Proverbs Walk Thru

Hey Everyone!

I've been so excited about my blog these days!  I just got a new great idea to do a chapter walk thru through the book of Proverbs.  I don't know if it's because I'm a teacher at heart or a lover of learning, or the fact that as a mommy I need wisdom every day, but Proverbs is one of my favorite books of the Bible!

Each Thursday we will take a walk thru a specific chapter and draw out some really special truths that God has for us.  Today we begin with one of my favorite chapters (besides chapters 3, and 31) Chapter 15.

As we walk thru the chapter I will select verses on which to comment on and share what God is teaching me or what He has taught me.  And for the sake of time I may not get to every verse or will skip over some, my goal is to do at least 8-10 verses (if not more).  But read the whole chapter when you get a chance!  

As a little girl I memorized Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  I love this verse because not only is it so true, but so many times we struggle with the words that people say to us, and sometimes their words might not be as hurtful as the WAY they say them.  We carry so much power in the WAY we choose to speak.  Do we raise our voice when we are angry?  Do we sarcastically drop little hints?  Do we snicker before we speak.  Usually our tone of voice and the WAY we say our words really show our true meaning.  Sometimes right before a conversation on the phone I pray this verse to myself and ask God to help my words to be gentle, another translation says, a soft answer. 

Proverbs 15: 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. I long to speak with wisdom and use my words to bless others, not to show off, or sound foolish, but to impart my knowledge rightly, especially with my children.  We know wisdom comes from God, have you ever heard someone say something and it sounded foolish?  Sometimes when we allow our words to POUR out or we speak TOO MUCH sometimes we will sound foolish.  I always find it difficult to just say what I mean and mean what I say, and not say too much.

Proverbs 15: 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.  I'm so thankful that God is in control.  That He is sovereign over all things, and that the battle is His.  Sometimes when I feel things are not fair or are not in control I need to remember this verse because He does see it all, and what's even better is He knows our hearts and every one's motives even when we don't.  Thank goodness for a God who never sleeps!  Thank goodness for a just God who keeps watch over the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15: 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.  I love the verses in Psalms that talk about how a tree is representative of life and a righteous man.  And how God blesses the tree with rivers of water and it brings forth fruit in its season, all because the righteous man meditates on His word day and night (Psalm 1: 1-3)  Isn't it true that when we are right with God and in His word more often than not, our words are wholesome, and they bring joy to others?  What a great promise.

Proverbs 15: 5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who receives corrections is prudent. I think I love this verse more now that I am a parent because it is so true that if our children obey our instructions and corrections things will go well for them (because we love them and want what is best for them) But a foolish child ignores instruction and then gets into a heap of trouble.

Proverbs 15: 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure.  But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.  When you hear stats like 67% of all marriages end in divorce, and see so many "broken" families because there is a lack of a relationship with the Lord, it just shows you how much we are all broken without Christ and how He really does help us keep our families and relationships together.  He gives us the will to love when we may not feel it, and He gives us the strength to live each day to honor Him by being faithful and loyal to our families.  In the house of the righteous there is much treasure.  And that treasure has nothing to do with material things but everything to do with eternal things.

Proverbs 15: 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.  It's true that only God puts that desire in our heart to want to seek Him, that's why He promises if we seek Him with our whole heart we will find Him.  But we should never pat ourselves on the back because we "found" God, God doesn't need to be found, He's been here all along waiting patiently for us to choose Him and obey Him and to hear and listen to His voice.

Proverbs15: 22-23 Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.  A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!  It is wise to seek counsel from older, wiser, godly people we trust.  I have found that the more I ask people to pray for me, the more I am willing to listen to other people's advice, and I do mean really listen (sometimes we ask for people's advice but if their advice isn't what we want to hear we disregard it, not always wise) and the more I pray about "big decisions" I feel God's peace to take the next step.

Proverbs 15: 28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.  Here that word "pour" is again, which to me is a great picture of how we get ourselves in trouble with our words when they just POUR out like liquid.  When we take the time to pray before we speak and watch our words, the less we regret what we have said.

Hope you are feeling wiser today!  Thanks for walking with me thru Proverbs 15...