Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:

Proverbs 19:23(KJV):
23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 19:23(AMP):
23 The reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it shall rest satisfied; he cannot be visited with (actual) evil.

Thoughts for the Day:

This verse tell us when one honors and respects God he can live in a place of provision above other men; a place that we find we are equipped with power over evil. We need to look at two definitions here to understand what this verse is saying: (1.) What is the "fear of the Lord?"  and (2.) What does it mean that we shall not be "visited with evil."

The "fear of the Lord" is not a tormenting fear, but rather a respect and honor for God and His Word.  If I respect someone, I honor their word.   Therefore, the Bible is telling us that when we reverence and respect God and keep His word it will lead us to life and we can rest satisfied.  Here are some more scriptures that further define "the fear of the Lord."

Psalm 111:10: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 34:11-17:
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Proverbs 10:27: The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

What does it mean we shall not be visited with evil?  It does not mean that the devil will not attack us, but rather it means that no matter what kind of attack we have from the devil, God will give us the way to conquer him and overcome him. Therefore evil will not actually hurt us.  When we become a child of God and we are "born again," we now have access to all that God has.  Because Jesus overcame the devil through His death on the cross, no weapon formed against us shall prosper. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Job 5:19-22:
19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

Psalm 91:3-7:
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

I could list many more verses that promise us protection and deliverance from the devil; however, these will suffice for this teaching.  We can also look at the lives of many of the Bible saints and see how these very scriptures protected them in their time of trial.  Daniel is one of those examples who was protected from beasts. The Israelites in Exodus were protected from pestilence, while the Egyptians were suffering under this curse.

Daniel 6:27:  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Exodus 8:22  And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.

The Lord is no respecter of people. Therefore, if we honor and respect Him and His Word, He will do the same things for us today, that He did throughout the Bible.  He is just looking for a people who will believe Him. God and His power have not changed.  He is the same yesterday, and today and forever. He will do miracles for us today if we but dare to believe Him.

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You today for Your greatness!!  Create in me a heart that will always believe You and trust in Your Word.  I do want to always have the "fear of the Lord" in my heart.  I then will not have to fear any man or what any man would do unto me, as You are greater than all men.  Thank You for Your many promises of provision and protection throughout Your Word.  I claim them for my life and for those in my family.  Deliver me from any doubt and unbelief that would keep me from receiving all that You have promised me in the Bible.  I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.