It was in the mountains of north Georgia that I first
heard the challenge. A preacher, much my
senior, talked about and challenged us with the invaluable trait of
integrity. He spoke with passion and
great conviction.
He was asked
how he made sure that his integrity in place.
It took just a few minutes to explain the need to be close to God. There are some important steps to take to
stay close. One of those is staying in
the Bible. Read it daily.
He said one of
those for him was the habit of reading one chapter of Proverbs everyday, and
that is why I begin September 2016 with this challenge. Join me in reading one chapter of Proverbs
each day. Many months, unlike September,
have 31 days which goes along with the 31 chapters of Proverbs.
Do this for a
year and see if it makes a difference.
See if this keeps you closer to God.
Read one chapter from Proverbs each day.
Here is the
start and from The Message (you can choose whatever translation you would like). Just read!
These
are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king - 2 Written
down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means
and where it's going; 3 A manual for living, for learning what's right
and just and fair; 4 To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our
young people a grasp on reality. 5 There's something here also for
seasoned men and women, 6 still a thing or two for the experienced to
learn - Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men
and women. Start with God 7 Start with God - the first step in learning
is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and
learning. 8 Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you;
never forget what you learned at your mother's knee. 9 Wear their
counsel like flowers in your hair, like rings on your fingers. 10 Dear
friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them. 11 If
they say - "Let's go out and raise some hell. Let's beat up some old man,
mug some old woman. 12 Let's pick them clean and get them ready for
their funerals. 13 We'll load up on top-quality loot. We'll haul it home
by the truckload. 14 Join us for the time of your life! With us, it's
share and share alike!" - 15 Oh, friend, don't give them a second
look; don't listen to them for a minute. 16 They're racing to a very bad
end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on. 17 Nobody robs a
bank with everyone watching, 18 Yet that's what these people are doing -
they're doing themselves in. 19 When you grab all you can get, that's
what happens: the more you get, the less you are. Lady Wisdom 20 Lady
Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her
speech. 21 In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the
busiest corner she calls out: 22 "Simpletons! How long will you
wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How
long will you refuse to learn? 23 About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you; I'm ready to tell you all I know.
24 As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear; I've reached out
to you, but you've ignored me. 25 "Since you laugh at my counsel
and make a joke of my advice, 26 How can I take you seriously? I'll turn
the tables and joke about your troubles! 27 What if the roof falls in,
and your whole life goes to pieces? What if catastrophe strikes and there's
nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes? 28 You'll need me
then. You'll call for me, but don't expect an answer. No matter how hard you
look, you won't find me. 29 "Because you hated Knowledge and had
nothing to do with the Fear-of-God, 30 Because you wouldn't take my
advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you, 31 Well, you've
made your bed - now lie in it; you wanted your own way - now, how do you like
it? 32 Don't you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots?
Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. 33 First pay attention to me,
and then relax. Now you can take it easy - you're in good hands."
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