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:
3 A prudent man
foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are
punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 22:3-4 (AMP):
3 A prudent man sees the
evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished (with
suffering).
4 The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is
riches and honor and life.
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses in Proverbs
tell us that if we are prudent and seek the Lord with humility, He will give us
discernment so that we do not go down a destructive path. Verse 3
tells us that being prudent is a virtue that will protect us. What is the
dictionary definition of the word "prudent?" According to Webster's
Dictionary, it means 1.) capable of exercising sound judgment in
practical matters, esp. as concerns one's own interests 2.) cautious or
discreet in conduct; circumspect; not rash 3.) managing carefully and with
economy.
If we walk daily
with God, and obey the principles in His Word, that knowledge will keep us from
falling into the traps of the devil. God will warn us when there is
impending evil, so that we can avoid it. Many Christians can give
testimony to this fact, as their lives have been spared just by hearing the
Lord's voice warn them about a life threatening situation, that they were able to
avoid. The Bible is also full of accounts where the Lord preserved the life of
His children through giving them advance warning. Even the life of baby
Jesus was spared through the obedience of Joseph and Mary, when the Lord warned
them in a dream, to flee Bethlehem and go to Egypt.
Matthew
2:13-14:
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to
Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and
flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek
the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed
into Egypt.
He warned
Noah and his family of the coming flood and directed them how to
prepare to survive it.
He warned
Lot and his family of the coming destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah and told them to flee.
He warned
Pharaoh, through Joseph, of the coming famine and used Joseph to
prepare stores of food during the seven years of plenty, which saved
Egypt and Joseph's family (Jacob, his eleven sons, and their families)
when the famine came.
He warned
the Israelites living under Egyptian slavery, that the "angel of death"
would kill all the first-born of every family and that they must
protect themselves and their families by placing the blood of a lamb
over the doorposts, so the angel would "passover" them.
Jonah was sent
to Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria to warn the
people of God's coming destruction, and when they repented, he
postponed the judgment for a number of years.
The Lord is still
warning us today, through His Word, and the voice of His servants. He
urges us to repent so
that we will not be destroyed individually, as well as corporately. The
Lord wants to bless us, not see us destroyed by the fruit of our own sin.
In fact, verse 4 in today's study tells us that if we humble
ourselves and reverently worship and follow God, we not only will escape
destruction, we shall be rewarded with riches, honor and life. God wants
to bless us. The curses coming upon our nation are not from Him, but are
because we have rejected Him, and sought other gods like materialism, lust,
perversions and worldly pleasure. It is not too late to seek the Lord, no
matter how we have fallen. He is a forgiving and loving God, Who wants to
redeem us and bring us into the promised land of safety and blessing. He does
not want us to suffer under the penalty of our sins.
1 Peter 5:6-11:
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ
Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your divine protection over me and my family, Lord. I am
sure that You have kept me from harm many times, that I was not even aware of.
Lord, help me to be prudent and wise in all of my affairs, as I know I bring
suffering on myself, when I fail to hear You and proceed in an unwise path.
Thank You for continued safety in these perilous times and may I hear Your
warnings, when I need to take any action to avoid trouble and destruction.
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
|