Proverbs 8:32-35 New American Standard Bible 1995
32 “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
For blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 “Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35 “For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord.
36 “But he who [a]sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
We often let so many practices of our faith slip between the cracks after so many years of being a Christian.
We sometimes feel “mature” enough to go without consistent habits like fasting and observing the Sabbath, which we adhered to when first coming to the Lord, a perpetual excuse of the business of living and daily distractions.
For me, daily time with God is one of the first to go, right up there with fasting and memorizing the Word.
Starting your day out with God not only dispels the instant chaos assaulting our brains within a minute of consciousness – finding all of the “permission to live” forms and impending deadlines – but places everything under God’s authority.
It is trusting him to the max to see you through every circumstance, knowing he is celebrating with you through the minor successes of the day, and letting him know that, unequivocally, He alone is the Lord of your life. (Psalm 46:10-11)
It’s amazing the difference quiet time makes, though I’m not sure why we’re surprised how spending time with the creator of the universe could positively impact our day.
I’m a more patient sort, a more positive husband, more effective ministry leader, and I’m even nicer to my neighbors when I start out with the Lord.
I believe the number one way to be your “best self” is by remaining close to God – My daily Me + God = a significantly better version of Me.
Whenever friends share about being frustrated at home (or anywhere, really), I always try to ask them how their daily quiet time with the Lord has been lately.
Because I have personally found that it’s so hard to find a quiet anything, let alone an actual sliver of time actually spent in the Word of God and prayer.
It’s easy to convince ourselves we’re spiritually mature enough to make it days, even weeks, without extended, dedicated times of being in the Word and prayer.
It is just another crafty lie from the enemy that affects our inner peace, loved ones, and home life more than anything.
Reserving alone time for God can seem nearly impossible when you’re sleep-deprived or a working full-time parent, but overall, it’s definitely worth it.
Even if you only have quiet time in your car, praying and worshiping, and then reading an online verse or a daily devotional when you get to your workspace, do whatever you can do, short of getting yourself fired, to truly make it happen.
In a time when distractions, chaos seem at an all-time high, I believe the key to having the best 2024 possible is committing to spend more time with the Lord.
This means literally dedicating time each day to quiet our hearts, being still in silence, praying, and, most importantly, just listening to what He has to say.
When we take time to be still and soak in God’s presence intentionally- not when we’re in the we not only receive direction, but we’ll receive all the other benefits from His presence that make such a major difference in our lives.
When we’re in tune with His heart, we’re simply more grounded and focused.
By heeding Wisdom’s words, we’re reminded of how much we’re loved and how truly precious this life is, and we become more of the person we’re meant to be.
Somehow, Wisdom knows all the things that matter rise to the surface, and the “things of the world” take a more rightful, lowly place in our hearts and minds.
Wisdom reveals in these verses that the problems, irritants, and stressors in life diminish, and we’re able to operate above the fray, not distracted or tempted by the myriad of things that come against us by the day or the hour, if not minute.
And how can they not?
How can marital tension, or that pending deadline, or financial strain or health undo us when we are in constant communication with the one who has power and victory over every area of life? They really cannot exist in the same space.
It can be tempting to skip out on quiet time when running the kids out the door every morning, driving to work and falling to our pillows like bricks on cement, muttering “yeah, right, night Lord,” if that. Some days, it’s bound to happen.
But if we are really serious about heeding Wisdoms advice, really want more breakthroughs, changes in habits, and victory in areas we have been praying about for years, we have to daily commit to being still and hearing God’s voice.
We might have to give something up to make the change, like no email or social media before 9 am or a few less episodes of our favorite television or streaming service during the evening, but by God, it will, of course, be more than worth it.
Do you crave wisdom?
A great life and God’s favor depend on it.
Are you eager to hear wisdom taught?
Do you seek it every day?
Do you wait with excited anticipation for any opportunity to learn?
Eager seekers are blessed with life and God’s favor (Proverbs 8:35).
There are rewards for those who seek and find wisdom – the blessing of life and favor of the LORD (Proverbs 8:35).
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13-18).
Proverbs 3:13-18 New American Standard Bible 1995
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than [a]jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [b]Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
What a glorious proposition!
What hinders you today from hearing wisdom?
What hinders you today from seeking wisdom?
What hinders you from discovering wisdom?
Do you watch for her every day?
Are you waiting at the posts of her doors?
She loves those who love her, and those who seek her early will find her (Proverbs 8:17).
I am praying for a year of experiencing Wisdom’s abundance for us all in 2024.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 27 New American Standard Bible 1995
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I [b]shall be confident.
4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [c]beauty of the Lord
And to [d]meditate in His temple.
5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [e]tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices [f]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 [g]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a level path
Because of [h]my foes.
12 Do not deliver me over to the [i]desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 [j]I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 