Days of Wisdom, Day 24 How do we respond with our enemies face difficulties? Read through Proverbs 24. Oftentimes,when people that we have been at odds with or who have been against us, if they experience difficulties and problems, our first response is to be happy about it. We think about sports teams, and while we have a team that we love, often we have a team that we really don’t like and always cheer against. How do we respond when they lose? How do we respond when our enemies go through difficulties? According to Solomon and according to wisdom, our response should not be to rejoice and to be…

Days of Wisdom, Day 23 When we look around us, how do you feel about the things that we see others have? Read Proverbs 23. Much of this chapter details the way in which we perceive ourselves compared to others. Humans have an innate ability to compare themselves to other people and other things around them. We often see what others have and decide if what we have is good or bad. We may decide that we want more or less based upon what we feel like we are entitled to and compared to those around us. God gives us exactly what we need. We should be content with what…

Days of Wisdom, Day 22 What are we choosing? Read Proverbs 22. As we continue, we see so many great sayings and learnings in this chapter. This first verse really sets the stage for the rest of the chapter. What are we desiring? What are we willing to sacrifice to get it? Many people are willing to sacrifice their integrity just to gain possessions. We are called to be holy as God is holy. We are to have the same level of integrity that God himself would have. Do we?

Days of Wisdom, Day 21 More than sacrifice. Read Proverbs 21. God is looking for our heart. Are we focused on him and following what is righteous and true? That is where our focus shoukd be, in everything we do.

Days of Wisdom, Day 20 Know yourself. Read Proverbs 20. How well do you really know yourself? Can you articulate what you like and what you don’t like? Many of us know what we like when we experience it. We recognize “Oh, this is great!” or “Oh, I really don’t like that.” However, the insight needed to be able to identify and then accurately explain what we like and don’t like to others is something that many of us struggle with. Solomon recognized that and explained the desires of the heart are like deep waters. When we think about the importance of explaining ourselves in our desires, do we recognize…

Days of Wisdom, Day 19 Do you have rest in your life? Read Proverbs 19. If your life is anything like mine, there is no such thing as rest. I run from one event and obligation to the next. I am constantly trying to figure out the best way to get from one spot to the next. Every hour of every day is filled with something. Yet, in this verse, it discusses how the fear of the Lord is life and leads to rest. Have I really placed all my activities before the Lord? Do I follow through to ensure that I am keeping my focus on Him and not…

Days of Wisdom, Day 18 Our safety and security comes from the Lord. Read Proverbs 18. Where do we go for our security? Are we following up on all that Christ has for us? Our safety and security only comes from God. He is the one that keeps us. Are we running to him in the midst of all that we have going on every day?

Days of Wisdom, Day 17 Testing and accountability. Read Proverbs 17. As we continue to read through Proverbs, this verse stands out to me today. Verse 3 is really all about testing and accountability. When we take a look at our lives and the different things that we are doing, do we recognize that those actions and activities are going to ultimately be tested to see whether they stand up under God’s standard? God has a standard that we are to maintain. God’s standard is perfection. Are our activities falling in line with all that God has for us to do? Will they stand if they go through the furnace…

Days of Wisdom, Day 16 Integrity and ethics. Read Proverbs 16. So many great verses to choose from as we read through this passage, but the one that caught my eye today was verse 8. When we think about what it means to have integrity, we realize that we may not always have all of the same possessions or material wealth that others have. However, if we maintain our integrity, that means that we can live with ourselves, no matter what possessions we have or don’t have. Being ethical in the way in which we live our life and make decisions is an example of using God’s wisdom every day.…

Days of Wisdom, Day 15 Do we follow wisdom’s instruction? Read Proverbs 15. As Solomon continues to speak here, we see so many pieces of advice that if we would only follow them, we would find our lives much much simpler. The chapter ends with this verse. Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord. Are we following His wisdom today? Do we recognize how God gives us wisdom in the moment to do the things that he would have for us to do? We must seek the Lord in every area of our life. We must seek the Lord at every moment of our life. Plus, if we truly desire…