For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. Proverbs 5:21 (in our read-through-the-Bible plan today) The Bible often refers to our life as “a path.” As you ponder your path today, consider these verses below. Ask God to show you and keep you on the path … More Ponder your path today
Today we come to Proverbs 4 in our reading plan. John Piper mentions five biblical instructions for how to get real wisdom: First, desire wisdom with all your might. Proverbs 4:8 says, “Prize her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you for your embrace.” These are not cheap words. To prize something and to embrace someone are … More Got real wisdom?
I am so grateful that I grew up in a home where we were urged to memorize scripture, including Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” What a great reminder: Trust … More Give Him all of our heart, all of our ways
“Charm is deceitful, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 John Piper tells a story to illustrate “the fear of the Lord:” Noël and the boys and I went out to Dick and Irene Tiegen’s place last week. They have a big dog as tall as … More What does it mean to “fear the Lord?”
“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” Prov. 29:25 “Fear” in the biblical sense is a much broader word. It includes being afraid of someone, but it extends to holding someone in awe, being controlled or mastered by people, worshipping other people, putting your trust in people, … More Beware the snare
We’ve arrived at Proverbs 29 in our read-through-the-Bible plan. Here is a quote from Jon Bloom in an article at Desiring God: God tells us “a man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet” (Proverbs 29:5). That’s what makes it evil. Whether or not flattering words have truth in them, their purpose … More Beware of Using Flattery
Proverbs 28:26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. Trusting in your own mind, in your own heart, is the opposite of trusting in the Lord. Look at the contrast: be a fool or be delivered. Remember the words of Proverbs 3:5 and 6? … More Be a fool or be delivered.
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. John Piper, in a sermon, “The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion” The life of Martin Luther illustrates the connection between getting right with God and a life of boldness. If it can be said of anyone since the … More The righteous are bold as a lion
PROVERBS 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Matthew Westerholm wrote: we cannot study our way to sanctification. We must recognize that most of us know much more about the Christian life than we live. Proverbs 27:17 provides this clue: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” We need … More Sparks that sharpen
Like a pendulum, when we think about our future, many of us tend to swing between two opposite and wrong ends. Sometimes we worry over the future and what it holds…will we have a job? Will we have enough to eat? Will I get cancer? We fret as if we do not remember that we … More Swinging like a pendulum or trusting in God’s purpose?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 