Kristi Burchfiel

VERSE: Proverbs 9:6–Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding. TRUTH: Wisdom is calling to us, but before we can embrace it, we must first turn our back on the foolish things in our life. Too often we try to have both at the same time and tell ourselves that we can make it work. We try to have our foolish sinful habits and still be obedient to God. But, God wants all of us and for us to live and proceed down the way of understanding, it requires that we first commit to leaving our foolish and sinful ways behind us. RESPONSE: Father, I know…

VERSE: Proverbs 8:35-36–For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me injures himself. All those who hate me love death. TRUTH: Wisdom is speaking here and giving a clear description of the difference between living with Godly wisdom and living without. Earlier in the chapter wisdom says that to find her, all we have to do is seek her. Are we seeking after wisdom? Are we living with favor from the Lord, or are we without wisdom, injuring ourselves and seeking after death? RESPONSE: Father, the decision to seek wisdom is so easy, yet it can be so difficult to…

VERSE: Proverbs 7:1–My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. TRUTH: Solomon was sharing these words of wisdom to not just his children, but to all who would come after him and seek wisdom. There have been many people in my life who have given me Godly wisdom through the years, but I have to make the choice to heed their words and value them enough to obey them. Knowing the wise words and treasuring them enough to obey them are two different things. Do we treasure the words of Godly wisdom we’ve received from others? RESPONSE: Father, You share wisdom with me from Your Word as…

VERSE: Proverbs 6:12–A worthless person, a wicked man, is the one who walks with a perverse mouth. TRUTH: What is one way we can ensure we are worthless as a person? We just have to walk around with perversion, obscenities, and filth coming out of our mouth. If we are using our mouth to spout untruths, gossip, malice, hate, or even coarse jokes, then we are simply wasting both our time and God’s purpose for our lives. How important are the words we say? Extremely! They are a display to others of how we value our own worth. RESPONSE: Father, help me to tame my tongue and to restrain it…

VERSE: Proverbs 5:18–Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. TRUTH: Our society is obsessed with sex. Sex is used as a marketing tool, an indicator of happiness, and even to define an identity. Sex was never intended to fulfill people or provide joy and happiness all by itself the way it is so often used and portrayed. Sex is to be beautiful, a picture of love and relationship between a man and a woman who have committed to share all life’s ups and downs. We should enjoy sex in the context in which God created it, marriage. RESPONSE: Lord, sex can be so misused…

VERSE: Proverbs 4:23–Watch over your heart with all diligence. For from it flow the springs of life. TRUTH: Our heart must be guarded. From our heart who we are flows outward for all to see. We must take care what we allow our heart to focus on. Our heart is easily swayed and easily distracted if we are not keeping ourselves focused on Christ and the Christ-centered life. If we are not focused on Christ, then what flows out of us will not be life, but will be death. RESPONSE: Lord, I want my life to display You and to overflow with the springs of life. I will guard my…

VERSE: Proverbs 3:27–Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it. TRUTH: If we have the means and ability to do good, we are to do it. We don’t have to wait for a special order or mandate from God to prompt us to act. If we can do good to others, we should do it. RESPONSE: Lord, You are good and You desire that we reflect You and treat others as You would treat them. I need to be open to seeing situations and opportunities for the good that I can do. I desire to know You more…

VERSE: Proverbs 2:11–Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you. TRUTH: Godly wisdom will go a long way in protecting us from evil as well as from our own foolish choices. The Lord gives wisdom to those who ask. That wisdom then becomes a part of us to help teach and guide us. Are we using Godly wisdom in our choices or are we being left unguarded against our own foolishness? RESPONSE: Father, Your wisdom and understanding are what guard and protect me from the evil and foolish choices I am presented with each day. I pray You will continue to guide and direct me in all that I…

VERSE: Proverbs 1:10–My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. TRUTH: We have a choice. No matter what we say or how we feel at the time, we always have a choice to follow what is right or not. It is so important to remember that no matter what the situation or temptation we face, we do not have to give in. Through Christ, we can stand firm and refuse to consent to evil. RESPONSE: Father, help me today to see my choices clearly. I want to choose to follow You and Your commands, not to be enticed to follow the path of disobedience. I praise You for what…