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 4:14-19(KJV): "14 Enter not into the path of
the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it,
and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is
taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and
drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the
perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they
stumble."
Thoughts for the Day:
In the book of Proverbs we find
many spiritual truths that are illustrated by contrasts. In these verses God is teaching
us wisdom by warning us not to go the dark way, but to walk in the light. Verse 15
stresses to avoid this dark path, not to go near it, to turn away from it and to pass by
it. Many people end up taking the wrong path simply because they do not stay away
from the places that would lead them into temptation.We must flee temptation so that we do
not become ensnared by the devil. In the New Testament when Jesus was teaching his
disciples to pray, He told them to pray that they would not be led into temptation, rather
delivered from evil.
Luke 11:1: "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a
certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray,
as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in
heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for
we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but
deliver us from evil."
When this prayer states, "Lead us not into temptation," this
does not infer that God leads us into temptation, as He never does. We go there when we
yield to our own lusts. This means we are to pray that we are not led there by our own
evil desires, but rather, that we will be delivered from the evil that comes when we sin.
James 1:13: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted
of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man
is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust
hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
death."
Proverbs 4:19 says that the way of the wicked is darkness
and those that walk there, will stumble and fall. The results of sin always causes one to
fall. Sin brings death. This is not only referring to dying, but also anything
that leads to death or that produces the death principle. Sickness, depression, fear,
poverty, worry, strife, hatred, jealousy, etc. make up the things that encompass the death
principle. This is contrasted by the path of the just who walks in a shining light so that
they can see where they are going. When we walk with Jesus, our
path just gets brighter and brighter, and we can walk in that perfect day every day with
Him.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Father in Heaven, I am thankful for the
light you have given me. Strengthen me to remain on the right path. I do pray for
grace, not only to resist temptation, but to flee from it. Lord, I also pray for
those that I know who are struggling right now to get free from addiction or other sins.
Deliver them from evil and help them to get back on track with you. Lord, help me
not to criticize them, but to be compassionate and lift them in prayer until they are
free. I do forgive them for the troubles that some of them have brought to my life.
I know that if I did not have your grace and mercy in my life, I could also be
taken captive by the devil. Should I fall, Lord, I would want someone praying for
me, so I ask that You be merciful to them, so that I might also obtain mercy when I need
it. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
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