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 8:33-36:(KJV): "Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death."

Thoughts for the Day:

The book of Proverbs continues to admonish us that the path of wisdom begins by listening to instructions. Even in school, we quickly find out if we do not pay attention to the teacher and listen to his or her instructions, we will fail the tests.  The same principle applies to the tests that we face in this life.  If we refuse the instruction and wisdom that is found in the Bible, we will not be able to pass the tests we face in this life.  However, the opposite is also true, as noted in verse 34. We are blessed when we hear and heed the Words of the Lord. However, we should notice that it is a daily vigilance, as we must pray and seek the Lord every day, if we desire to find the path of life, and find favor with the Lord. 

Many Christians do not realize that when they do not pray, and do not read their Bibles, this is counted as sin, and allows the enemy to come against us.  There are two kinds of sins.  They are known as (1.)sins of commission (sins we commit through deliberate evil deeds) and (2.) sins of omission (sins resulting from the failure to obey God's Word, things we omit or fail to do). 

James 4:17: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

Some Christians are suffering under things that the Lord does not want them to suffer under, simply because they have neglected their prayer life. I have heard many Christians say these very words when something bad has happened to them, "I do not understand why this is happening to me, I have not done anything."  Many times they are speaking the truth in that statement as they have not been praying, they have not been reading their Bible, they have not been seeking God, they truly have not done the things should have been doing.   Although they may not have committed any overt sin that opened the door for the enemy to come in, they failed to do the things they should have done, that would have stopped him. The Lord tells us in the New Testament that we must put on the whole armour of God to withstand in the evil day.

Ephesians 6:10-13: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We must understand the devil is out to destroy our souls, and we must do the things that keep him from accomplishing his evil designs. Verse 36 tells us that when we sin, we are hurting ourselves and we are actually inviting the devil to come against us with his evil plans and destroy us and bring death to our lives.  The "death principle" begins to work against us when we sin against God.  What do I mean by the "death principle?"  Anything that leads to death -- sickness, depression, fear, unbelief, pride, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, etc.  We must ask the Lord daily to forgive us of these sins, and give us His grace to obey him, and then we shall daily walk in His blessing and favor.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Father, I bless Your wonderful name!   Thank you that you have been merciful and patient with me, as I have failed You many times, and yet, You heard my prayers of repentance and have kept me in Your favor.   I love you, Lord. Help me to continue in Your way, even when it is hard at times.   I know the devil's way is harder.  When we have You, we can overcome anything.   Lord, bless Your people today and forgive us all.  Keep us from the wicked one and let us remember that the Greater One lives in us, so we are never to fear the enemy.   Thank You for giving us all overcoming faith. I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.