DAY 24 - 31 DAYS OF PROVERBS!

Read Proverbs 24

I read Proverbs 24 in the New Living Translation and King James.

My thoughts on Proverbs 24:

• Don't envy sinners, what they have, their success, or what it seems like they are getting away with. Don't desire to be with them they have no future. Stay on your path with God. "Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long." (Proverbs 23:17 AMPC) "Don’t bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. In no time they’ll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun." (Psalm 37:1-2 MSG) Envy - qânâʼ, to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious:—(be) envy(-ious), be (move to, provoke to) jealous(-y), very, (be) zeal(-ous) (Strong's H7065)

• Evil people plot violence and they are contentious causing trouble, havoc, and destruction. Destruction - shod, violence, ravage:—desolation, destruction, oppression, robbery, spoil(-ed, -er, -ing), wasting. (Strong's 7701)

• Your life is built by skillful and godly wisdom. Understanding gives you a firm foundation. Knowledge fills the rooms of your life with precious things. Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge establish you on firm footing for life. Understanding - tâbûwn, intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice:—discretion, reason, skillfulness, understanding, wisdom (Strong's H8394) Established - kûwn, to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous):—certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, very deed (Strong's H3559)

• Wisdom makes you strong and knowledge increases your strength. Wise - châkâm, (i.e. intelligent, skillful or artful):—cunning (man), subtle, (un-), wise((hearted), man) (Strong's H2450) Strong - ʻôz, strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise):—boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong (Strong's H5797) Increase - ʼâmats, to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage):—confirm, be courageous (of good courage, steadfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed) (Strong's H553) Strength - kôach, to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its hardiness) a large lizard:—ability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth (Strong's H3581)

• Don't make major decisions without wise guidance. Your success and safety depend on having wise counselors. "Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice." (Proverbs 12:15 MSG) "Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel, advice, and watch them succeed." (Proverbs 15:22 MSG) Counselors - yâʻats, to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve: —advertise, take advise, advise (well), consult, (give, take) counsel(-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose (Strong's H3289) Safety - tᵉshûwʻâh, rescue (literal or figurative, persons, national or spiritual): —deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory (Strong's 8668)

• It's in the times of pressure, challenges, that you learn the strength of your faith. It's easy to have faith when everything is going great. It's those pressure moments that bring out what's in you.

• God understands our heart and He sees us. We can't plead ignorance to things going on that we choose to turn a blind eye to. We might be able to fool people but know that God repays our actions and inactions. "In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil." (James 4:17 MSG)

• Wisdom is sweet to your soul. Find it, hold on to it, operate in it and your future will be secure. Your hope and expectation will not be cut off. Expectation - tiqvâh, literally a cord (as an attachment); figuratively, expectancy: —expectation(-ted), hope, live, thing that I long for (Strong's H8615) Cut off - kârath, to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; cut (down, off), destroy, fail, lose, perish (Strong's H3772)

• Don't be happy or rejoice when your enemies stumble or fall. God may become displeased with you and turn his anger away from them and turn it on you. Instead, we are to pray for our enemies. "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously." (Luke 6:27-30 MSG)

• Don't associate with rebels. When disaster hits them, it will hit you also. Who you associate with matters. "Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character." (1 Corinthians 15:33 AMPC)

• Do not show favoritism in your interactions with others. "If, however, you are [really] fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, if you have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality [prejudice, favoritism], you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as offenders." (James 2:8-9 (AMP)

• Don't choose revenge taking matters into your own hands. "Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord." (Romans 12:17-19 AMP)

The verse that spoke to me:

"If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small." (Proverbs 24:10 NLT)

My takeaway:

It's in the storms of life that our true character, what we believe, is revealed. It's easy to trust God when everything is going well. But do we have that same level of trust in the storm, believing that this did not catch God by surprise, and He will provide a way out. It's in the storms of life that we find out what we really believe, what we’re made of, and where we need more growth. While God did not send the storm, He will use it for as a character-building opportunity.

It's in the storms that God allows us to practice the lessons He teaches when things are going great. It's in the storms that we truly learn if we've learned the lesson by living the lesson. It's in the storms that who we are is revealed for all to see. It's in the storms that we can be the greatest witnesses for the grace and love of God.

It's hard to think about what we believe in the heat of the moment but the more we try the easier it becomes. Ultimately, faith without works is dead. We can talk all we want but it's in the storms of life that what we believe comes out and is put on display for all to see! That doesn't mean we won't come "unglued" at times. It means we won't stay "unglued!" Hallelujah!

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" (John 16:33 AMPC)

It's knowing that we will go through storms and trusting that God has already given us the victory that will enable us to remain confident, certain and undaunted. Gods got this! Be like Jesus so confident in the storm that he slept through it. The disciples had to wake Him up to tell Him it was storming!

"For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse." (Proverbs 24:16 AMPC)

Remember this, you can always call out to the Lord, and He will answer:

"Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free and in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:5-6 AMPC)

FAITH CONFESSION:

Lord, thank You for increasing my faith as I study Your Word. I am encouraged that each time I face a challenge I don't face it alone. Jesus said I can have perfect peace and confidence and I'm thankful for this. And yes, I know I will face tribulation, trials, distress, and frustrations. Yet I can be of good cheer, take courage, be confident, certain and undaunted because Jesus has overcome the world! He has deprived it of power to harm me and conquered it for me. Even in this Lord, let Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, through me.

“But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:57 AMPC)

Share in the comments what verse spoke to you and why. Let's grow in wisdom together.

#LeisaWilkins #EncouragementInTheWord

Be Encouraged! ❤