I woke up late this morning. Sorry! My son was up in the middle of the night for a while and I didn't sleep well.
One of the verses that spoke to me was the first one: "the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." This reminds me that the best leaders are great followers. Great leaders have no problem with an attitude of submission. Great leaders can follow the lead of the Lord and they can also follow the lead of others. People God has promoted to places of great leadership, whether in jobs, ministry, etc, usually that person has a history of being teachable and leadable. This principle works in the world and with God. Great followers make great employees, that get great promotions, that one day make great CEO's. Ultimately, promotion is from the Lord anyway. This verse just reminds me that I want God to do great things with my life, so I need to determine in my heart to be one that is a great follower of the Lord and the people God has placed over me in my life (boss, pastor, husband, etc), and how I respond to them ultimately depends on how I respond to God and the kind of leader I will become.
Another verse I liked is verse 3--"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." It reminds me of another verse "Obedience is BETTER than sacrifice." I grew up going to a private Catholic school, and every year around Lent everyone gave things up like caffeine, chocolate, beer, whatever. It was funny b/c everyone would give up something to remind them of what Jesus did, but most people didn't stop living in sin, they just gave something up. Sacrifice doesn't equal obedience, but we can all get really religious about sacrifice and make sacrifice be this big thing. It is important to learn how to sacrifice in obedience to the Lord, to exercise self-discipline and say "no" to ourselves in order to walk in obedience, but we can't use sacrifice to mask disobedience. Sacrificing something doesn't make up for disobedience or unrighteous living or wrong decision making. This verse totally ministers to me b/c sometimes feeling like I'm sacrificing something can make me feel really good and spiritual, but obedience is where the blessing is. I want to be blessed, so I want to obey the Lord with my whole heart and there is no substitute for obedience.
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I also really got stuck on the verse about the king's heart. It was particularly striking to me because of yesterday. That was a huge day in our history and I am reminded this morning that the Lord promoted President Obama to the position he is at and the Lord will direct his heart and I get to PRAY for him! To pray that his heart is guided in the direction of the things of God.
I liked verse 19. It's been a favorite of mine for the past 6 1/2 years. I'm sure you can figure out why. =) This morning I must have needed to read that. hehe
My favorite today, though, has to be verse 26. Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! I want to love to give more than I love to shop. Not only in theory, but in action!
I think that first verse hits us all because of yesterday - and the thought of a leaders learning to follow first is really good. I wonder what happens to "followers" who find themselves put in leadership and struggle with having to lead when they would rather follow???
I am also always "hit between the eyes" with the verses about a nagging wife. I think I have counted at least four in Proverbs so far. There are two in this chapter alone. Must be something that needs to be addressed in several ways so we get the point!!!
The verse I circled and would love to memorize is 21. "Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor." We have to pursue, chase after, determine to find the right way of living AND unfailing love. The NKJ say "mercy" for "unfailing love". I believe God is wanting to teach me how to LOVE this year. Really LOVE - His kind of LOVE.
My child was up several times in the middle of the night too, so i'm not sure if this will be coherent! =)
Vs. 23 is one i've had to learn the hard way - several times - "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from trouble." How many times have i walked away from a situation and then felt bad in my soul - my emotions - about what i said? The sad, guilty feelings are totally not worth the fleeting second of a sarcastic or biting remark! I love how God knows all these things and gives me His Word to provide a heads up! Father, help me to heed It!
I also liked Vs. 26 that "the righteous gives and does not spare." That prodded at me that my giving should be generous, not stingy! Not saying, "Well, i gave something. Now i'm done." That's fear in me, not faith in God. Youch! Thank God that He gives generously! Make me a generous giver, Lord!
I almost commented on verse 23 too....that one spoke to me also. Heather...I have done that SO many times where I've stayed up late at night stirring, feeling guity, feeling bad in my soul for saying something that just would have been better left unsaid. It is not worth it....I love the wisdom in the Word b/c it truly does keep our soul from trouble to guard our mouth and I love the heads up too! What wisdom. Help me to heed it too Lord! That is good!
Me too on verse 23!!! And me too on being up all night!
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