It is absolutely crazy how our culture demeans the choices and behaviors that scripture promotes while glorifying and celebrating the things that scripture discourages. Today’s passage teaches us to value things like being prudent and how to acknowledge feelings such as guilt and grief.

Proverbs 14:8-13 (NLT)

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.14.8-13.NLT

-------------------

Music: Know Your Heart (Instrumental Version) by Hector Gabriel courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/6IaIKlY80A/

Families and households are the building blocks for communities. Healthy families help create healthy communities. Today's passage of scripture shows us examples of how we can make sure our households are places of love and nurturing versus places of turmoil and frustration. Let's read.

---------------------

Music: Know Your Heart (Instrumental Version) by Hector Gabriel courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/6IaIKlY80A/

We all have dreams, well at least I hope you do because you don’t have dreams, you’ve allowed the enemy to steal your hope. Dreams are beautiful when they come true. Even when we can see ourselves getting closer to achieving them, we at least feel confident that we are on the right track. The hard reality is that we aren’t always willing to do what it takes to see our dreams become a reality. Today’s passage addresses this dilemma and more.

Proverbs 13:19-25 (NLT)

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.13.19-25.NLT

---------------------

Music: Know Your Heart (Instrumental Version) by Hector Gabriel courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/6IaIKlY80A/

Our culture is constantly giving us feedback and correction to our thoughts and actions. It's like the ways of this world have a gravity that is seeking to pull us into conformity with what's considered normal. The more I read Proverbs, the more I realize how countercultural the ways of scripture are and today's passage helps to make that point even more clear.

Proverbs 13:13-18 (NLT)

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.13.13-18.NLT

----------------------------

Music: Know Your Heart (Instrumental Version) by Hector Gabriel courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/6IaIKlY80A/

As we conclude our 5th week in the book of Proverbs, I feel like I'm learning more each day about different ways to approach the text. The biggest challenge that I've had has been to consider entire passages and how they relate to each other instead of simply looking at each verse individually. Today's passage is no different and the big takeaway that stood out to me was the idea of a lasting legacy. Let's jump in.

Proverbs 13:1-12 (NLT)

https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.13.1-12.NLT

-------------

Music: Goodnight by James.Lfo, William Claeson courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/WD5yzdwGeY/

I am just loving these Proverbs. There's just so many golden nuggets of wisdom woven into a mystery of how they are all connected. Today's passage of scripture might sound like random pieces of advice, but it's so fun to see how they pieces fit together and just how useful and applicable they are today.

Proverbs 12:20-28 (NLT)

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.12.20-28.NLT

-----------

Music: Mercies New Morning by Joyspring courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/2HthG1urcq81iojPcnFbhb

We all want the results. It may be weight loss or fitness goals, or maybe that opportunity or promotion at work, or if we are in school, the A on the test. We all want the result, but being willing to put in the work to get the result is a whole different story. Today’s passage is full of some absolute gems that I hope will help calibrate us when it comes to the work we are willing to put in to achieve our goals.

Proverbs 12:11-18 (NLT)

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.12.11-18.NLT

------------------

Music: Mercies New Morning by Joyspring courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/2HthG1urcq81iojPcnFbhb

Toxic people are fatal. There’s no other way to say it. There are people who just seem to bring drama and chaos every time they open their mouths. Then there are those who seem to be just the opposite. People who bring life, folks, that after you talk to them it feels like you’ve just had a breath of fresh air. Which type of people do we tend to gravitate to? Which type of people do we choose to be? Today’s passage talks about these two types of people.

Proverbs 12:4-7 (New Living Translation)

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.12.4-7.NLT

----------------

Music: Mercies New Morning by Joyspring courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/2HthG1urcq81iojPcnFbhb

When I was a kid, there were certain words that you might have said but you definitely didn’t let any adult hear you utter. Now, of course all of the standard curse words were on that list but so was the word, “stupid”. Even now, it feels harsh to hear things being called stupid. I still avoid calling people stupid but we can definitely do some stupid things.

Proverbs 12:1-3 (NLT)

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.12.1-3.NLT

----------------------

Music: Mercies New Morning by Joyspring courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/2HthG1urcq81iojPcnFbhb

Prosperity has become a dirty word in many churches. I’ve personally been on the receiving end of lots of sermons about prosperity and riches. To be completely honest, so many of those messages were grounded in emotionalism and manipulation that it makes it challenging to accept the truth that scripture does provide wisdom on gaining wealth and being prosperous.

Proverbs 11:23-28 (NLT)

https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.11.23-28.NLT

---------------------

Music: Goodnight by James.Lfo, William Claeson courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Stream: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/WD5yzdwGeY/