Today’s devotion focuses on something I have asked people to do over the last 2 and half decades. That is to read one chapter of Proverbs each day. There are 31 days in most months, and there are 31 chapters in Proverbs (yeah, I know there are only 30 days in April).
I ask you to consider starting a new habit tomorrow, May 1st, of reading through Proverbs. Give it a try for one month. See how God uses it in your life.
I am walking through Proverbs 30 today and will share with you some of the verses and a few thoughts I have had. Read on, and may God speak volumes from His endless truth.
Proverbs 30 NLT
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God.
Just be honest with God. He knows before you tell Him, but God honors humility.
5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. 6 Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
Hang on to the Bible, the truth that God has written to us. It will bring wisdom. It will keep us from falling and staying down. It will light our path when all seems dark.
7 O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. 8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. 9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
This is an insightful prayer from this chapter of Proverbs. Often riches and poverty send people, including us, in wrong directions. Pray for wisdom and satisfaction.
15 The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied— no, four that never say, “Enough!”: 16 the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire.
Again learn to be satisfied with what you have. Americans have a tendency to always want more and think the grass is always greener on the other side. That is just not true.
24 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise: 25 Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer. 26 Hyraxes—they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks. 27 Locusts—they have no king, but they march in formation. 28 Lizards—they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces.
Learn from the wise. Learn from the people we know around us with great talent. Even these things that God created. We will be stronger by the more we learn.
32 If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame.
Speak wisdom. Stay away from foolishness. Watch your words. Choose humility over pride and good over evil. Our lives will be much different is that is the case, and we will have much more room to be blessing by and used by God as a blessing for others.
Keep on reading Proverbs in the month ahead.
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