Proverbs 6:20-23 (MSG)

Good friend, follow your father’s good advice;

don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings.

Wrap yourself in them from head to toe;

wear them like a scarf around your neck.

Wherever you walk, they’ll guide you;

whenever you rest, they’ll guard you;

when you wake up, they’ll tell you what’s next.

For sound advice is a beacon,

good teaching is a light,

moral discipline is a life path.

Explanation:

Listening to sound advice is the first step to gaining wisdom. If we don’t listen, we can’t take the next step, which is to follow wisdom as a path for our lives. Wisdom is prioritizing what we know to be right and true over what we feel we want. It is why the book of Proverbs places so much emphasis on adultery, as this is an example of when the “feeling” side of our brain overrides the “thinking” part of our brain, disregarding known consequences.

In this proverb, “father and mother” do not only mean our parents. The writer is instead referring to anyone who possesses godly wisdom, as evidenced by the use of “good” and “sound” advice as qualifiers; we know that not all advice is sound advice. Once identified as good advice, we are then instructed to clothe ourselves in it, to bundle ourselves up in it and wear it like winter wear.

When I was little, my mom loved visiting lighthouses. I didn’t appreciate them then (I even faked being sick once so I didn’t have to go up and see the same view yet again,) but I now recognize there is such power in a lighthouse as a beacon, steady and constant, calling ships out of storms and other dangers. This is the advice we should seek, that which consistently pulls us from darkness. At times, the wise have already walked through what we are walking through, and sometimes, they are just removed enough from our situations to see them clearly. This is why the proverb tells us sound advice can guide us, guard us, AND tell us what’s next. Who wouldn’t want this for their life?!

We should always look to God’s advice, through His Word and His Spirit, but do not neglect the fact that He can and will use all types of people as beacons in our lives. And when we follow their advice, it acts as a light, a lamp, a way to see through the darkness and pull us to safety, just like a lighthouse does for ships. We can still choose to flip off the light switch or unplug the lamp and go it alone, BUT God will never allow these beacons to burn out and will continually use them to attempt to draw us in. Wisdom from others is a protection from God, and it is a beautiful gift!

Application:

1. Think about your “life path.” Does it look the way you hoped? If it does, think about the people who helped direct your path, and thank God for their wisdom in your life. If it doesn’t, what advice can you seek and what changes can you make to redeem the course you once set for yourself?

2. The King James Version of the Bible trades the word “walk” (“wherever you walk”) for the word “roam.” This word signifies a meandering in direction, not having an idea where one is going. Is there somewhere you are roaming, either physically or emotionally, that you recognize and need help setting a new goal for where you want to go? Ask God to show you who can help with that goal.

3. If you are struggling for godly wisdom in your life, I encourage you to join a Connect Group. Some of the wisest and most sound advice I have gotten over the years has been from peers in my Connect Groups. God may have someone there who is ready, willing, and waiting to impart wisdom to you…after all, discipline is really the act of disciple-ing!

Devo Plus:

In case we doubt our calling from God to give and receive His wisdom, remind yourself of this: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for trusting us with Your wisdom. You could have chosen to create us and take us straight to heaven, but instead You gave us this beautiful life to share with others. Help us to use our words and experiences with care and direction from You; it is a daunting task to make ourselves vulnerable in this way, but we know we share in Your Kingdom plans when we do. Be with us this week as we learn to accept Your provision from others in our life. Amen.

Jeremiah 17: 7-10 (NKJV)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

“The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?

I, the LORD, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways,

According to the fruit of his doings.

Explanation:

One of the most popular phrases this world offers to hurting or confused souls is, “Follow your heart”. However good one’s intentions are in dispensing this advice, the result of following what the heart says will never bring the kind of success that honors God.

Why is that true? It’s true because we are born with a heart that gravitates toward sinful behavior — which promises fulfillment but always leaves us empty. Our default setting is to keep choosing sin, hoping every time the outcome will be different. Deception is the oldest, and only, trick in the book. Eventually it becomes impossible to discern truth when our hearts are layered with the enemy’s lies — the biggest one, of course, being that we know better than God how to run our lives.

God is doing the talking in this passage and He asks mankind a legitimate question. Only our Creator can know the most intimate details about us. The Bible makes no distinction between the mind and the heart; both represent our thoughts and will. The testing of one will confirm the condition of the other. But the provisions God made through Christ Jesus will transform our hearts from wicked to righteous and from deceitful to transparency. Only when we trust God to guide us through each day will we enjoy the blessings described above that flow like a river.

Application:

1. Fear and anxiety are mentioned in this passage. How are these emotions linked to a wicked heart?

2. Describe in your own words what it means to keep producing fruit in the middle of a drought.

3. Is there any sinful habits or thoughts that you try to hide from God?

4. Based on this passage, why do we keep thinking we can get away with that?

Devo Plus:

Read Jeremiah 17: 5 & 6 to see what happens to those who trust in man for guidance.

Prayer:

God, I come to You in prayer asking You to lead me in every circumstance and every decision I need to make. You alone know what my future looks like, so I trust You to go before me and protect me from anything that does not line up with Your plan for my life. Amen.

Deuteronomy 30:17-20 (NLT)

“But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Explanation:

Did you know that the average adult makes more than 35,000 decisions per day? Some of those are simple, like choosing if you want to wear your hair up or down, or if you wear your shirt tucked or untucked. Other decisions are extremely stressful and can impact many other people, like decisions about changing the direction of your business. The choices are truly overwhelming. There’s even been a term coined for when we are so overwhelmed by the amount of decisions we make in a day that we can barely decide what pajamas to wear—it’s called “decision fatigue.”

In this scripture, Moses was appealing to the people, calling them to make a decision. He emphasized that there was a promise of blessing for obedience, and a miserable, cursed existence for disobedience. The people needed to decide what life they wanted to live. He called on them to decide “today” and not wait or ponder the decision. They were being called to love the Lord and obey His commandments.

Fast forward to 2021. When you read these words from thousands of years ago, do you hear the plea? You’re being called to make the same decision that Moses implored the people to make. Choose life TODAY. It’s not like any of the other 35,000-plus decisions you’re going to make today. This one is the game changer. Will you follow? There is no in-between—it’s either life or death.

Application:

1. What similarities do we in 2021 have with the Israelites that Moses was addressing in this passage?

2. From this short passage, what do you think the Israelites chose? (See the devo plus reading to learn what happened after Moses’s plea.)

3. Today, you’re called to make a decision. If you’ve never made that choice before, please say the prayer below now.

Prayer:

God, today I want to make the decision to choose life. Please help me set aside all of the other unimportant, earthly decisions and set my sights on the most important decision of my life, and that’s to follow You. Forgive me of my sins and shortcomings. Help me to set my eyes on You and turn to You for every decision, allowing You to be the author of my choices. I know that I will have failures on this journey, and I ask You to encourage me to re-set my eyes on You every morning, and know that each day is a new opportunity to learn more about You. Thank You for loving me, for not turning Your back on me, and for giving me the strength to choose life eternally with You.

*If you prayed this prayer today for the first time, please reach out to [email protected] or call us at (740) 654-5894 and someone will connect with you. We want to join you on your walk with God and provide you with resources to help you!

Devo Plus:

Read about the choice the Israelites made after Moses tells them they have to choose a path. (Deuteronomy 31:16-20, 26-29)

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Explanation:

Sometimes, I find it hard to let go of my own control when I run into circumstances in everyday life. I have a job with a moderate to high stress level that requires much attention to detail.

During my job, at times it is easy to become overwhelmed with the workload. I often find myself trying to do several tasks at once, which further adds to the stress. When it gets busy, it isn't until I take a moment to refocus my attitude and decide to delegate that I find respite from my anxieties that can often lead me to destructive scheduling catastrophes.

I have to give up the weight of my burdens, and I have to shift some of responsibility onto a coworker and trust that he or she will perform my requests to my standards. Ninety-nine percent of the time, people come through for me and make my job much more stress free. How much more able is our God to come through for us than a fallible coworker?

When we decide to shift our burdens to the Lord, He is willing and more than able to lead us into a better and a more fulfilling life in Christ, and our lives become much less stressful and much more enjoyable. He will surely direct our path, and lead us to green pastures and still waters.

We can acknowledge His hand on our lives, and trust that He will guide us, and in doing so, we will find rest from carrying the weight of a burdensome load.

Application:

1. When your stress builds up this week, take a moment to stop worrying. Take a few deep breaths in and out. Take a moment to acknowledge God and His sovereignty during that moment. Acknowledge His omnipotence and His omnipresence. Recount His love for you, and remember that His thoughts toward you are more numerous than the sand. Ask Him to direct your path from that moment on regarding what you were worried about. Cast all your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you.

2. This week, ask God to send you His Holy Spirit to help you, and to impress upon you just how much He cares for you.

Devo Plus:

This week, read Psalm 139:17-18. Then read Psalm 23.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for all You do for me. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to place my trust into Your caring hands. I thank You that when I place my trust in You, You are leading me in the right direction. Thank You for seeking me out and reminding me that You are bringing me new life, and bringing me into a new direction.

Amen.

Luke 21:29-33 (ESV)

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Explanation:

This scripture takes place as Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for Passover.

At the end of a gloomy winter season, we have the promise of new life. Trees sprout new leaves, stems poke through the soil, and the earth awakens with a sweet freshness. We can look forward to this cycle with certainty and truth.

Luke recalls Jesus telling the parable of the fig tree with the same confidence. Our God created a beautiful reminder of His kingdom. Even when our lives are disturbed or uncertain, God’s word remains steadfast. Jesus reminds us to look for the signs of what is true, and to apply that truth in the decisions we make. Life will end, the earth will die, but Jesus has provided the timeless promise of His presence in His word.

Application:

1. How well do you read the signs of what is permanent and what is temporary?

2. If you were a tree that did not bloom this spring, how would you ask for a second chance to

blossom?

3. How are you preparing to face Jesus?

4. What are the “things” that trouble you? Lift those things to God.

Devo Plus:

Isaiah 40:6-8, Matthew 24:32-35, Mark 13:28-29

Prayer:

God, You have created a universe full of beauty and life. We recognize those things are temporary, and that the true beauty of life revolves around Your everlasting love. Help us to look for the signs you are giving to pursue a life of blessings and value. Father, we pray for those who do not produce fruit, and ask You to strengthen their branches in the next season. In His name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 119:41-48 ESV

Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,

your salvation according to your promise;

then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

for my hope is in your rules.

I will keep your law continually,

forever and ever,

and I shall walk in a wide place,

for I have sought your precepts.

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings

and shall not be put to shame,

for I find my delight in your commandments,

which I love.

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,

and I will meditate on your statutes.

Explanation:

The beginning of these verses is almost a pleading for the very love and salvation God has for us, saying that only when these things are obtained do we have an answer for those who come against us. This is because of the trust to be had in God’s word. Then the emphasis is placed in the word of God and the way it should be treated and upheld. The law shall be kept continually forever and walked in daily. The word of God will not be put to shame, and we shall find delight in and love the law of God. Our hands should be lifted toward His commandments, and we shall dwell on them all the days of our lives.

This psalm accurately portrays the way we should plead for the word of God, trust in the Word of God, and live continually within the Word of God. The praise for God should be great, and should be the very thing that fuels us in our pursuit of the life Jesus called us to live. We can find our joy and our answer when we submit to His steadfast love, His promise of salvation, and His word.

Application:

1. Why is it important to ask the Lord for His steadfast love and salvation?

2. In what ways does the word of God transform our lives?

3. What are some areas in your life where you struggle to walk in His commandments and to listen to His word?

4. How can you listen and meditate upon His word more?

Devo Plus:

Read Luke 2:28-32, Psalm 69:16, and James 1:22-25 to get more insight into this passage.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us Your steadfast love, Your salvation, and Your word when we don’t deserve any of it. Allow the word of God to dwell in our hearts and to be the loudest word in our minds. Help us to walk in Your commandments, to meditate on Your word day and night, and to ultimately seek after You continually. Show us the areas in our lives where we need to grow, and continue to help us to be more like You. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Proverbs 4:20-23 (ESV)

My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

Let them not escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart.

For they are life to those who find them,

and healing to all their flesh.

Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.

Explanation:

King Solomon is sharing such great wisdom with his son. If his son only took this understanding away from all of the wisdom his dad could share, he would experience life at its fullest. Have you ever been on the edge of your seat listening to a story, or watching a movie or play? Leaning in to be sure you don’t miss one detail? This is exactly what Solomon is asking his son to do. He wants his fullest attention because what he has to say will help his son through any circumstance in life. His wisdom is life-giving.

Solomon had previously warned to actively avoid evil and those who practice it (Proverbs 4:14-15). He is now telling his son to “keep” his words in his heart. Solomon is guiding him to take care of his heart, to maintain it by focusing on his truths. Don’t fill it with things that potentially lead to destruction. The things he is guiding his son on are meant to be cherished, not tolerated.

We have a tendency to adapt to our surroundings, whether they are good or bad. If we are vigilant about how we nourish our minds, we will store those things in our hearts, and ultimately they guide our actions. If we want to experience life the way we were created, then we need to fill our hearts with the truths of the Bible, so we can walk in obedience and healthy design.

Application:

1. Can you think about a specific moment in your life when it was so impactful that you will never forget it? What stuck with you, and why?

2. Do you have perimeters set up in your life to care for your heart and mind? If not, what things do you think you need to change to do so? If yes, what are they?

3. Take steps this week to notice what you actively choose to do. Make adjustments to the things that don’t bring you to health.

Devo Plus:

Dive deeper into the wisdom of Proverbs with this podcast.

https://bibleproject.com/podcast/proverbs-lady-wisdom-lady-folly/

Prayer:

God, thank You for being a relational God. Thank You for equipping us to be able to receive and experience the fullness of life You designed. Guard my heart to hear and keep only what is pleasing to You. Use me in a way that Your glory flows freely from my heart. Amen.

Romans 15:4 (NLT)

Such things were written in the Scriptures

long ago

to teach us.

And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement

as we wait patiently

for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Explanation:

When I moved here in 2005, I was asked to start a children’s ministry at LCC. I had spent 25 years in inner city children’s ministry and was excited at the prospect! I began the planning and wanted to launch with a series, “Sin Will Make You STUPID!”

I would use Samson (strongest man in the world who lost everything), Saul (once God’s anointed who died by falling on his own sword), and Sapphira (once a vibrant contributor to the local church who ended up dropping dead in church because she lied). I could envision the set with the three big “S’s” and all the drama involved with those three characters from the Bible. I wanted the kids to know how important listening to God was.

Then….

I was told I could teach the series, but I just couldn’t use the word stupid.

Turns out it is a children’s swear word in Ohio. It’s a funny memory now, but since I am writing for an adult audience, let me say to you…

Sin will make you stupid because it shuts out the voice of God in your decision-making.

THANKFULLY it doesn’t have to be that way. God can make you WISE!

In the Bible, we have brilliant stories, concepts, principles, guidelines, nuggets, and lessons pulsating through every page for our good. It is this smorgasbord of encouraging, hope-filled wisdom that, IF absorbed, can make your life extraordinary because it has been proven and tried and comes from the living God!

Imagine life, if all prior instructions and teaching disappeared?

What if every cook had no standard measuring ability or recipes?

every doctor had to guess…

pharmacists had no studies…

carpenters had no blueprints…

mechanics had no manuals…

airline pilots had no simulators…

teachers had no books…

and puzzles had no pictures…

You can see how wacky our world would be. Knowledge is cumulative and passed down, saving the next generation so much time, pain, and loss. Knowledge passed down aids our ability to thrive and prosper.

The Bible is God’s knowledge passed down for generations. Your logic and reasoning skills only serve you well when they are saturated in God’s word.

To ignore the Bible is to:

✔️sabotage your spiritual growth

✔️practice abysmal decision-making

✔️absorb devastating losses

✔️experience painful consequences.

Application:

1. In all reality, trying to find hope and encouragement without the plumb line of God’s word is as outrageous as never using Google again. If you Google reviews before you pick a restaurant, surely you can see the value of going to God’s word for input into decisions that affect the course of your life.

2. Let God reorient your thinking by exposing your mind and heart to His word. Open yourself up to a new way.

3. Otto von Bismarck said: “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” Why do you think this would apply to the Bible?

Devo Plus:

Speaking of Samson…

Some of the saddest words in the Bible describe him after experiencing soaring power and honor by God. He began to repeatedly refuse God’s wisdom and made a decision that would lead to total devastation.

Then Delilah cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”

When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.”

Judges 16:20 (NLT)

Prayer:

Lord, let it not be said of me that I squandered the ability to find answers, wisdom, and protection in Your word. Draw me in and renew my mind as I live by Your words of hope and encouragement. May I be found ready when You return. Amen

Joshua 1:8-9 (ESV)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Explanation:

Joshua 1:9 is one of those famous coffee cup verses. The promise of God’s presence in moments that are hard or scary is a tremendous promise that Joshua was called to remember, and we should remember as well.

Just as important as the promise to trust God’s presence was the call to always keep the Law in front of him. For Joshua, the Book of the Law (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) was the covenant God had made with the nation of Israel. It was God’s promise to be their God, and the instruction on how to live within the bounds of that relationship. Keeping the words of the Law constantly in front of them, meditating (thinking) on them and practicing them were the ways they found life, hope, and joy. Not because the words were magical or a formula, but because they reminded the Israelites of who God was, what He had done for them, and what He would ask of them. It was in these words that they would find all the promises and stories of God’s ability to come through for them. It reminded them that God could be trusted to come through for them. So when they forgot, became scared, and lost motivation to do what God was asking, the Law was there to remind and inspire. It is what kept them on the path toward life…toward God.

Application:

1. Do you have a regular rhythm of reading God’s word? If not, what are the things that keep you from having one?

2. What is your favorite story of God coming through?

3. Is there a situation in your life where you need God’s promises?

4. Do you think remembering God is present and will come through for you, help you deal with that situation?

5. Do the Devo Plus today.

Devo Plus:

With the answer to question number three in mind, go to Open Bible Topical Bible online, and look up passages that pertain to the topic you need to hear God speak about. Find two or three scriptures that you can write down and keep in front of you.

Prayer:

God, reading Your word isn’t a magic trick or a formula that automatically makes our day go ok. But in Your word, we find You…and where we find You, we find life, hope, and peace. Will You please help us to keep Your word in front of us, whether it be in praise of what You have done, or in promise of how You will help us face a difficult time? Thank You for not leaving us to guess that You are near…You give us Your word so we can always keep in front of us Your promises and Your love for us. Amen.

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Explanation:

In this verse in Hebrews, we again see imagery used as a way to help the reader better understand what God's word is saying to us. The author is using the idea of a two-edged sword to make his point clear. The original Greek word translated "sword" in this passage is often used to describe the blade wielded by Peter in Gethsemane (John 18:10). Peter's weapon was less of a soldier's sword and more of a large fisherman's knife meant for cutting flesh—unlike true military swords, which were tougher but less razor-sharp. I think this kind of knife imagery gives us a better understanding of what this scripture is saying, and how the Holy Spirit wants to work in our lives.

When we read and engage in God's word, it should change us to our core. God's message through the Bible is for us to be challenged to live in a way that mirrors Jesus’s' life each and every day. In order to live that way, we have to be willing to let our lives be dissected to the most minute things we do and say as we live on this earth. That can really hurt sometimes, and be very difficult to do. Yet this is what we are called to do as followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must listen and obey. One day when we stand before the Lord to give an account of our lives, I think we all want to feel that we have done all we can to be able to hear the Lord say, “Well done thy good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

Application:

1. Do you read the Bible in a way that allows you to be open to God's leading, or do you read without really thinking about how the scriptures may be challenging you to change?

2. Feeling challenged to change can be hard. You may need to talk other people about your difficulties. Don't hesitate to reach out to someone in your Connect Group or to the church.

Devo Plus:

It is possible to read the Bible and yet fail to follow God's will. This can be due to rebellion (2 Peter 3:16), or perhaps pride (John 5:39–40).

Prayer:

Father, help us to be willing to let Your word speak to our hearts. You inspired the words in the Bible, and it is for our instruction. Help us to be open to allowing You to reach to the depths of our being, cutting away what should not be there and molding us into a better example of who Jesus wants us to be. Thank You, Lord, for Your strength to do these things. Amen.