Marching Off The Map A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. —Proverbs 16:9 Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans. Our lives are subject to detours and corrections that we never expected or imagined. Abraham and Sarah could testify to that. They were planning for … More Marching orders without a map
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. —Proverbs 15:33 C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: When a man is sincerely humble, and never ventures to touch so much as a grain of the praise, there is scarcely any limit to what God will do for him. Humility makes us … More Spurgeon: a sauce with which you may season every dish of life
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. John Piper, in a sermon, “The Pleasure of God in the Prayers of the Upright” My hope is that the effect of this message will not only be that you feel encouraged to … More Piper: Prayer shows the reaches of our poverty and the riches of his grace
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26) Erma Bombeck wrote a column about the conflicts that sometimes occur as siblings divide family items after a parent has died. Whether it’s the mixing bowls, grandma’s quilts, or the Christmas ornaments, people are often convinced … More The Legacy of Refuge
C. H. Spurgeon, in a sermon, “How a Man’s Conduct Comes Home to Him” on Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. (KJV) The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man … More Spurgeon: What a man is by sin or by grace will be the cause of his sorrow or of his satisfaction.
Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. -Proverbs 13:13 From Faith’s Checkbook by C. H. Spurgeon: HOLY awe of God’s Word is at a great discount. Men think themselves wiser than the Word of the Lord, and sit in judgment upon it. “So did not … More Spurgeon: rewards of obedience make us scorn the scorning of the scorner.
From the ESV Study Bible: Prov. 13:1–6 Headed by the call to be a wise son (10:1), these proverbs also utilize a play on words (cf. 10:6–32) relating to both speech (hears/listen, 13:1; mouth, vv. 2–3; lips, v. 3; falsehood,v. 5) and eating/desire (eats, v. 2; desire, v. 2; craves and richly supplied, v. 4) in order to assure those who seek to guard their mouth (v. 3) through righteousness … More Proverbs: Life-saving mouth guards
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25 Do you have anxiety in your heart? Are there others around you that are being weighed down with an anxious heart? According to the Bible, a good word can change their outlook. Will you reach out with a … More A Good Word for Eyores
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Proverbs 12:1 No one really LOVES getting disciplined, at the time, but when we look back, we can see the benefits. We learn much through the loving correction of others, whether our parents or faithful friends. Proverbs says we are STUPID if we … More We all have blind spots
C.H. Spurgeon, comments in Morning and Evening: “He that watereth shall be watered also himself.”—Proverbs 11:25 We are here taught the great lesson, that to get, we must give; that to accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves happy, we must make others happy; and that in order to become spiritually vigorous, we must … More Unexpected Grace
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 