Take your Vitamins…
Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash
Happy Thursday, sweet Rise and Shine friends!
Spring is almost here, and most importantly, the time change is a little over a week away! Yippee! Longer days…longer sunshine…all the good things.
Speaking of good things, I wanted to talk to you about the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs are like multi-vitamins. They are just good for us.
We should read one a day, every day.
Just like vitamins, we may not see any difference when we first start reading Proverbs…but months down the road, we will notice some changes.
Proverbs are chock full of wisdom.
In this world we live in, many things are AI…meaning ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. It is so hard to tell what is real and what isn’t anymore.
The enemy is so crafty in this way. He makes sin seem really good…really enticing…when destruction is awaiting on the other side.
“The wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23
We need wisdom in a big big way.
How can we get wisdom?
Reading God’s Word…especially the book of Proverbs.
Just look at this. The very first chapter in Proverbs…
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
Whew! Who doesn’t need all of these things listed in just these few verses of Proverbs 1!
Wisdom protects us. (Proverbs 2:8)
Wisdom brings success. (Proverbs 2:7)
Wisdom brings discretion. (Proverbs 2:11)
Wisdom brings knowledge. (Proverbs 2:10)
Wisdom brings life and health to your whole body. (Proverbs 4:22)
Now, who wants wisdom?!
*raising my hand high!
When we have wisdom, we begin to realize the great importance of guarding our hearts.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Everything?? Yes, everything.
It is so hard to guard our hearts in this day and age. We are constantly drowning in news feeds, movie, tv shows, billboards….
Our eyes will see things, and our hearts will absorb things even if we are not trying to see or hear something.
That is why God tells us to “guard our hearts.”
I think of a baseball catcher in all his protective gear.
A face mask, knee pads, a chest covering.
The balls are coming fast and furious, but he is prepared. Guarding himself from vulnerable places that the speeding ball could injure him.
The catcher doesn’t just hide in the dug out, he walks out onto that playing field. Yet, he has intentionally guarded his body. He is ready to play.
It is the same for us.
Before we step foot into our days, we must put on the covering and protection of God’s Word. We must ask God all day long if we have to…”Lord, guard my heart!”
Recently, I was watching a movie with my sweet husband. We do not have the same taste in movies. I like G rated movies, and he likes action packed manly types of movies.
Can you relate?
As we were watching, I prayed the entire time, “Lord, guard my heart. Please put a protective covering over my heart. Let these violent images bounce off my heart and not resonate.”
We cannot live in bubbles. As much as we would like to, we were not meant to live in bubbles.
Therefore, we daily put on the armor of God. His protection, His wisdom, His thoughts….they will guide us.
We must be intentional about this. Just like a catcher puts on his protective gear every single game.
Let this encourage you as you ask God for wisdom and seek Him in His Word…
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” Proverbs 3:13-15
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5
wisdom seeking,
jill
