The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (36 page)

May 13

True Treasure

     
There is treasure in the house of the godly,

          
but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

Isaiah 33:6 tells us, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the L
ORD
is His treasure” (
NKJV
).

Five years ago the status symbol was a new car and a big house at any cost, but I just heard that the new status symbol is to be debt-free. Funny how times change. I’m glad that it’s time to rethink the definitions of
rich
and
treasure
.

Let me tell you a little story I read in
Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul
. A wise woman was traveling in the mountains and found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler, who was hungry. The wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone in the wise woman’s bag, admired it, and asked her to give it to him. The wise woman did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing because he knew the jewel was worth enough to give him security for the rest of his life. But a few days later he came back, searching for the wise woman. When he found her, he returned the stone and said, “I’ve been thinking. I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back to you in the hope that you can give me something much more precious. If you can, give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me that stone.”

This little story redefines the definition of
treasure
.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

“There is treasure in the house of the godly.” What are your greatest treasures? I have several friends who have very loved, worn, shabby Bibles. They have hundreds of notes written in the margins and even a few tearstains on the pages. They have specifically written one of their children’s names inside the cover of each so that Bible will be given to that child when the mother dies. If you have children or grandchildren, this is a wonderful tradition. Will you invest your labor and love in the things that will outlive you?

One Year Bible Reading

1 Samuel 14:1-52; John 7:31-53; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7

May 14

Delighted in Prayer

     
The L
ORD
hates the sacrifice of the wicked,

          
but he delights in the prayers of the upright.

“The L
ORD
hates the sacrifice of the wicked.” Those are pretty strong words. So why? Why would he? A sacrifice would be something given, seemingly, to the honor of God. But for him to hate it, there must be something amiss. Maybe there are strings attached. Maybe it’s a cover-up for unrepentant sin, a hidden agenda. Or is it really not given to God at all, but so the giver would be honored—like the hypocrites? Jesus said, “Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward” (Matthew 6:2,
NKJV
). So even if they gave a million dollars, if all they wanted was applause from others, they’ll never get any applause from heaven. On the other hand, it might surprise them and you that the Lord just loves it when we pray. Imagine that!

So maybe you wish you could do great things for God. Maybe you feel you’re small and insignificant. Maybe you wish your tithe check were bigger. Don’t you worry. “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7,
NKJV
), and he blesses our gifts and efforts. But the truth is, he doesn’t need them. It’s you he’s after. That’s why he loves it when you come to him in prayer. He loves it when you talk to him, when you ask his opinion, when you look to him for strength and comfort. He loves prayer—because he loves you.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

I believe that God is calling his people back to be people of prayer. Do you have prayer partners whom you pray with regularly? Do you go to the prayer meetings at your church? Do you take a moment in your day to just be alone with the Lord and pray? Some people think that prayers are the gifts we give God. But actually, prayer is the gift he gives us. Will you still your heart right now? I love to slip to my knees; it helps me put my entire being in a position of reverence before him. Will you simply call upon your Father who is in heaven and cast all your care upon him?

One Year Bible Reading

1 Samuel 15:1–16:23; John 8:1-20; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 15:8-10

May 15

The Shadow of Death

     
Death and Destruction lie open before the L
ORD
—

          
how much more the hearts of men!

I don’t know if there’s anything more mysterious to us as mortals than death.

A few years ago I visited a lady in Australia who had just a few weeks to live, and she knew it. As we chatted, I asked her, “Carmen, do you know what happens one minute after you die?”

She said, “I have no idea.”

Here she was so close to eternity, and yet it was a complete mystery.

I’ve never been so glad to be able to open the Word of God right then and read to her the description of heaven. I then read and explained to her how she could go there. Then I asked her the question, “Carmen, is there anything that could keep you from saying yes to God’s gift of salvation right now? Would you like to say yes, asking for forgiveness for your sins and receiving the Savior into your heart?”

She said yes. Death and destruction had been lying before her, but she chose life.

I’ll never forget that day with Carmen. She died physically a few weeks later, but the Lord knew her heart. He knew that what she needed most was not a few more days on this earth. She needed a Savior.

Maybe as you read this today, you need to know that the Lord knows your heart too, and he loves you with an everlasting love.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Death is a mystery to all of us. Like Carmen, many have no idea what lies on the other side of that thin veil that separates life here from eternity. Fear of death lingers in the back of many people’s thoughts. If someone you love is terminally ill or has died, or if you have a serious illness, only God’s living and powerful words can lift your sorrow. Will you turn to Psalm 23 and read it aloud? As you do, picture the the Lord walking you through your sorrow. “The L
ORD
is my shepherd, I shall not want. . . . Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:1, 4,
NKJV
).

One Year Bible Reading

1 Samuel 17:1–18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11

May 16

Frowns Make Wrinkles

     
A glad heart makes a happy face;

          
a broken heart crushes the spirit.

Did you know you use an average of forty-three muscles for a frown, but you only use an average of seventeen muscles for a smile? Every two thousand frowns creates one wrinkle. So let’s figure this out. If you frown ten times a day, you will get two new wrinkles almost every year.

So, ladies, never underestimate the power of joy. It’s good for you. It’s good for your face, and it’s good for those around you. In fact, the Bible tells us that “the joy of the L
ORD
is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10) and “a cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).

God never meant us to be gloomy, negative Christians. Have you ever noticed that the first three fruits of the Spirit listed are love, joy, and peace? Can you imagine if those were the traits that you were known for? Can you imagine?

So let me give you a key that my husband taught me long ago, which will entirely cheer up a gloomy attitude.

Thankfulness. One day when I was very discouraged, he came behind me and sang a little song: “Count your blessings. Count them one by one. Count your many blessings. See what God hath done.” I have to admit, I didn’t really want to cheer up. I wanted to keep my little frump, but in spite of myself, I couldn’t shake that little song, and the song brought little pictures of blessings with them, and they brought a smile.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Are you in a frump? Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh’s friend) always looked at the downside of any situation. Have you been doing that? I do that sometimes too. Then I remember: “The joy of the L
ORD
is your strength.” Moping around only makes you feel like moping around. Let’s break up that dark cloud hanging over your head with a “count your blessings” list. In the margin on this page, write down seven blessings in your life. Go ahead—do it now. Then thank the Lord for each one. Come on. Don’t you see? Life has rays of joy for you. You do have reasons to smile.

One Year Bible Reading

1 Samuel 18:5–19:24; John 8:31-59; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 15:12-14