Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
Read Proverbs 3:5–6
As we discovered yesterday, “trusting in the Lord with all your heart” begins with the decision to “not lean on your own understanding.” The second choice calls for us to “acknowledge Him in all our ways.”
Read Proverbs 3
As we continue our study of Solomon’s advice concerning worry, note that the second two lines expand on the main idea to trust in the Lord. “Trusting with all your heart” involves two actions: one negative, the other positive.
Read Proverbs 3:1–6
In his fatherly advice about worry, Solomon turned from the horizontal dimension to consider the vertical (Proverbs 3:5–6), our relationship with God. There are four verbs in these two verses, four action words that are of special interest to all who want to live beyond the daily grind of worry.
Read Proverbs 3:1–6
Read Proverbs 2:7–9
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
Wisdom is its own reward. Even so, Solomon predicted that the person seeking divine wisdom will enjoy significant advantages. Today we will consider the benefits of wisdom from within. Tomorrow, the benefits of wisdom from above.
1. Benefits of wisdom from within: further wisdom plus knowledge and understanding
For the LORD gives wisdom;From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
If you genuinely desire God’s wisdom, rest assured He has promised not to withhold it. He declares, “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17). Here are two additional disciplines that will put you in touch with God’s insight, knowledge, and understanding.
3. The discipline of prevailing prayer
“Cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding” (2:3).
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
This week, let’s level our gun barrels at shallowness. Let’s allow the sayings we just read to speak out against our times with forceful relevance. I should warn you ahead of time, this may not be easy. Solomon has taken us into a mine shaft, as it were, to a place of hard work, but he will lead us to a valuable discovery.
As I look closely at these nine verses in Proverbs 2, I find that they can be divided rather neatly into three sections:
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
Read Psalm 142:1–7
David’s dark song, Psalm 142, concludes with a final request and a bold prediction.
Bring my soul out of prison,So that I may give thanks to Your name;The righteous will surround me,For You will deal bountifully with me. (142:7)
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