datethewordtest

Tag: Proverbs

  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 25 (4/25) is Proverbs 4:25

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 25 (4/25) is Proverbs 4:25

    “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your 
    eyelids look right before you.” – Proverbs 4:25
    Guarding the EYE Gate to guard your heart!

    Proverbs 4 teaches how one may be spiritually healthy.  To be spiritually healthy one needs to be proactive in ACQUIRING WISDOM that is then APPLIED to one’s life.  (Prov. 4:5-9) To be spiritually healthy one must AVOID the highway of evil.  Proverbs 4:14 “Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.”

    As one moves to the end of chapter 4, one learns how vital the heart is to our spiritual health and is told to GUARD the HEART with all DILIGENCE.  To guard the heart there are several actions to take.  For instance, there are things to PUT IN the heart AND there are things to KEEP OUT of the heart.  From Psalm 119:11 we learn what to PUT IN OUR HEART as it says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!”  

    To be spiritually healthy you must be PUTTING GOD’s WORD in your heart.  Getting personal and practical, what is the last Bible verse you memorized?

    Our verse to DATE, Proverb 4:25, calls for guarding our eyes to KEEP WRONG THINGS OUT OF OUR HEART.  We need to know that what comes in through the eye gate can have a significant impact on our hearts.  If we are going to be diligent in guarding our hearts, we must be diligent in guarding our eyes.  

    How do you guard your eyes?  David helps here as in Psalm 101:3 he wrote a conviction regarding his eyes.  He wrote, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.”  In Psalm 119:37 he prayed for God to “Turn away his eyes from looking at worthless things.”  This is a prayer we should be praying!  

    Job offers this conviction regarding his eyes in Job 31:1 stating, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?”  I remind you that temptations must be met with convictions!  Let us learn from Job to have a conviction about our eyes!

    Jesus reveals the seriousness of guarding our eye gate by saying, “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” (Mark 9:47) 
     
    To drive home the point of just how important the eyes are notice this from Jesus:  Luke 11:34 says, “The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is GOOD, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

    The children’s song of Oh, Be Careful tells us to BE CAREFUL with our EYES is a song to sing daily and to live minute by minute.  

    Are you WATCHING what you WATCH?  To be spiritually healthy you will need to discipline your eyes as to what they see!  

    Verse to DATE on April 25 (4/25) is Proverbs 4:25. It says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids look right before you.”

    Continue Strong with godly eyesight,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 24 (4/24) is Proverbs 4:24

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 24 (4/24) is Proverbs 4:24

    “Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put perverse lips far from you.” – Proverbs 4:24
    Tell the TRUTH THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

    Very few topics in the Word of God receive as much attention as being honest. For instance, when you look at the Ten Commandments you find that two speak directly about honesty as we are told NOT to STEAL and NOT to BEAR FALSE WITNESS.  

    When you come to the Book of Proverbs you find that it addresses over and over the topic of honesty.  There are verses about lying compared to truthfulness like Proverbs 12:22 that tell how God feels about these two opposites. Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are His delight.”

    There is verse after verse in Proverbs about not being a false witness.  For instance, we find in the list of things that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19) that He hates “A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”

    Proverbs 19:5 tells how the one who thinks lying will help them escape consequences that it will not happen. It says,  “A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.”  Proverbs 25:18 tells just how harmful a false witness is.  Read carefully as it says, “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.”

    There are numerous verses about the deceitful tongue or mouth which our verse to DATE is commanding us to put away.  In Proverbs 11:11 we learn how destructive the deceitful liar can be as it says, “When God blesses his people, their city prospers, but deceitful liars can destroy a city.” 

    We find God’s Word speaking clearly in the NT about honesty. Colossians 3:8 tells us to put away obscene talk and verse 9 says to stop lying to one another. As well Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.”

    Let us be honest here.  While we do not want someone telling a lie about us let us make sure we are not telling lies about others.  

    Our verse to DATE also demands we put perverse lips far from us. Tied very closely to being deceitful the idea of speaking perverse or perverted is to TWIST.  The perverse person twists the truth.  They don’t just mishandle the truth, they seek to mangle the truth.  They want the truth to be hard to be found.

    The deceitful mouth will seek to cover up the truth.  The perverse lips will seek to confuse one on what the truth is.  

    As God finds lying an abomination He also finds the perverse person an abomination.  Proverbs 11:20  says, “Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD.”  The great danger of the preserve person is they stir up strife as Proverbs 16:28 says, “A perverse man sows strife,”

    Friends, we are to be telling the TRUTH THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH about ourselves and about others!   Don’t cover up the truth with deceit and don’t twist the truth in order to bring confusion!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 24 (4/24) is Proverbs 4:24. It says, “Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put perverse lips far from you.”

    Are you being CAREFUL with your words to ensure they are TRUTHFUL?

    Continue Strong speaking HONESTLY,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 23 (4/23) is Proverbs 4:23

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 23 (4/23) is Proverbs 4:23

    “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” – Proverbs 4:23
    It is HEART AWARENESS DAY for your SPIRITUAL HEART

    As we look at our verse to DATE on April 23 (4/23) we have one of the strongest statements in the Bible about the need to PAY SERIOUS ATTENTION to a critical area of our life.  The verse starts with GUARD and then says what is to be guarded is to be done WITH ALL DILIGENCE.   With these bookends, we evidently have something that DEMANDS we WAKE UP and PAY SERIOUS ATTENTION TO IT.

    What is so vital that it demands such attention?  It is our HEART.   

    Now we have to quickly say this is not a public service announcement for the American Heart Association.   We are not talking about guarding with all diligence our physical heart, although I do hope you take care of your physical heart.  Proverbs 4:23 is speaking of the seat of our emotions and will.  The Bible refers to the heart as where we make our decisions.   You might recall, for instance, that Jesus said in Matthew 15:19  that “out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

    Because of how important our decisions are then we must make certain that we have a heart that is clean, not corrupt.  Based on what our heart takes in determines what will come out.  The old saying goes “Garbage in, garbage out.”  

    In taking care of our (spiritual) heart there are several things that are vital to do.  First, we must recognize that we have wicked hearts.  Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; Who can know it?”  Our wicked heart needs to be clean.  David prayed for God to “Create in him a clean heart,” (Ps 51:10)  God says through Ezekiel that we “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.” (Eze 18:31) For us to get a new heart is to accept Jesus as Savior and He makes us a new man.

    Friends, the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.   In taking care of your heart, getting saved is the most important decision you will ever make!

    Now let us talk about what it means to guard with all diligence your heart as our very life depends on it.  The heart disease that we must avoid is sin.  How do we keep our heart from sinning?  I am glad you asked.
    The answer is found in Psalm 119:11.  It says, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”  

    Solomon will give the instructions to his son, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;”  (Proverbs 4:20-21)

    To guard and protect your heart you will need to fill it, yes, you need to SATURATE it, with the Word of God.  Saturating your heart with Scripture is one of the surest ways to stop sin!  

    Someone said, “The Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible!”

    I must add that hiding God’s Word in your heart is only the first step.  With the hiding, there must also be the HEEDING or obeying of God’s Word.  Proverbs 3:1 says, “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep or obey my commands.”  

    All the way back in Moses’ day God wanted an obedient heart. Notice Deuteronomy 5:29  as it says, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

    Taking care of your heart is PRIORITY ONE!  Guard it by guarding your eyes for what you look after impacts it.  Guard your ears for what you listen to impacts it.   Guard your thinking as what you think about impacts it.  Regarding your thinking and your heart let me give one more verse for keeping your heart healthy. It is Psalms 19:14. It is a prayer.  It says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be ACCEPTABLE to You O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” 

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 23 (4/23) is Proverbs 4:23.  It says, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

    What actions do you need to GUARD WITH ALL DILIGENCE YOUR HEART?

    Continue Strong with a clean heart,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 18 (4/18) is Proverbs 4:18

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 18 (4/18) is Proverbs 4:18

    “But the path of the just (righteous) is like the shining sun, that shines
    ever brighter unto the perfect day.” – Proverbs 4:18
    Our verse to DATE the Word on April 18 (4/18) is Proverbs 4:18. Proverbs 4:18 says, “But the path of the just (righteous) is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”

    I Can See Clearly Now

    If you read Proverbs 4 you find Solomon speaking to his son about the various paths he can take and that he wants him to choose to take the path of righteousness and AVOID the paths of wickedness.  I like to call the middle part of Proverbs 4 God’s Highway Advisory.   Notice Proverbs 4:10-16. “Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.  11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths. 12  When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. 13  Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. (now God’s Highway Advisory) 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15  Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.”

    As we move to our verse to DATE Solomon wants to illustrate how the righteous walk is so much better than the unrighteous walk.  Having already said “Your steps will not be hindered, and you will not stumble” he continues that thought in verse 18. Those choosing the path of righteousness are going to be able to see clearly just as one would see clearer as the sun rises during the morning hours to high noon.  

    The Christian Standard Bible says, “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. 

    The NIV says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” 

    As we live out our Christian life, we are going to face temptations and we have an adversary seeking to devour us.  Being able to see the “obstacles” as quickly as possible will help keep us from stumbling.  When you are on the path of righteousness you will see past the allure of temptation, seeing the horrible consequences that could come if you yield to the temptation.  You are able to see the coming attack of the devil and hold up the shield of faith to quench his fiery darts.  

    Pausing to connect this verse to real life:  Has there been a time you were walking and did not see an obstacle in your path, and it caused you to trip and fall?  It could have happened in your house as it did to me one night.  Not wanting to turn on a light that might wake others up I walked blindly toward the kitchen and tripped over a box sitting in the hallway.  One of my first thoughts was I should have turned on the LIGHT.  

    Solomon speaks of life being a path and the one who is righteous is going to find that the path is clearer thus allowing for the righteous to avoid the obstacles and enjoy a better life!  The path of the wicked, on the other hand, is dark and leads to lots of stumbling and falling.   Proverbs 4:19 says, “The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.” I would hope the comparison should help all of us to choose the paths of righteousness!

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 18 (4/18) is Proverbs 4:18. It says, “But the path of the just (righteous) is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”

    Choose today the path of righteousness for a brighter day and a better life!  It will be your nightlight in the hallway, so you don’t trip and fall!

    Continue Strong on the path of righteousness and off the highway of wickedness,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27
    Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” 
    The BEST time to do something for another is NOW!!

    Friends, if we are watching, PAYING ATTENTION, and being ALERT to the needs of others, we are going to SEE OPPORTUNITIES to be a blessing to others because there are always people in need! All around us are people who are struggling, and many are suffering.  Proverbs 3:27 challenges us to be the “good Samaritan” who sees a need and GIVES, instead of being “KEEPERS” like the priest and the Levite.  

    The verse instructs us to NOT WITHHOLD!  As believers, we should be givers.  As believers, we should share our blessings with others.  We have been blessed to bless!  

    Yet while we know we should give and share we are prone to procrastinate.  Our verse calls on us to do good and do it NOW!!!  When you have it in your power to do something for someone DO IT!  Don’t put it off.  Move your good intentions to ACTIONS!

    And you know this is great practical advice.  

    As a quick reminder, you will find that life will be so much better when you are a giver.  You receive and you give.  Think of the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.  The Sea of Galilee takes in and gives out.  The Sea of Galilee is filled with fresh water!  The Dead Sea, on the other hand, takes in but there is no outlet.  Because it only receives and does not give it is DEAD.   One takes in and gives out and is FRESH and ALIVE.  One takes in only and is DEAD!

    Be a giver.  Don’t withhold!  See a need and do what you can to meet the need.  You don’t have to do everything but do what you can!!

    What might you do today to be a blessing to someone?

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27.  It says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.”

    Continue Strong being a blessing to others!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21
    Proverbs 3:21 says, “My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion,”
     Acquire and APPLY sound wisdom and discretion!

    Every now and then I look at the Message to see the verse and the Message says, “Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them.” 

    Solomon appeals to his son to KEEP, or HOLD TIGHT TO, PROTECT, or GUARD sound wisdom and discretion.  Sound wisdom gives clear thinking as wisdom allows one to see and comprehend life from God’s perspective. We define wisdom as heavenly insights from God for earthly living.  Wisdom is doing life the way God intended life to be lived.  

    Discretion is compared to common sense.   Discretion is the ability to know the difference between right and wrong and then decide decisively to do what is right.  The root word for discretion is a word used for tasting.  The best cooks have very discerning taste buds.  They know what needs to be added to make food taste the very best.  Discretion allows us to choose carefully and wisely what is best. 

    BTW – one of the characteristics of a good man is DISCRETION: Psalm 112:5 says, “A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.”

    Our lives are full of decisions and decisions determine destinations. 
    HOLD TIGHT TO WISDOM as wisdom shows you the RIGHT WAY!! 
    HOLD TIGHT TO DISCRECTION as it keeps one on the right road as there will be many options!!  
    **A word to those who desire to be wise and discerning: I recommend that you read one chapter a day from Proverbs as part of your spiritual exercises.  To apply wisdom, you need to acquire wisdom!   Make it a daily practice to read the chapter of Proverbs that matches the date of the month.  For instance, today is March 21 and on March 21 read Proverbs 21. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21. It says, “My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion;”

    Continue Strong with wisdom and discretion guiding your decisions!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 7 (3/7) is Proverbs 3:7

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 7 (3/7) is Proverbs 3:7

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 7 (3/7) is Proverbs 3:7

    Proverbs 3:7 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
    I CAN DO IT MYSELF

    Having just told us in Proverbs 3:5-6 to TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEART and NOT LEAN ON OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, to ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL OUR WAYS AND HE WILL DIRECT OUR PATHS, Proverbs 3:7 follows up with a timely admonition to NOT BE WISE IN OUR OWN EYES; FEAR THE LORD AND DEPART FROM EVIL.”  

    When I look at these three verses together verse 7 speaks volumes because it challenges me to NOT LEAN ON MY OWN UNDERSTANDING.  I don’t know about you, but I am prone to believe I can do it myself.  Experience, however, has taught me time and again that those five words have gotten me in a lot of trouble.  And I have seen it get a lot of other people in trouble.  While there is something to be said positive about being self-sufficient and something to be said about being able to live independently, choosing to live INDEPENDENTLY of God is not going to end well.   

    An illustration here might be good.  A child so wants to be able to DO IT THEMSELVES.  Can you picture this as a parent, and/or grandparent, and or teacher of preschoolers?   There is orange juice for the child and THEY WANT TO POUR IT FOR THEMSELVES.  They grab the carton and immediately you step toward the child saying, “No Johnny, let me help you.”  And then you hear those famous last words before there is a mess to clean up I CAN DO IT MYSELF.  

    Just curious how many times have you MADE A MESS with life because you said to God, I CAN DO IT MYSELF?  Instead of applying the TRUST IN THE LORD part of Proverbs 3:5 you LEANED ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.  How did that turn out for you?

    I find Proverbs 3:7 to be a timely reminder to one of the most valuable instructions we have on handling the decisions of life.  The placement of this verse really could not be at a better place. While it seems to be a stand-alone verse it really should be viewed in connection to Proverbs 3:5-6. Having been instructed to TRUST GOD rather than TRUST SELF we find INSTRUCTIONS to NOT BE WISE IN OUR OWN EYES but rather FEAR THE LORD and in doing so DEPART FROM EVIL. Instead of I CAN DO IT MYSELF we acknowledge the authority of God and our need of God and He then leads us, leading us away from temptations and in paths of righteousness.  

    I trust you made the connection with the last sentence to the Lord’s Prayer and to the work of the shepherd in Psalm 23.  When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray that He will not lead us into temptation.  With the prayer, we are submitting to His guidance and from Psalm 23 we learn the shepherd leads us in paths of righteousness.   Rather than leaning on our own understanding and being wise in our own eyes, we TRUST and RELY on the Lord and then WE DON’T MAKE A MESS OF THINGS.  

    Not being wise in our own eyes is difficult because we all have an EGO.  I like to define EGO as EDGING GOD OUT.  The decision of decisions will be whether the Lord will be Lord of your life or will you be lord of your life.  When one FEARS THE LORD they have removed self from the throne of their heart and have placed the Lord as LORD of their heart.  One moves from self-dependence to Savior dependence.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 7 (3/7) is Proverbs 3:7. It says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”

    Will it be I CAN DO IT MYSELF or I NEED YOU, LORD?

    Continue strong TRUSTING IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 5 (3/5) is Proverbs 3:5 (&6)

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 5 (3/5) is Proverbs 3:5 (&6)

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 5 (3/5) is Proverbs 3:5 (& 6)
    Proverbs 3:5 (& 6) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;” (v. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.)
    Total Dependence on God brings Trustworthy Direction from God. 

    As we consider verses to KNOW and LIVE by Proverbs 3:5-6 are close to the top of the list.  It is one of the greatest principles we have from God as we seek to live our lives.  God invites us to TRUST Him in directing our lives.  Rather than trying to figure out the direction of our life, we are able to consult with the ONLY ONE who KNOWS what is best for us. 

    Now let us be clear that in contrast to trusting in God, we can trust in ourselves.  Our verses clearly do not advise that action.  We should recall Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25 as it confirms that we should not lean (place any weight) on our own understanding.  Those two verses tell us that “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”   I don’t know about you, but I do not want to head down a dead-end street! 

    As you DATE Proverbs 3:5-6 may I encourage you to pause to review your testimony of trusting God.  I use the word testimony because David said in Psalm 71:5 “I have trusted you, O LORD, from childhood.”  Review for a moment your history with TRUSTING GOD.   What are your stories of trusting God and how He directed you? 

    As well pause to consider what you are presently trusting God within this moment.  What decisions are you facing that NEEDS HEAVENLY INSIGHT?  Are you TURNING the decision over to Him?  Are you RELEASING the decision to Him?  Like King Hezekiah, who found himself facing a “day of trouble” in 2 Kings 19, are you placing the situation before the Lord?  As he TRUSTED in God Isaiah the prophet told him that God had HEARD HIS PRAYERS AND WAS WORKING ON THE SITUATION! (might be good to read 2 Kings 19)

    I encourage you to also look ahead and resolve that as all sorts of decisions come you will TRUST IN THE LORD.   David wrote in Psalm 56:3 this powerful statement: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”  The word WHENEVER reminds us that they will be coming! Before the things that you are most afraid of happening happens make the commitment that you will be TRUSTING GOD.  
    Verse to DATE the Word on March 5 (3/5) is Proverbs 3:5 (& 6).  It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;” (v. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.)

    Proverbs 3:5-6 is definitely one of the great principles you have from your heavenly Father.  I can’t stress enough that Total Dependence on God brings Trustworthy Direction from God.

    Continue Strong TRUSTING in the LORD,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 1 (3/1) is Proverbs 3:1

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 1 (3/1) is Proverbs 3:1

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 1 (3/1) is Proverbs 3:1
    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 1 (3/1) is Proverbs 3:1. Proverbs 3:1 says, “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;”
    REMEMBER THE WORD

    As we READ God’s Word, we find that God’s Word appeals to us to not just READ it but to REMEMBER IT!  We are NOT to FORGET IT! In order to not forget it we are to be placing it in our hearts. For instance, we go back to the Book of Deuteronomy, and we find this admonition “these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (Deut. 6:6).  BTW – With them “in your heart” we then read in verse 7 that “you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”   What we are learning we are to be teaching!

    When we come to Psalms David writes in Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” He follows that up with verse 11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!”   

    We HEAR/read God’s Word; we HIDE/remember God’s Word; we HEED/obey God’s Word!

    When we come to Proverbs, Solomon will make the appeal to REMEMBER and KEEP his commands several times.  For instance: 
    Proverbs 3:3 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
    Proverbs 4:4 “He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.”
    Proverbs 6:21 “Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck”.
    Proverbs 7:3 “Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.”

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 1 (3/1) appeals to YOU to “not forget God’s law, but let YOUR heart keep His commands.”  We are not to be FORGETFUL readers/hearers.  We are to be LEARNING and LIVING His commands, His teachings.  To be able to recall God’s Word when needed we must be able to remember God’s Word and to remember it we must be HIDING IT in our hearts and minds and (here it comes) to hide it we must be MEMORIZING IT.  

    I must ask, how is your memorizing?   How are you storing in your memory God’s Word?   

    Being practical I like to encourage a person to set a goal of one verse a week.  Don’t set the goal of 52 verses in a year.  Set the goal of one verse a week.  Each Sunday pick a verse to write on an index card or on your phone notepad and read it over and over during the week until you have it memorized!  YOU CAN DO THIS – and you must do this!

    We do need to then KEEP the Word that we are HIDING/REMEMBERING in our heart. The word “KEEP” can be viewed in two ways. On one hand, we HOLD the commands like treasure and we hold them tight. On the other hand, KEEP carries the idea of OBEYING – doing what the commands say. Jesus said, “if you LOVE Me, KEEP My commands.” 

    Let us be doing both. Let’s TREASURE the WORD!  Let us absolutely OBEY THE WORD!  

    Friends, when we acquire the INFORMATION from the Word and take the action of APPLICATION in obedience to the Word we will experience the TRANSFORMATION that comes from the Word!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 1 (3/1) is Proverbs 3:1. It says, “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;”

    Let us be diligent in LEARNING God’s Word and then LIVING in obedience to God’s Word!

    Continue Strong,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

    PS – With today being March 1 I highly RECOMMEND reading during the month of March the 31 chapters of PROVERBS.  Using the 31 days of the month you read the chapter matching the date.  Today is March 1 so read Proverbs 1.  Tomorrow is March 2 so you read Proverbs 2.  This is a great tool to acquire wisdom that can then be applied!
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 15 (1/15) is Proverbs 1:15

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 15 (1/15) is Proverbs 1:15

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 15 (1/15) is Proverbs 1:15
    Proverbs 1:15 says, “My son, do not walk in the way with sinners, keep your foot from their path;”
    I have heard some refer to God’s Word as a treasure chest, a treasure chest that is loaded with INFORMATION far greater than silver and gold, rubies and diamonds.  If we look at the Bible as a treasure chest, then the BOOK of Proverbs is the treasure chest of WISDOM within the treasure chest.  In the Book of Proverbs, WISDOM can be defined as having SKILLS for LIVING.  Whereas one might have skills to cook or build or to farm or to fish as well as one might have skills to operate as a doctor or as a teacher God’s wisdom gives us the SKILLS for living life.  Wisdom can be described as heavenly insights for earthly living.  Having God’s wisdom gives to you God’s perspective on how life is to be lived.

    In the Book of Proverbs, you will find a teaching method of referring to the reader as MY SON.   This phrase is used numerous times.  One is barely into Proverbs 1 when you read “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;” Proverbs 1:8. In verse 10 “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.” And now in verse 15, “My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path.”

    These three verses offer tremendous insights on how to AVOID wrong practices as well as how to DO what is right. For instance, think about how one usually gets in trouble.   How have you gotten into trouble?  Usually, someone gets in trouble by being with the wrong people in the wrong place.   
    As Solomon starts his book of wisdom, he wants to HELP his son not get in trouble.  If we back up to verse 8 we find he makes three appeals to his son.  
    1. First, from verse 8 is to have the right PRINCIPLES.  We could say avoid the wrong principles.
    2. Second, from verse 10, is to be with the right PEOPLE.  We could say avoid the wrong people.
    3. Third, from verse 15, is to be at the right PLACES.  We could say avoid the wrong places.

    There is a “formula” for doing wrong and getting into trouble. It looks like this:
    wrong principles + wrong people + wrong places = wrong practices 

    Now have a “formula” for RIGHT LIVING. It looks like this:
    right Principles + 
    right People + 
    right Places =
    right Practices (living)!

    As I read Proverbs 1 I have added verse 7 of Proverbs 1 to this formula.  Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”    I see Proverbs 1:7 giving me my PURPOSE.  With God as my Creator, I see my purpose is to obey Him.   He is my authority.  Thus, my “formula” for right living is:
    Right Purpose + right Principles + right People + right Places = right Practices

    And when you think about wrong practices it really does start with our view of God. Thus,
    Wrong purpose + wrong principles + wrong people + wrong places = wrong practices.

    January 15 (1/15) brings us to the halfway point of the first month of this new year.  Maybe you made New Year’s resolutions but you are finding them hard to keep. Maybe you need to review the “formula” and take positive action steps of having the right purpose in life (Living in the fear of the Lord); being guided by the right principles; spending time with the right people and being in the right places.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 15 (1/15) is Proverbs 1:15. It says, “My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path;”

    Continue Strong acquiring and applying God’s wisdom to your life,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD