholy... This train–this train.”

Now if you know Caribbean church culture, this moment was provocative. A Rasta rockstar, known for ganja and rebellion, crooning an old-school church song? Some saints were scandalized.

But once again, that’s the irony for you. Marley, unchurched in form, tapped into something deeply sacred in function. That holy train he sang about? The same one Solomon spoke of in Proverbs 16:17—the highway of the upright.

But, Who’s Holy Enough to Get On That Highway?

Yea, that’s the real question.

Because when we hear “this train carries no unholy”, some of us think we’re disqualified. Too messed up. Too compromised. Too far gone.

But the secret of the holy highway isn’t who gets on… it’s how they get on.

It’s not about being spotless. It’s about taking consistent steps.

The Hebrew Word for this highway is: דֶּרֶךְ (Derekh)

* Derekh means “path” or “way of life.”

* Not a one-time miracle.

* Not a spiritual teleportation.

* A path, a journey. A ‘step by step’ type of thing.

Just like a train doesn’t leap to its destination—it follows the track forward.

Total freedom from sin, fear, and old patterns? It unfolds in footsteps:

* Choose to stay on the derekh—the upright way.

* Walk past the temptation to compare yourself with others or condemn others.

* Guard your decisions: Is this thought/action carrying unholy baggage?

See deliverance isn’t zapped in—it’s walked out.

🪩 Listen:

The onramp to God’s highway is wherever you decide to take your next faithful step. And always remember, where you take one step, God is always faithful to take two.

Prayer

Help me walk right—step by step, day by day.

🎯 Today’s Challenge

🚂 Board the train today with one deliberate act:

* Identify a “track” (habit, thought pattern, media stream) that’s pulling you away from peace.

* Take one step toward rerouting it.

* Call a mentor or friend and share that step—walk the journey together.

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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Be Wise and Be Well...peace.

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Proverbs 15:13

A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but by a painful heart the spirit is broken.

I’ll be honest— I haven’t figured out whether it’s a blessing or a curse to wear how I feel on my face.

You know people like this? They can’t hide how they feel. They’re not actors. They’re not liars. They just carry their heart in their cheeks, their brow, their smile—or their scowl.

I have this... issue. Or maybe it’s a gift.

I’ve been told I have a goofy smile—and I kinda do. I can’t help it. I got it from my daddy. He was one of eight brothers and his brothers gave him the name ‘doo da’ as in ‘doo da–doo da’...Yea I got it from him… But it’s because I genuinely feel good when I see people. It’s become a habit over the years: I see somebody and I call out their name… and say it with joy!

“Jose!! Bwhaa bwhaa bwhaa bwhaaaa! What’s up, man!” That’s how I greet folks. And one time, someone side-eyed me hard. He said, “I don’t know if I can trust a brother who smiles all the time… Seems fake.”

Later, after he got to know me, he told me: “Fred, I was wrong. That’s just you. That’s who you are.”

See, my face wasn’t hiding something. It was revealing something. Because what’s inside? Does comes out. Like the scripture says in Proverbs 15:13:

“A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but a painful heart crushes the spirit.”

🔬 Facial Feedback is Scientific.

Psychologists call it the Facial Feedback Hypothesis. It’s the idea that your facial expressions don’t just reflect your emotions—they reinforce them.

💡 In other words: Smiling can actually make you feel happier. Not because you’re faking it—but because your nervous system responds to the motion you initiate.

A landmark study published in Psychological Science (2012) found that people who held a genuine smile (even if just by holding a pen in their teeth!) showed lower heart rates and faster stress recovery compared to those with neutral expressions.

You’re literally sending a message to your brain through your face:

“Hey, we’re good over here. Every little thing is gonna be alright.”

😐 Annndddd….On the Flip Side...

The second half of Proverbs 15:13 still is sobering:

“…a broken heart crushes the spirit.”

When the heart stays heavy, it begins to wear down the spirit. And sometimes we don’t even realize— we’re wearing sadness.

We’re wearing anxiety. We’re wearing hopelessness. We’re wearing resentment. And it crushes our spirit, dragging the whole atmosphere down.

🌞 But Here’s the Good News:

Hearts can be mended and frowns can be turned around You can reset the vibe of your day yourself. You don’t need a raise, a miracle, or another person to change your own atmosphere.

🪞 Sometimes it just starts with your face.

Look in the mirror. Smile—on purpose. Say your name out loud like it’s good news. Say someone else’s name out loud like they matter.

Joy doesn’t need a permission slip. Just consistent practice.

🪩 Remember:

Your face is a thermostat for your soul—so set it on joy.

Prayer

Lord, let my face reflect the joy You planted inside.

🎯 Today’s Challenge

Before you start scrolling, smiling, or even speaking— Look in the mirror and practice smiling on purpose. Then, greet one person today like you’re glad to see them.

And Joy will be written all over your face because you wrote it.

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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Be Wise and Be Well...and keep on smiling…peace.

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