Today Daily Devotional

Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.

— Proverbs 10:19

Today it seems as if the more words you say, the more power­ful or popular you can be. Whether you’re on social media, in the daily news, in politics, or in a board meeting, the more you say (and the louder you say it), the more influence you seem to have.

But what does God think of all our chatter?

Scripture warns us that we need to be careful with our words and how we use them. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus encourages his followers to refrain from using many words in their prayers, as if that would make them more impressive to God. He says, “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

How often do we think we will be heard—by God or by ­others—when we use many words to try to impress them? Do we try to prove ourselves by speaking quickly, dominating the conversation, and coming out on top?

Proverbs 10:19 says that people who are prudent refrain from using too many words. They speak with discretion, wisdom, and discernment. They know that listening is more important than speaking. (See also James 1:19.)

Jesus was thoughtful and discerning, and that should be our aim as well.

Faithful God, thank you for loving us despite all our faults and failures. Forgive us if we think you’ll be impressed by our prayers, and help us to be prudent with our words. Amen.

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

— Proverbs 10:17

In Luke 19 we read about a man named Zacchaeus who was a wealthy tax collector. In the Jewish society of that day, tax collectors were despised as traitors because they worked for the Roman Empire and took money away from their own people. They also grew rich because they could charge extra fees and keep that money for themselves.

But one day Zacchaeus met Jesus, and the next thing he knew, Jesus was inviting himself to Zacchaeus’s home and inspiring him to be a better person. It’s a beautiful story of how transformation can happen through Jesus.

We don’t know what Jesus was teaching to the crowds that day. And we don’t know much about what Jesus said to Zacchaeus. But other passages show clearly what Jesus taught about loving God and loving our neighbors, and something definitely stirred Zacchaeus’s heart to change. Whatever was said, Zacchaeus became open to receiving Jesus. And Zacchaeus decided to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back four times what he had cheated from anyone.

Through Jesus’ teaching, Zacchaeus found the way to life. The Spirit of God convicted him of his sins against ­others, and he became open to correction and discipline. And by his actions he became an example to lead others.

Faithful Father, thank you for loving me, even when I refuse your discipline and often think my way is better. Correct me and guide me so that I can show others the way to life. Amen.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

— Proverbs 9:10

Both my husband and I grew up near a seacoast—he in Angola, Africa, and me in British Columbia, Canada. But we have very different responses to the ocean.

My husband will take every opportunity to go into the ­water. He loves exploring, isn’t bothered by the salty feel or smell, and doesn’t seem to worry about strange creatures touching his feet.

I, on the other hand, have a “reverent fear” of the ocean. I love watching the water, listening to the sounds of the waves, and delighting in the ocean smells. But I know the power of the ocean, and I remain fearfully in awe of that power.

When I read this verse in Proverbs, I wonder if that’s the kind of fear the writer is describing. It isn’t that the Lord wants us to be afraid of him, but there is an awe and rever­ence necessary when we’re talking about the Creator God of the cosmos.

Fearing God implies that we recognize his great and awesome power, and this allows us to grow in wisdom. If we underestimate God or trivialize his power, we won’t under­stand him at all. If we treat God as less than he is, are we really loving him?

What is one way you can delight in God’s power and show reverence for him today?

Mighty and powerful God, it’s amazing that you who created the heavens and the earth would care so deeply for me. Help me to grow in wisdom so that I can delight in you more. Amen.

I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me. . . .

— Proverbs 8:20-21

When you think of the word inheritance, what comes to mind? Money? An estate? Someone you love passing away? A family member who has left all their belongings to you—whether you want them or not?

God wants to give us a rich inheritance, which means he wants us to be part of his family. God has made it possible for us to be his sons and daughters so that we can receive an inheritance from him.

How has God done this? Through Jesus. Jesus’ death paid our debt of sin, and his resurrection and ascension show that he is victorious over sin and death. And because of Christ’s victory God sends his Holy Spirit to us all so that we can be adopted as his children.

Paul tells us in Romans 8:17, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. . . .”

All who believe in Christ are adopted children of God, heirs of our heavenly Father’s ­estate and his blessings. Just as a will indicates how someone’s wealth or belongings should be distributed, God promises that his children will share in his inheritance through Jesus. And that includes eternal life with him.

So when you think of the word inheritance, what comes to mind? Do you think of Jesus and the promise of full life forever?

Gracious and generous God, thank you for the promise that we will inherit the treasure of full life with you. Amen.

“You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.”

— Proverbs 8:5

The word prudence is not one we use or hear very often. But the book of Proverbs seems to enjoy using it, so perhaps it is worth reevaluating.

Prudence can be defined as the ability to discipline yourself, to manage your affairs well, and to discern and have good judgment. We need prudence so that we can make good decisions and not act rashly or too quickly without first considering the costs or consequences.

In Proverbs, Wisdom calls every­one to gain prudence. We should act with discernment, thinking carefully even if our intentions are good. For example, it can be good to give money for important causes, but we should first pray and discern how and where to give it so that we can be sure our gifts are distributed well.

Jesus encouraged his disciples to have prudence. In Luke 14:28, for example, he says that if you want to build a ­tower, “won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

In a similar way, Jesus wants us to assess the cost of being his disciple. We need to consider his words and discern his ways so that we can confidently follow his example and set our hearts on him.

How might Jesus be calling you to seek prudence today?

Jesus, as your Spirit gives me wisdom to know you more fully, give me prudence to love you more deeply and follow you with greater intention. Amen.

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

— Proverbs 4:25-26

Regret is something that everyone struggles with. Depending on the situation or circumstances, the emotions of regret can linger for months or even years before one is able to refocus.

Many of us are inclined to look back on what could have been or should have been. People can also tend to look behind them to “the good ol’ days,” when life may have seemed sweeter, simpler, and less ­frantic.

But whatever might cause us to fixate on the past, Proverbs encourages us to look ahead. This is not because it’s bad or inappropriate to look back. We can learn a lot from our past mistakes, trauma, or the good times we enjoyed. However, Scripture calls us not to linger in the past but rather to glean from it (however long that takes) and then look ahead.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Set your gaze on the road before you and follow Jesus steadfastly. Let him be the ­focal point of your pathway in life. Run the race knowing that his Spirit is running with you and that he is ahead of you, waiting at the finish line.

“Guide me, O my great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but you are mighty; hold me with your powerful hand.” Help me, Jesus, to fix my gaze on you. Amen.

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place. . . .

— Proverbs 3:19

Setting a foundation for anything can be a difficult and sometimes complicated task. Whether it’s constructing a house, engineering a bridge, laying down pavement for a new road, or installing a retaining wall, the foundation is essential to whatever is being made.

Proverbs tells us that the Lord God, our Creator, founded the heavens and the earth by wisdom and understanding. What exactly is the writer saying here?

The New Testament gives us some clarity on this. Now that Jesus has come, the mysteries of God have been revealed. As the apostle Paul puts it in Colossians 1:16, “In him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth . . . all things have been created through him and for him.” The apostle John also notes that “in the beginning was the Word [Logos]” and that “through him all things were made.” What’s more, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” and he is “the Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3, 14).

So Christ himself is our source of heavenly wisdom, of knowledge and understanding from God. He is the foundation and the means by which we can grow.

This means that if we are to pursue wisdom, we will find it in Jesus and no one else.

Wise and awesome God, you created the world and each one of us; and, Lord Jesus, all things are created through you. Help us to find wisdom and understanding in you. Amen.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline . . . because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

— Proverbs 3:11-12

The Bible shows that one of the most common ways God interacts with us is by calling and treating us as his children.

But what does it mean that “the Lord disciplines those he loves”? When we think about discipline, we may be reminded of harsh words, consequences, and punishment for bad behavior. Parents sometimes discipline their children in those ways, but does God do that with us?

The writer of Hebrews sheds some light on this. Hebrews 12 quotes these verses from Proverbs and encourages ­listeners to “endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children” (Hebrews 12:7). The writer even says we are not legitimate sons and daughters of God if we are not disciplined by him.

But what does this discipline look like? Hardship. God most often disciplines his children by allowing them to endure hardship, difficulties, and trials. So “discipline” is less about giving consequences for bad be­havior and more about shaping and forming us to depend on God fully and to trust him completely.

Think about Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). That was a trial sent by the Father to “discipline” his Son—showing that he could depend on and fully trust the Father. How might your heavenly Father be disciplining you today?

Loving Father, thank you for adopting us as your children. Guide us to endure trials, and strengthen us to trust and depend on you in all situations. Amen.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

— Proverbs 3:7-8

We tend to believe that we will be the most happy—physically and spiritually—when we have everything under control. We want a wisdom that tells us how successful we will be, how much money we’ll make, where we’ll be in five or ten years, and what our retirement will look like.

When everything feels controlled, we feel happy and content. So we try to do whatever we can to control our circumstances, or else stress will overwhelm us, and our mental and physical health will suffer.

These verses in Proverbs teach us otherwise. Trying to be wise in our own eyes is actually not what is best for us. To help our bodies flourish, we need to surrender ourselves to the Lord.

Gaining wisdom from God and seeking to be wise in God’s eyes will bring health to our bodies. The book of James instructs us this way: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously . . . and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).

God wants to give us his wisdom because he knows it will enable us to flourish. In his love for us, God knows that this true wisdom will release us from worry and allow us to surrender our lives to him—that we may live fully, as he intends for us.

God of all wisdom, help me to be wise in your eyes. By your Holy Spirit, keep me from seeking control and running after worldly ideas about wisdom so that I can focus my attention on you. Amen.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. . . .

— Proverbs 3:5

The other day, my niece gave me a little card that she had made in school, and on the cover it said, “I love you with all my heart.”

Since ancient times our heart has been associated with our emotions, even though it isn’t actually the source of our feelings. The Bible often uses “heart” to refer to the central place of one’s being—where one’s whole mind, soul, and spirit operate. So the heart was what guided a person to make sense of the world, and it was where one’s emotions flowed from.

What does it mean, then, to “trust in the Lord with all your heart”? This means that you can put your trust in God with absolutely everything you’ve got—your emotions, your under­standing, your strength, your intelligence, your whole personhood.

In other words, “Trust in the Lord with your entire being.” Don’t let any piece of you fall away or fail to depend and rely on the God who created you.

Lean on the Lord, because he knows how to make your paths straight.

Loving Father, help me today to submit my whole self into your hands. Guide me along the way I should go, and help me to lean on your wisdom and understanding. Amen.