The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (60 page)

August 14

Trust and Obey

     
If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;

          
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

Basically, the Lord is telling us we can either learn the hard way or the easy way. So many people have a trail of scars and baggage because they made bad choice after bad choice. Oh, how the Lord would love to spare us from all that. James MacDonald puts it bluntly: “Choose to sin, choose to suffer.” From start to finish, the Proverbs implore us not to sin so that we do not suffer.

D. L. Moody said, “The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.” A wise person learns from instruction. So true learning of God’s Word must include application. As Howard Hendricks says, “Application is the key to Christian education; for to know and not to do is not to know at all.” James tells us, “Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (James 1:22).

So how can we establish a life-changing pattern of growing in godliness and wise living? “Developing a Quiet Time” at the back of this book is a user-friendly guide that gives simple, helpful steps. Becoming a daily Bible reader is definitely an important first step. As you read, look for and write down a lesson you can apply. Pause to pray, asking the Lord to personally help you walk it out. Our God is our heavenly Father. Let him father you, instruct, mentor, and direct you. He will give you strength and joy as you yield and follow his guidance.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Let me give you an example of how the Lord instructs us in his Word. In Nehemiah 9:19-21 the people recounted the faithfulness of God when the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness. “In your great mercy you did not abandon them. . . . The pillar of fire showed them the way. . . . You sent your good Spirit to instruct them . . . giving them manna from heaven. . . . Clothes did not wear out.”

As you read this account, make it personal. Stop and recount the many times God has been faithful to you. Consider the challenges you are facing today. Ask yourself, Is God good? Is he able? Then pray, asking him to help you stop fretting and begin trusting him to see you through.

One Year Bible Reading

Nehemiah 7:73b–9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12

August 15

Simple Giving

     
Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor

          
will be ignored in their own time of need.

One of the greatest pursuits we can ever have in this life is to be a person after God’s own heart as David was. This might seem like an odd expression to some, because they do not really think of the almighty, sovereign God as having a heart. But all through the Bible we see a God who loves, and who is tender toward the weak, hurting, and poor. Jesus told us that when you visit the lonely or feed the hungry, “inasmuch as you do it to the least of these, you do it to him” (Matthew 25:40, paraphrased).

It’s amazing how seemingly small moments can impact our lives in large ways. My grandfather was a Missouri farmer. He never had much money, but he was rich in all the things a little girl like me admired. He had baby chicks and calves in the spring. And he could turn a brown patch of dirt into a wonderland of vegetables and watermelons. He purposely grew more than he needed. One day we loaded his old car to the brim with everything from green beans to potatoes. Then we delivered them to the family whose father was out of work, to the widow down the road, and to the single mom with lots of kids.

My grandfather taught me how to fish and drive a tractor and milk a cow. But this day of simple giving was his greatest lesson. No, he didn’t have much money, but to me he was the richest man in the world.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Proverbs 31 describes my personal hero, the wise, godly woman. She was industrious and creative, but she was also tenderhearted and generous. It says in verse 20, “She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.”

Will you simply bow your head right now and ask God to use you to fill a specific need? Then be open and eager to see who and where and what and how.

Let’s Pray

Lord, open my ears, my eyes, and my heart to someone in need. Help me recognize your holy tug and follow your lead.

One Year Bible Reading

Nehemiah 9:22–10:39; 1 Corinthians 9:19–10:13; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 21:13

August 16

Peace Offering

     
A gift given in secret soothes anger,

          
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

Of course, God would never endorse the use of gifts and bribes to pervert justice. But what this is saying is that a gift given in a subtle, gentle way can disarm someone’s anger. Look at the story of Nabal and Abigail (see 1 Samuel 25). David’s men had been a great benefit in providing protection to Nabal’s flocks. David sent a message asking that Nabal provide food for David’s troops, but Nabal was rude and selfish. He refused. David was furious. In response, he determined to attack and kill Nabal’s entire household. When wise Abigail heard, she immediately gathered a generous amount of food and met David on the way. She bowed and asked him to take the gift and save himself from taking revenge into his own hands.

And for us, what can we learn from this? Would it sometimes be helpful to soften someone’s anger with a gift? I think so. Have you and your husband been arguing over bills and finances? Has there been tension and stress in the house? How about surprising him by cooking his favorite dinner some night and having it ready when he comes home? Now that’s building a bridge.

Maybe you have tension with your mother-in-law. A sweet card and a bouquet of flowers might melt the ice. If you have a teenager in the house, there are times when you feel you are always doing battle, laying out rules and consequences. How about ordering pizza and letting him invite his friends? Has your friend been cold because her feelings were hurt? Need a peace offering? I highly recommend chocolate.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

“A gift given in secret soothes anger.” Our proverb today reminds us that when we have a tiff with someone, not everyone needs to know. Relationships are best restored privately and personally. Is there someone you need to hold an olive branch out to? Won’t you do it today? Be a peacemaker! Sincerely extend a gift of gentle kindness and reap the blessing of reconciliation.

One Year Bible Reading

Nehemiah 11:1–12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-33; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 21:14-16

August 17

Chasing Pleasure

     
He who loves pleasure will become poor;

          
whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.

Chasing pleasure will eventually leave you with nothing, not even pleasure. It will leave you empty and needy, full of shame and condemnation.

When you’re in high school or college, it is tempting to look at the kids who are in the popular party scene as lucky. When you’re young, it’s easy to feel like maybe you’re missing the good things in life by being a Christian. But my sister just went to her high school reunion. She saw a man there who had been handsome and popular, but he never grew out of the party scene. Now he looks old and haggard and lonely.

Maybe you are the prodigal. Maybe you have chosen the pleasures of this world and are realizing it has left you far from where you should be in life. Alan Redpath used to say, you can have a saved soul and yet still have a wasted life.

Read the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:13-18: “[He] set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything . . . he began to be in need . . . and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, . . . ‘I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you’” (
NIV
). Then this man went home.

So if this is your story, it’s not too late. The Father is waiting and wanting to welcome you home.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Are you haunted with regrets because of mistakes in the past? Many women turn to alcohol and drugs to dull the pain of their childhoods. Then the addicted lifestyle brings more wounds and shame. Jesus came to restore your soul. Are you ready?
The Healed and Set Free
Bible study by Tammy Brown was written specifically to address the haunting darkness of the past. It will guide you to understand and then allow the Lord to speak truth and love and healing to your broken places.

One Year Bible Reading

Nehemiah 12:27–13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18