Proverbs 6

I had verses 16-19 already highlighted and noted in my Bible. I love that!


¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates, 
   seven that are detestable to him: 
¹⁷ haughty eyes,
   a lying tongue,
    hands that shed innocent blood, 
¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes, 
   feet that are quick to rush into evil, 
¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies 
   and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.


This passage serves as a great reminder that there is a place for righteous anger. As we seek in our daily lives to have a heart that is increasingly like God's heart we should also grow to hate the things he hates. The kicker is that I would be willing to bet that we can see more than one of these present in our own heart within the past 30 days. I know I can, and that helps to establish an understanding of the holiness of God and our inability to live up to his standard without help!

Proverbs 5

 ⁷ Now then, my sons, listen to me; 
   do not turn aside from what I say. 
⁸ Keep to a path far from her, 
   do not go near the door of her house, 


Today's passage has an obvious bend on adultery, and while there is much there to be dissected, I liked this verse because it's the charge that hits at the heart of the matter. Don't even go near it. Don't go near things that put your mind in that frame. Stay as far away from sexual immorality as you possibly can. This is a good reminder that the question shouldn't be "how far can I go and stay close to God?," but rather, "what can I do to intentionally draw closer to God."

Proverbs 4

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say; 
   turn your ear to my words. 
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight, 
   keep them within your heart; 
²² for they are life to those who find them 
   and health to one’s whole body.


What an awesome encouragement and reminder that God's word can heal even our whole bodies, and revitalize us to find life again!

Proverbs 4

Proverbs 3

It's interesting being in the position I am, between teaching opportunities and studies, because I have the blessing of reading a lot of scripture, but sometimes I get into a rut of thinking, "this would be a good lesson to teach on," instead of "this cuts to my core and I feel like God's telling me something here." In today's chapter in Proverbs I found a lot of the former and less of the latter, but I want to go personal today, so here is verse7:

Do not be wise in your own eyes.
Fear the Lord and shun evil.

I have found that in countless personal experiences, the times I know a fall is coming is when I read and suddenly find everyone else's flaws in the scripture and have trouble pinpointing my own. I keep finding (repeatedly) that it is healthy to be aware of the ways that we are less than God.

What stuck out to you in this chapter?

Proverbs 2

I had a hard time picking just one passage today, but here it is:

⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
   and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
   and find the knowledge of God.


I have always found that God seems closer the harder I pursue Him. I know it sounds cliche, but it's totally true. Mountain-top experiences are a great shot of spiritual adrenaline and you can feel God without putting in a whole lot of effort, but the times that I search, with the intensity of someone looking for lost treasure, are the times that I can see God working in my day to day life. This was a good reminder to me to take action in order to find him.

Proverbs 1

Here's what jumped out to me as I read today's proverb:

Proverbs 1:18-19
¹⁸ These men [described in v. 11-14] lie in wait for their own blood; 
   they ambush only themselves! 
¹⁹ Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; 
   it takes away the life of those who get it.


This stuck out to me because it seems so often that sinfulness comes out of selfish desires. We do things because we want to do them or the seem best for us, individually. This verse says that all those things will actually be our ruin.