(Sunday, July 18, 2010) Christ + Nothing part 1/ Pastor Jeff Royce

Podcast: May 02, 2010 The Oasis AZ/Jeff Royce

Supernatural power is available to us through the Spirit.

As we further examine the prayers of Paul for believers, we come to Ephesians 3:14 - 19.  This prayer is based on the discouragement and disillusionment that the Ephesians were feeling because of Paul's imprisonment.  Whenever Paul believed that there was something lacking in his own life or in the lives of fellow believers he prayed about it.  What a model Paul is for us; especially in the area of prayer.  So notice in 3:16 how he prays for their inner strength.  We may believe we have an inner person but for most of us we spend way more time on developing and maintaining the outer person over the inner man.  I believe Paul's prayer not only alerts us to this fact but should redirect our focus to increasing our inner strength as much if not more than our outer man.  Also, note that this supernatural power is available to us through the Spirit.  As you and I learn to walk in the Spirit and be filled by the Spirit we will come to realize that strength that we have available to us at any moment.  This prayer for God to strengthen them internally is based on the realization of the Ephesians and you and I that we need to ask for His strengthening.  The words in verse 16 "He may grant you" implies that we acknowledge we need a strength outside ourselves to navigate life and that we know who is the source of that strength - God Himself.  Why would we attempt to strengthen ourselves in other ways when all we have to do is ask our Heavenly Father whom Jesus characterized in the Gospels as the One who desires to give His children good things?  If you are strong in the Lord today seek to maintain that position of spiritual strength and if you are deficient of strength in your inner person, the remedy is only a prayer away.  Let's live today in the strength of God.

Effective praying isn't about the length of our prayers but about our hearts...

Continuing from my earlier post on June 7th....Another thing I notice about Paul's prayer here is how brief it is. Effective praying isn't about the length of our prayers or the specific language we use. It's about the heart of the one praying and the concept of God one has when approaching God. Notice Paul's God is far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named. God reigns above all. That's the God Paul is praying to and He's the same One we can pray to as well. Hopefully the way Paul prayed and how he prayed and what he prayed for may change our view of prayer. Maybe we will pray for ourselves a little differently and even others a little differently. Someone once asked me what is the best way to learn to pray and my response was to read and study the prayers of the Bible and just start praying.

We should stay in constant contact with God throughout our day.

Let's continue in our closer look at the prayers of Paul as we look into Ephesians 1:15-23. Paul's prayer is motivated out of his knowledge that these believers are already consistently giving evidence that God is at work in their lives through their faith and love. Paul also uses two different words for prayer here in this passage. One signifies a set apart time and place which certainly builds consistency into our prayer life and the other word speaks of prayers offered as moved by the Hold Spirit. That's the model of a great balance in our praying. There needs to be some set times for prayer or else life would crowd it out but we also don't want to become to rigid in our practice of prayer where the only time we converse with God is at the set time. Remember Paul told the Thessalonians to constantly pray. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) We should stay in constant contact with God throughout our day.

Are you experiencing spiritual growth right now in your life?

As we examine the details of Paul's prayers, let's be reminded that Paul is primarily praying for the spiritual growth and maturity of Christians.  So in Ephesians 1:17, he is asking that the believers in Ephesus would have a desire to know God more accurately and thoroughly and that they would seek God.  Paul knew that God would respond to this and grant them spiritual wisdom and revelation.  This growth is so vital to our spiritual health so we don't remain stagnate in our relationship with God.  We are either making progress or regressing.  This is why there are so many exhortations in the New Testament about our spiritual growth.  The writer of Hebrews in 6:1 encourages the recipients of this letter to "move on to maturity."  Paul states in 1 Timothy 4:14 to "take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress." Also, Peter ends his second letter with these words, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 

 

Are you experiencing spiritual growth right now in your life?  If not, why not?  Are you practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer and time in the Word?  Are you placing yourself in an environment that will encourage your spiritual growth?  Remember we are responsible for our own spiritual growth and part of that is finding a community of believers whom God is building up by spiritually gifted men and women.  (Ephesians 4:11-12)

 

The goal, Paul says in Ephesians 4:15, is that we will in all things grow up into Christ or become like Jesus in all areas of life.  Remember Jesus Christ is our standard.  He is our example and if we look to Him, He will grow us up to be like Him.  There is nothing more fulfilling in this life than becoming like Jesus Christ.  So let's allow God to begin a work deep within us today to make it so.

The prayers of Paul can motivate and inspire our prayer life

Beginning today, we will examine and reflect upon the prayers of Paul recorded in the New Testament.  We can learn much and be inspired by how Paul prayed and for what Paul prayed. Before we examine the details of these prayers, there are a couple of things that impact me right away. 

 

First, these prayers are contained in what are called Paul's prison letters written to communities of believers while Paul was incarcerated.  I don't know about you, but if I'm in prison, I'm thinking about ME and not someone else, much less praying for them!  It shows the selflessness of Paul even during a personally difficult time in his life.  His heart was on others, not on himself.  This really should be the foundation for much of our praying.  It should be spent interceding to God on behalf of others.  It remind me of the words of Paul in Philippians 2:4, "Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interest, but about the interests of others as well."  In these prayers, Paul was seeking to encourage others at a time when he could have used encouragement himself.  What an example to all of us! 

 

Secondly, what strikes me is the nature of these prayers.  Paul is primarily praying for the spiritual growth and maturity of these Christians.  As I learned growing up in a church environment, most Christians occupy their prayer life with the physical needs of one another.  Let me say right away, that it is good and right to pray for these things.  However, we should also seek as Paul did throughout the New Testament to pray for each other's spiritual needs.  Paul understood and sought to impart this understanding to us:  If we are spiritually strong, we are better equipped to deal with life when physical trials or emotional pressure comes. 

 

So, let's use these prayers of Paul to motivate and inspire our prayer life.  These prayers can be found in:  Ephesians 1:15-23;  Ephesians 3:14-21;  Philippians 1:3-11;  Colossians 1:9-14.  Just read over these prayers and let the Holy Spirit lead and teach.

Paul examines our agendas regarding the Lord's Table

Another aspect of the church is in the way we keep the observance of the Lord's table or communion.  Paul devotes the second half of 1 Corinthians 11 to the abuses of the Corinthian church concerning the Lord's table and provides correction so the church's observance of this ordinance is in line with the intention of how Christ originally charged this church to keep it.  In 11:17, Paul says they are coming together for the worse, not for the better.  When they assemble, it's all about self rather than the purpose of strengthening and serving one another.  How about church today?  What would characterize our assembly?  When the Corinthians came together to eat and to observe communion, Paul says there was no thought of one another.  And yet, they were ignoring the example of the very Christ that was the reason for this assembly.  His life and obedience to the extent of death on a cross was the greatest example of selflessness and humility and they understand what it all meant.  It became symbols without substance and Christ never intended this for His church.  What we do as a church, when we come together should always be to propel us forward in our walk with God and bring us closer to our Christ.  Jesus told us to do this all in remembrance of Him.  How can we truly be remembering Him and make it all about us?  That's why Paul spent the last part of chapter 11 warning the church to approach the Lord's table with the proper respect and reverence that is worthy of Christ.  Paul says at all times, but especially as the church remember Christ and what He willingly did for us, we should, "wait for one another."  (verse 33)  We should look out for one another because if it becomes about satisfying our appetites rather than serving one another in love, Paul says we should just stay home and do that.  What is the church?  It's a place where we come to strengthen and serve one another in the name of Jesus Christ.  So God help us to put away our selfish agendas and follow the example of our Lord.

God is as much concerned with why we do what we do as what we are doing

Throughout 1 Corinthians, Paul give us a detailed description of the church.  When he comes to chapter 13, he reveals the most important aspect about the church and that is the quality of our love.  The prominence of love cannot be overstated.  Jesus told His disciples in John 13:35 that, "Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples - if you have love for one another."  Before the world will hear about our love them, they must see our love demonstrated toward our fellow believers within the church.

 

Paul begins chapter 13 with a reminder to check our motives for our ministry and service as a church.  God is as much concerned with why we do what we do as what we are doing.  We will lose all blessing and benefit of our actions if love is not the foundation.  Then beginning in verse 4, Paul shares with us the character of love.  He reminds us that our love is lived out everyday in the laboratory of life.  Every interaction is an opportunity to love and defining love in verses 4-7 is imperative because there are many warped ideas about what love is.  He reminds us that growing in our understanding of love and living out this quality of love is a sign of our spiritual growth and maturity.  Paul states in verse 11, "what I was a child, I reasoned like a child, I thought like a child, I talked like a child.  But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways."  One of the marks of a child is his selfishness and unwillingness to share.  So when we live a selfless, sacrificial life and we are willing and even looking for opportunities to share with others, we are assuring ourselves of our progress as we become more like Jesus Christ and love others as Jesus loves us.  Nothing is more vital to the testimony of a church than knowing that this church truly loves.

If we don't have God's wisdom amongst us, tragic mistakes can be made

Besides God's power, the church should also resemble and reflect God's wisdom.  Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.  Paul first of all states in this passage that the church should be a place where we continually hear God's wisdom.  In verses 6, 7 and 13, Paul tells us to speak wisdom to one another.  If we don't have God's wisdom amongst us, tragic mistakes can be made.  Paul uses the example of Christ's death as he says that if the Roman and Jewish authorities would have been operating by God's wisdom, they would have never crucified the Son of God.  Paul then goes on to point out that God's wisdom is revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, and that we can only understand the Bible when we allow the Holy Spirit to be our Teacher and our Guide. 

 

The church should not only be a place where God's wisdom is spoken but according to Paul in verses 14 & 15, the church should be a place where God's wisdom is examined and investigated in detail.  This is the meaning of the word "discern."  It was a word used to refer to someone who would pick apart the details of something much like a crime scene investigator does today in order to unlock the details of the crime scene.  Well instead of being crime scene investigators, God calls the church to be Bible scene investigators.  Too many churches minimize the Bible and then wonder why people continue to make bad choices and decisions in their life.  When we are deficient in God's wisdom, that's exactly the outcome.  Can the church be a place where there's too much Bible? 

 

May our churches truly be places where God's wisdom is lived out amongst God's people.

The church should be a reflection of God's power and not man's

We are examining the answer to the question: "What is the church?" from Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Besides its identity and resources, we discover in chapter one that the church is to resemble and reflect Jesus Christ. So, in chapter 1, verse 24, we learn that Christ is both the power of God and the wisdom of God. Therefore, the church should be a place where the power of God and the wisdom of God is evident and this is what Paul expands on in chapter 2 of 1 Corinthians.


In fact, Paul uses his own ministry amongst the Corinthians as an example of God's power. Paul states in chapter 2 verse 1 that when he came he did not use elevated or high sounding words or human management skill and strategy. He goes on to remind them that he was with them in his own feebleness and frailty. Many believe Paul suffered some ongoing physical infirmity. He also says that there were nerves and a distrust in his own ability in verse 3 of chapter 2. He says he did not attempt to mesmerize them with wisdom belonging to men but with a ministry and message that would demonstrate the Spirit's power.

A sobering question for all of us in the church is what percentage of church ministry is based on human wisdom, skill and strategy and what is truly a demonstration of God's power. May each of us never grow to trust in ourselves or our ability but to learn to depend upon the Spirit. The church should be a reflection of God's power and not man's.

Christ will strengthen you to the end!

It's one thing to know who we are as a church and that our identity is wrapped up in our Head, Jesus Christ. But how will we be the church and accomplish the things to which Christ is calling us? Paul reassures the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:5 that we were made rich in every way in Him, and all your speech and in every kind of knowledge. The meaning of being enriched or made rich in Christ is that of being completely outfitted for the task. It would be like setting out for a hike and having been given the proper clothing, equipment and resources to make the hike and return safely. This is what Christ is to His church. Everything the church needs to complete the calling that Christ has given them can be found in Him. His church will never be found wanting. Paul went on to remind the Corinthians in verse 7 that they lack no spiritual gift. The word "lack" was used of not being able to reach the goal so Paul is saying to the church that whatever goals Christ is giving to His church, He will supply everything necessary to reach that goal. Paul even says in verse 8 that Christ will strengthen you to the end. What an encouragement! All a church must do is make sure that their goals are Christ's goals. If they are, Paul says you can count on Christ supporting, supplying and seeing whatever it is through to the end.

The church has been established and exists for Jesus Christ

In 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Paul reminds the church of her identity. There are many today debating what the church is or what the church should be. Yet the Bible is clear that first and foremost the church is God's possession above everything else. In verse 2, Paul addresses this letter to the church of God that is in Corinth. Paul charged the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:20 to shepherd the church of God that He obtained with the blood of His own Son. He told the Corinthians in his first letter that we are not our own but have been bought with a price therefore we are to live our lives from henceforth to the glory of God. For many, the church is about self and promoting selfish agendas but in the Bible, the church has been established and exists for Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus said as He was instructing His followers in Matthew 16 that "I will build MY church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it." (emphasis mine) So the church's identity is wrapped up completely in Jesus Christ. Everything we do as a church should be for Him and everything we are must be to represent and resemble Jesus Christ. Once our identity has been established, then we will discover the resources we have in Christ.

Only God can see the end.

Finally, in verse 73 of Psalm 119, the psalmist reminds us that we will receive understanding when we read and meditate on God's Word daily. We will get a perspective on life from God that we simply can't get anywhere else. Only God can see the end. Only God can see the total and big picture. Life and all of our lives are like icebergs. We can only see a small percentage of what sits above the surface of the water. Only God can see below the surface. So when we are allowing God's Word to give us understanding, we can have an insight into life and a discernment to navigate life that is beyond all human comprehension. That's why in Psalm 119:98 -100, the psalmist says that knowing God's principles can make me wiser than our enemies, our teachers, and even those older who have more experience. Because if all they are relying on is the wisdom that belongs to men instead of the wisdom given us by God they limit their own understanding of where we came from; why we are here; where we are going. The only clear and accurate answer to those and other questions is found in the Bible. So I hope you are as motivated as I am to dive into God's Word daily. Some of the greatest benefits in life and for life are contained within its pages.

Are you in need of God-sized encouragement?

Reading and meditating in the Bible daily gives me yet another benefit. It gives me comfort in the midst of my trouble. (Psalm 119:50) We all face trouble and trials in life, so it is a great encouragement to know that the God of the universe is willing to comfort us in and through the pain and pressure that life brings. Paul says in 2 Corinthians, chapter 1 that our God is the God of all comfort. God can comfort us and encourage us on a level that no human being can and we receive His comfort many times through the pages of Scripture. The promises of God are what we cling to in our seasons of affliction. Verses like Psalm 55:22, "Throw your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended." The origin of this word, comfort, is born out of the word for compassion. That is why He is a God of comfort and His word contains comfort because He is a compassionate God who feels for us and what we are going through. If you are in need of comfort right now in your life or just need reminded of God's compassion toward you, you need look no further than the Bible. One of the many benefits we receive is a God-sized encouragement.

God's loyal love for us

The next benefit from reading and meditating on the Bible everyday is that we will come to realize God's loyal love for us. This principle is found in Psalm 119:41. This word means God's goodness, kindness, and faithfulness. If we want to know the unchanging character of our God the best place to look is in the Word of God. Your Bible may translate this word as "mercies." God's mercy helps us to see the love and care God gives us everyday. Many times we question why God is so good to us and blesses us so abundantly. But you see, His goodness, His kindness, His faithfulness is not based on our performance, but on His mercy. The more time you and I spend in God's Word, the more secure and stable our lives will become because we will begin to comprehend God's loyal love demonstrated each day toward us all. In a world of crisis and chaos and instability wouldn't it behoove us to gain this blessing that the Bible would bring to our lives?

Benefits from the Bible ~ Day 2

The next benefit the Bible gives us is guidance found in Psalm 119:24. Your translation may read "counselors." Who doesn't need guidance throughout life? Many times we try to figure out life all on our own. It gets overwhelming rather quickly. Then when we do seek counsel, we end up getting man's opinion rather than the insight that God can bring into our lives. Now its not that human counselors or a friend's advice is of no value. They can be a great help. But God is the "Wonderful Counselor" according to the prophet Isaiah and no one has a better view of life and how to live it than God. Interestingly, the word for guidance here is also translated champion in other places in the Old Testament. It's as if God is saying, "you have a champion in your corner at all times. It is My Word. It will guide you." No wonder the psalmist says later on in Psalm 119:105, "Your Word is a lamp to walk by and a light to illumine my path." Get into the Bible today my friends. You will find guidance for life within its pages.

Benefits from the Bible~ Day 1

In 2 Corinthians, Paul challenges the Corinthians in chapter 13, verse 9, to become fully qualified. He is not talking in the context of becoming qualified for salvation, for we are saved by God's grace. He is referring to service. If you and I want to serve God to our God-given potential, we must commit ourselves to disciplined training. This is what Paul means by the term "fully qualified." In other words, we must develop spiritual habits in our life that will accelerate our spiritual growth and increase our effectiveness as God's servants.


One of the most important habits we should develop as a Christian is reading and meditating on God's Word daily. There are so many benefits to getting into the Bible everyday and Psalm 119 shares a few of these benefits with us. It is no coincidence that the largest chapter in all the Bible is devoted to the benefits the Bible brings to our lives. Verse 1 tells us that we will be blessed. Verse 24 speaks of His guidance. Verse 41 reminds of His loyal love and care. Verse 50 unveils His comfort for me in my trouble and verse 73 shares with me His understanding. For the next few days we will look at these benefits in depth and see how truly beneficial the Bible is to our lives everyday.

Proverbs 31: Is there someone in your life that you should honor?

Day Thirty One (See Scriptures Below)

Proverbs 31 primarily praises a wife of noble character. It’s about those people in your life that you should honor and give tangible evidence of your appreciation. Is there someone in your life that you should honor? Think of a way that you could communicate what they mean to you that would have lasting meaning for them. Make sure what you give to them resonates with them, not just you. If you get to know a person, you’ll know what’s important to him/her and how to best acknowledge the impact that has been made on your life. Don’t wait to let someone important to you know how much he/she means to you. Give it some thought. You will never regret it.

Proverbs 31

31:1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What are you doing, my son? [1] What are you doing, son of my womb?

What are you doing, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

or for rulers to take strong drink,

5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed

and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress; [2]

7 let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute. [3]

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

defend the rights of the poor and needy.



The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 [4] An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

15 She rises while it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She dresses herself [5] with strength

and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet. [6]

22 She makes bed coverings for herself;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates

when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverb 30: What are you telling others about yourself without speaking?

Day Thirty (See Scriptures Below)

Proverbs 30 is a reminder everyone can learn from the surroundings. Too often our lives are so busy that life’s lessons are missed that could have been an encouragement along the way. Take a few moments today to look around and contemplate what god may be saying to you through your observation. In fact, a good practice when reading the Bible follows the path of observation – meditation – application. What are the people around you saying to you by the way they are living their lives? Everyone communicates everyday without saying a word. What are you telling others about yourself without speaking?

Proverbs 30

30:1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. [1]

The man declares, I am weary, O God;

I am weary, O God, and worn out. [2]

2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man.

I have not the understanding of a man.

3 I have not learned wisdom,

nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered the wind in his fists?

Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and what is his son's name?

Surely you know!



5 Every word of God proves true;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6 Do not add to his words,

lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.



7 Two things I ask of you;

deny them not to me before I die:

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with the food that is needful for me,

9 lest I be full and deny you

and say, “Who is the Lord?”

or lest I be poor and steal

and profane the name of my God.



10 Do not slander a servant to his master,

lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.



11 There are those [3] who curse their fathers

and do not bless their mothers.

12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes

but are not washed of their filth.

13 There are those—how lofty are their eyes,

how high their eyelids lift!

14 There are those whose teeth are swords,

whose fangs are knives,

to devour the poor from off the earth,

the needy from among mankind.



15 The leech has two daughters:

Give and Give. [4]

Three things are never satisfied;

four never say, “Enough”:

16 Sheol, the barren womb,

the land never satisfied with water,

and the fire that never says, “Enough.”



17 The eye that mocks a father

and scorns to obey a mother

will be picked out by the ravens of the valley

and eaten by the vultures.



18 Three things are too wonderful for me;

four I do not understand:

19 the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a serpent on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a virgin.



20 This is the way of an adulteress:

she eats and wipes her mouth

and says, “I have done no wrong.”



21 Under three things the earth trembles;

under four it cannot bear up:

22 a slave when he becomes king,

and a fool when he is filled with food;

23 an unloved woman when she gets a husband,

and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.



24 Four things on earth are small,

but they are exceedingly wise:

25 the ants are a people not strong,

yet they provide their food in the summer;

26 the rock badgers are a people not mighty,

yet they make their homes in the cliffs;

27 the locusts have no king,

yet all of them march in rank;

28 the lizard you can take in your hands,

yet it is in kings' palaces.



29 Three things are stately in their tread;

four are stately in their stride:

30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts

and does not turn back before any;

31 the strutting rooster, [5] the he-goat,

and a king whose army is with him. [6]



32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,

or if you have been devising evil,

put your hand on your mouth.

33 For pressing milk produces curds,

pressing the nose produces blood,

and pressing anger produces strife.

Proverbs 29: Wind of adversity build strength

Day Twenty Nine (See Scripture Below)

Winds of adversity build strength. Struggles can produce stamina and endurance. Trees are made stronger because of the winds that blow against them. Proverbs 29:21 admonishes that one who is continually shielded from life’s trials will become weak and will never learn how to handle the hurdles along life’s path. Is your protection of someone else only hurting them in the long run? Is there a struggle right now that you’re going through that you’re seeing from a different perspective? God never intends for trials to discourage or defeat you but to purify and strengthen your faith.

Proverbs 29

29:1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,

will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3 He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

4 By justice a king builds up the land,

but he who exacts gifts [1] tears it down.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

6 An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,

but a righteous man sings and rejoices.

7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;

a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.

8 Scoffers set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless

and seek the life of the upright. [2]

11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

but a wise man quietly holds it back.

12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,

all his officials will be wicked.

13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together;

the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

14 If a king faithfully judges the poor,

his throne will be established forever.

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,

but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,

but the righteous will look upon their downfall.

17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;

he will give delight to your heart.

18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, [3]

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined,

for though he understands, he will not respond.

20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood

will in the end find him his heir. [4]

22 A man of wrath stirs up strife,

and one given to anger causes much transgression.

23 One's pride will bring him low,

but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

24 The partner of a thief hates his own life;

he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

25 The fear of man lays a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

26 Many seek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

Proverbs 28: Keep moving forward when you make a mistake

Day Twenty Eight (See Scriptures Below)

The Bible teaches that your sins are more pardonable than the excuses you use to hide them. Proverbs 28:13 says, “The one who covers his transgression will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.” Ever since the Garden of Eden human beings have sought to cover up their sin rather than confessing it. However, God knows all about it anyway and loves unconditionally anyway. Your relationship with Him is not based on performance but grace. The only way to keep moving forward is to accept responsibility for your failure, learn from it and move on. Is there something you need to acknowledge before God? Is there something for which God has forgiven you but you’ve not accepted His forgiveness in faith?

Proverbs 28

28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

3 A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit [1]

gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way

will fall into his own pit,

but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17 If one is burdened with the blood of another,

he will be a fugitive until death; [2]

let no one help him.

18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good,

but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

22 A stingy man [3] hastens after wealth

and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than he who flatters with his tongue.

24 Whoever robs his father or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is a companion to a man who destroys.

25 A greedy man stirs up strife,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Proverbs 27: There will never be a day like this one again

Day Twenty Seven (See Scriptures Below)

Proverbs 27:1 simply states to live each day to the fullest. So often the blessing of one day is missed looking passed it to the next day. Life is a gift and it is fragile. Proverbs says that no one has the guarantee of tomorrow, so seek to get the most out of every day. Is there someone you’ve wanted to hang out with or something you’ve been wanted to do but you’ve been putting off? Put if off no longer. Whatever today brings, look for the blessings of this day. There will never be a day just like this one ever again. What could you do today to get the most out of it?

Proverbs 27

27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

a stranger, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,

but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

4 Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

7 One who is full loathes honey,

but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest

is a man who strays from his home.

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. [1]

10 Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend,

and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.

Better is a neighbor who is near

than a brother who is far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

that I may answer him who reproaches me.

12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

13 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress. [2]

14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,

rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

15 A continual dripping on a rainy day

and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind

or to grasp [3] oil in one's right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another. [4]

18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honored.

19 As in water face reflects face,

so the heart of man reflects the man.

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

and never satisfied are the eyes of man.

21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

and a man is tested by his praise.

22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle

along with crushed grain,

yet his folly will not depart from him.

23 Know well the condition of your flocks,

and give attention to your herds,

24 for riches do not last forever;

and does a crown endure to all generations?

25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears

and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,

26 the lambs will provide your clothing,

and the goats the price of a field.

27 There will be enough goats' milk for your food,

for the food of your household

and maintenance for your girls.

Proverbs 26: Choose your battles carefully

Day Twenty Six (See Scriptures Below)

Proverbs 26:17 relates wisdom to getting involved in disputes. Many times you may have inserted yourself into a situation that, looking back, you wish you would have never done. You may have never grabbed a dog by the ears, but you probably would guess that what would follow would not be good. There are battles in life that you should get involved with and battles that you should not. So choose your battles carefully. If you haven’t been invited to participate by all parties or it doesn’t directly affect you, you should pause. Is there a situation in which you should rethink about getting involved? Is there a situation in which you are already involved that you may need to remove yourself?

Proverbs 26

26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

a curse that is causeless does not alight.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the back of fools.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling

is one who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 Like an archer who wounds everyone

is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. [1]

11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit

is a fool who repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

There is a lion in the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,

so does a sluggard on his bed.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own

is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I am only joking!”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23 Like the glaze [2] covering an earthen vessel

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips

and harbors deceit in his heart;

25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not,

for there are seven abominations in his heart;

26 though his hatred be covered with deception,

his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 25: God’s wisdom will enable us to exceed expectations.

Day Twenty Five (See Scriptures Below)

Always deliver more than you promise. We’ve heard the expressions like “talk is cheap” and “windbag” that describe exactly what Proverbs 25:14 is talking about: a person who promised much and delivered little. Everyone can benefit from talking less about future plans and simply executing those plans. Also, if you make a promise, commit to keeping it. Are there some commitments you’ve made that need to be fulfilled? Wisdom isn’t just satisfied with minimum effort. There is enough mediocrity in the world. God’s wisdom will enable us to many times exceed expectations.

Proverbs 25

25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver,

and the smith has material for a vessel;

5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence

or stand in the place of the great,

7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen

8 do not hastily bring into court,

for [1] what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another's secret,

10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

11 A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold

is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is a faithful messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 Like clouds and wind without rain

is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue will break a bone.

16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

20 Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart

is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

and like vinegar on soda.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey,

nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. [2]

28 A man without self-control

is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 24: How’s your inner strength right now?

Day Twenty Four (See scriptures below)

Proverbs 24:10 says that if you faint, give up, throw in the towel, in the day of trouble, your strength is small. That’s why verse 5 says a wise person will make himself/herself stronger. No matter how much wisdom you possess, you can never avoid the trials of life completely. Therefore, it behooves you to continually increase the strength of your being at its very core to withstand whatever life brings. How’s your inner strength right now? Do you have a strategy for increasing your spirit’s strength? There is strength far greater than your own and it is always available to you with God.

Proverbs 24

24:1 Be not envious of evil men,

nor desire to be with them,

2 for their hearts devise violence,

and their lips talk of trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

4 by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man is full of strength,

and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,

and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;

in the gate he does not open his mouth.

8 Whoever plans to do evil

will be called a schemer.

9 The devising [1] of folly is sin,

and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity,

your strength is small.

11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man according to his work?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,

and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;

if you find it, there will be a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;

do no violence to his home;

16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,

but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,

and turn away his anger from him.

19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers,

and be not envious of the wicked,

20 for the evil man has no future;

the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king,

and do not join with those who do otherwise,

22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them,

and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

More Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.

24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”

will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,

and a good blessing will come upon them.

26 Whoever gives an honest answer

kisses the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside;

get everything ready for yourself in the field,

and after that build your house.

28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,

and do not deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;

I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

30 I passed by the field of a sluggard,

by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

32 Then I saw and considered it;

I looked and received instruction.

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 23: How are your eternal investments doing?

Day Twenty Three (See Scriptures Below)

Wisdom is found in living for what’s eternal instead of only what is temporal. That is reinforced in the first five verses of Proverbs 23. While many lives are literally shortened so tragically to obtain what will only last a short time, the wise will primarily focus on investing in eternity. Jesus taught this same principle when he spoke of laying up treasure in heaven. (Matthew 6:20) This world is obsessed with investment strategies. How are your eternal investments doing? Are there some adjustments that you should make?

Proverbs 23

23:1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,

observe carefully what [1] is before you,

2 and put a knife to your throat

if you are given to appetite.

3 Do not desire his delicacies,

for they are deceptive food.

4 Do not toil to acquire wealth;

be discerning enough to desist.

5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone,

for suddenly it sprouts wings,

flying like an eagle toward heaven.

6 Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; [2]

do not desire his delicacies,

7 for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. [3]

“Eat and drink!” he says to you,

but his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten,

and waste your pleasant words.

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

for he will despise the good sense of your words.

10 Do not move an ancient landmark

or enter the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Redeemer is strong;

he will plead their cause against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction

and your ear to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;

if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

14 If you strike him with the rod,

you will save his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,

my heart too will be glad.

16 My inmost being [4] will exult

when your lips speak what is right.

17 Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.

18 Surely there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise,

and direct your heart in the way.

20 Be not among drunkards [5]

or among gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,

and slumber will clothe them with rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25 Let your father and mother be glad;

let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe [6] my ways.

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit;

an adulteress [7] is a narrow well.

28 She lies in wait like a robber

and increases the traitors among mankind.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has strife? Who has complaining?

Who has wounds without cause?

Who has redness of eyes?

30 Those who tarry long over wine;

those who go to try mixed wine.

31 Do not look at wine when it is red,

when it sparkles in the cup

and goes down smoothly.

32 In the end it bites like a serpent

and stings like an adder.

33 Your eyes will see strange things,

and your heart utter perverse things.

34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,

like one who lies on the top of a mast. [8]

35 “They struck me,” you will say, [9] “but I was not hurt;

they beat me, but I did not feel it.

When shall I awake?

I must have another drink.”

Proverbs 22: Is God or a trusted friend warning you about something or someone right now?

Day Twenty Two (See Scriptures Below)

Proverbs 22:3 is a reminder to pay attention to the warning signs along the road of life. There are those who heed the signs and save themselves in the end and there are those who ignore the signs and suffer because of it. Is God or a trusted friend warning you about something or someone right now? If so, are you willing to listen? Remember God warns us because He loves us and He doesn’t want us to experience the pain of our poor choices if it can be prevented.

Proverbs 22

22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

and favor is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and the poor meet together;

the Lord is the maker of them all.

3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord

is riches and honor and life. [1]

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;

whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rules over the poor,

and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of his fury will fail.

9 Whoever has a bountiful [2] eye will be blessed,

for he shares his bread with the poor.

10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,

and quarreling and abuse will cease.

11 He who loves purity of heart,

and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!

I shall be killed in the streets!”

14 The mouth of forbidden [3] women is a deep pit;

he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,

or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.



Words of the Wise

17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,

and apply your heart to my knowledge,

18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 That your trust may be in the Lord,

I have made them known to you today, even to you.

20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings

of counsel and knowledge,

21 to make you know what is right and true,

that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?



22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate,

23 for the Lord will plead their cause

and rob of life those who rob them.

24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,

nor go with a wrathful man,

25 lest you learn his ways

and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Be not one of those who give pledges,

who put up security for debts.

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

why should your bed be taken from under you?

28 Do not move the ancient landmark

that your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man skillful in his work?

He will stand before kings;

he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 21: It’s always wise to re-examine your priorities from time to time.

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Day Twenty One (See Scriptures Below)

Proverbs 21:3 says there are some things more acceptable to the Lord than other things. God has priorities. This verse reveals that all of the outward rituals and religious observances are no substitute for the reality of an inward relationship with God in which the life of God flows. Reformation is man attempting to clean himself up from the outside but transformation is the work of God that starts on the inside and works its way outward. It’s always wise to re-examine your priorities from time to time. Are the most important things most important right now in your life? If your priorities are in need of a slight adjustment what could you do to realign them properly?

Proverbs 21

21:1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;

he turns it wherever he will.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the heart.

3 To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

the lamp [1] of the wicked, are sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,

but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. [2]

7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,

because they refuse to do what is just.

8 The way of the guilty is crooked,

but the conduct of the pure is upright.

9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;

his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;

when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;

he throws the wicked down to ruin.

13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

will himself call out and not be answered.

14 A gift in secret averts anger,

and a concealed bribe, [3] strong wrath.

15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous

but terror to evildoers.

16 One who wanders from the way of good sense

will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;

he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,

and the traitor for the upright.

19 It is better to live in a desert land

than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,

but a foolish man devours it.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness

will find life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty

and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue

keeps himself out of trouble.

24 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man

who acts with arrogant pride.

25 The desire of the sluggard kills him,

for his hands refuse to labor.

26 All day long he craves and craves,

but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

28 A false witness will perish,

but the word of a man who hears will endure.

29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,

but the upright gives thought to [4] his ways.

30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel

can avail against the Lord.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Proverbs 20: Have you given the complete view of the situation to your “counselor”?

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Day Twenty (See scriptures below)

Proverbs 20:5 calls attention to the fact that many times the help and counsel of others can be sought out without sharing the whole truth with them. That makes whatever advice given insufficient at best. If you truly want others to help you, you have to be wiling to lay all your cards on the table for them to examine. God encourages people to reach out to others for assistance, but the best answer is not based on speculation but reality. Do you know if others are being completely transparent as they come to you for advice? Proverbs says an understanding person learns to draw it out. Maybe you are seeking counsel for an area in your life right now. Have you given the complete view of the situation to your “counselor”?

Proverbs 20

20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. [1]

2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;

whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,

but every fool will be quarreling.

4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;

he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water,

but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,

but a faithful man who can find?

7 The righteous who walks in his integrity—

blessed are his children after him!

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment

winnows all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;

I am clean from my sin”?

10 Unequal [2] weights and unequal measures

are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts,

by whether his conduct is pure and upright. [3]

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,

the Lord has made them both.

13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;

open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,

but when he goes away, then he boasts.

15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones,

but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners. [4]

17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,

but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

18 Plans are established by counsel;

by wise guidance wage war.

19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;

therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. [5]

20 If one curses his father or his mother,

his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning

will not be blessed in the end.

22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;

wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,

and false scales are not good.

24 A man's steps are from the Lord;

how then can man understand his way?

25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”

and to reflect only after making vows.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked

and drives the wheel over them.

27 The spirit [6] of man is the lamp of the Lord,

searching all his innermost parts.

28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,

and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;

strokes make clean the innermost parts.

Proverbs 19: Remember failure isn’t fatal, but not accepting responsibility and learning from those mistakes will be

Day Nineteen (See Scriptures Below)

Taking responsibility for one’s own actions isn’t a common behavior nowadays. Proverbs 19:3 points out that when you refuse to accept responsibility that is yours, you either point the finger at someone else or can even end up getting angry with God for allowing you to make such a poor choice. Taking responsibility is a very freeing exercise. Remember failure isn’t fatal but not accepting responsibility and learning from those mistakes will be. Is there something in your life for which you need to step up and take responsibility? Owning it will gain you the respect of others and the approval of God.

Proverbs 19

19:1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

2 Desire [1] without knowledge is not good,

and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,

his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth brings many new friends,

but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

6 Many seek the favor of a generous man, [2]

and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

7 All a poor man's brothers hate him;

how much more do his friends go far from him!

He pursues them with words, but does not have them. [3]

8 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;

he who keeps understanding will discover good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and he who breathes out lies will perish.

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,

much less for a slave to rule over princes.

11 Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is ruin to his father,

and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers,

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,

and an idle person will suffer hunger.

16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life;

he who despises his ways will die.

17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will repay him for his deed.

18 Discipline your son, for there is hope;

do not set your heart on putting him to death.

19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,

for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,

that you may gain wisdom in the future.

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,

and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,

and whoever has it rests satisfied;

he will not be visited by harm.

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish

and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother

is a son who brings shame and reproach.

27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,

and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,

and beating for the backs of fools.

Proverbs 18: The name of the Lord is like a strong tower

Day Eighteen (See Scriputres Below)

“The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.” Proverbs 18:10. The name of God encompasses all that He has revealed about Himself. From that revelation you can conclude that God is safe and secure. In a world that is obsessed with safety and security, please understand that the only real safe and secure place is in God. Is your security in something else? Are you sure that whatever it is, that it will provide the security you are seeking? Based on this concept, what choices can you make to help yourself feel safe and secure or to regain the sense of security you have lost?

Proverbs 18

18:1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;

he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

but only in expressing his opinion.

3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,

and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;

the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 It is not good to be partial to [1] the wicked

or to deprive the righteous of justice.

6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,

and his mouth invites a beating.

7 A fool's mouth is his ruin,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

9 Whoever is slack in his work

is a brother to him who destroys.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city,

and like a high wall in his imagination.

12 Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor.

13 If one gives an answer before he hears,

it is his folly and shame.

14 A man's spirit will endure sickness,

but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man's gift makes room for him

and brings him before the great.

17 The one who states his case first seems right,

until the other comes and examines him.

18 The lot puts an end to quarrels

and decides between powerful contenders.

19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,

and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

20 From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 17: Gossip destroys even the strongest of friendships

Day Seventeen (See Scriptures Below)

Forgiveness repairs and restores relationships, but gossip destroys even the strongest of friendships. This is the message of Proverbs 17:9. Does it not make sense that if you are a part of a circle that gossips about others, that they will also gossip about you when you are not around? If a juicy piece of gossip comes your way, determine it will end with you and tell the party who shared it with you that you do not want to be part of this. Many have been hurt by the words of others but anyone can make a positive difference by not being a channel for gossip or starting a story in the first place. Wisdom asks the question “Is this something I should keep to myself or is it appropriate to share with others?” When in doubt, don’t share. At least ask permission before sharing with others.

Proverbs 17

17:1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet

than a house full of feasting [1] with strife.

2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully

and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

and the Lord tests hearts.

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,

and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;

he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;

still less is false speech to a prince.

8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;

wherever he turns he prospers.

9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love,

but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

than a hundred blows into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,

and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs

rather than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone returns evil for good,

evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,

so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous

are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom

when he has no sense?

17 A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity.

18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge

and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;

he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,

and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,

and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret [2]

to pervert the ways of justice.

24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,

but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father

and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,

nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,

and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;

when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 16: God is not only concerned with what you do but why you do it.

Day Sixteen (See Scriptures Below)

Proverbs 16:2 says, “A person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives.” God is not only concerned with what you do but why you do it. Wrong motives or hidden agendas can steer you off the right course. It is always a step of wisdom to take time to evaluate your motives throughout life. Right motivations continually give you fuel to move forward but wrong motives will eventually weaken your resolve and sap your strength. Consider the area of relationships. Are there relationships in your life you’ve developed or maintained for the wrong reasons?

Proverbs 16

16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.

3 Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.

5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;

be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

7 When a man's ways please the Lord,

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues with injustice.

9 The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

10 An oracle is on the lips of a king;

his mouth does not sin in judgment.

11 A just balance and scales are the Lord's;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,

for the throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,

and he loves him who speaks what is right.

14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death,

and a wise man will appease it.

15 In the light of a king's face there is life,

and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!

To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor

than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 Whoever gives thought to the word [1] will discover good,

and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

21 The wise of heart is called discerning,

and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death. [2]

26 A worker's appetite works for him;

his mouth urges him on.

27 A worthless man plots evil,

and his speech [3] is like a scorching fire.

28 A dishonest man spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor

and leads him in a way that is not good.

30 Whoever winks his eyes plans [4] dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 15: Is your public life suffering because your private life is suffering? By Pastor Jeff Royce

Day Fifteen – (See Scriptures Below)


Continuing with the principle that your inner self nourishes the outer public self, Proverbs 14:13 notes that in order to sustain your public responsibility and service to others there must be a strong foundational private life underneath. So what are you currently doing to feed your inner soul (the heart)? Is your public life suffering because your private life is suffering? Remember you cannot encourage and refresh others without making time to be encouraged and refresh yourself.

Proverbs 15

15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath,


but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A gentle [1] tongue is a tree of life,

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father's instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the hearts of fools. [2]

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;

whoever hates reproof will die.

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;

how much more the hearts of the children of man!

12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,

but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,

but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20 A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

22 Without counsel plans fail,

but with many advisers they succeed.

23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,

and a word in season, how good it is!

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,

that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud

but maintains the widow's boundaries.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,

but gracious words are pure.

27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,

but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

and good news refreshes [3] the bones.

31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof

will dwell among the wise.

32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,

but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 14: A tranquil spirit revives the body

Day Fourteen (See Scriptures Below)

When God created human beings, He intertwined spiritual, emotional and physical parts. Each part positively and negatively affects the others. So Proverbs 14:30 states, “A tranquil spirit revives the body.” Your emotional state impacts your physical well-being. If that is true, what steps could you begin to take to put yourself in a more healthy emotional state? Each person’s emotions are refreshed by very different things so this becomes a very personal uniquely fitted answer. Take some time each day to build tranquility in your life. Your body will thank you for it.

Proverbs 14

14:1 The wisest of women builds her house,


but folly with her own hands tears it down.

2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord,

but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, [1]

but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,

but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

5 A faithful witness does not lie,

but a false witness breathes out lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,

but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

but the folly of fools is deceiving.

9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,

but the upright enjoy acceptance. [2]

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no stranger shares its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death. [3]

13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and the end of joy may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,

and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

15 The simple believes everything,

but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

16 One who is wise is cautious [4] and turns away from evil,

but a fool is reckless and careless.

17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,

and a man of evil devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow down before the good,

the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,

but the rich has many friends.

21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,

but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?

Those who devise good meet [5] steadfast love and faithfulness.

23 In all toil there is profit,

but mere talk tends only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,

but the folly of fools brings folly.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,

but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,

and his children will have a refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,

but without people a prince is ruined.

29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,

but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

30 A tranquil [6] heart gives life to the flesh,

but envy [7] makes the bones rot.

31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,

but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,

but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,

but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. [8]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor,

but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.