Thoughts on Proverbs 23

 

Some thoughts on this chapter:

Verses 1-3 are a good reminder that it may be time to fast when I'm finding myself unable or unwilling to resist that second helping of my favorite food. Because fasting prayerfully, seeking the Lord is teaching my flesh to sit down and shut up. Because I know that my flesh wants to dominate but my mother once said, "If you cannot accept the word 'no', you will never be able to say 'no'." I didn't understand that at the time but I am getting a clue.  Also reading some commentaries it is good to realize that this can apply to anything that keeps us from seeking Jesus. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't enjoy our food or hobbies or entertainment, it just means Jesus first!

I noticed something else this time around the command words, "Do Not" are mentioned 11 times! That must mean it is important. But since we already have our minds made up that God is not a big bully who just wants to say "No" there must be an important reason. So then I am reminded about how often I crave things that are not good for me like salt and sugar but how I rarely crave broccoli or water melon.  It doesn't mean one cookie or a serving of a salty food is bad but if it is out of balance it can reek havoc with the bodies systems. 

Those commands are not designed to harm us but to make us realize how much we need saving from the dictator of the flesh. Don't know about you but when my body decides she wants a cookie she can be really bossy! Then by realizing I can't resist her I can ask for help and make the choice to follow the Helper. Those "do-nots" remind me what a natural born rebel I am. 

 

I love what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8-9 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

Some important take aways from today's reading:

1. A common problem that I see is that many in today is that many who claim to be Christians have a view that the Bible is old fashioned and out of date. They have their own unbiblical views of what sin and sexuality are.  But we have to remember that Jesus said that in the end times that people would not be able to endure sound teaching.   We shouldn't be shocked or surprised by that.

2. Another important thing to remember is that sanctification is personal and we can never force our convictions on others. Diamonds speak only in the language of shinning. How we live matters.  

After we read Proverbs we began Philippians

How comforting to know that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it! 

An important take away is it was He who began the good work and if He did the work He will bring growth.  He implants the seed of His word. But there are some who are deceived because they never received the love of the truth.

Father I pray for the ones who will read this that they have a love for the truth and that love will abound more and more in the knowledge and discernment of your will. In Jesus name, Amen!

Fruit/Flesh Meter- Deception Prevention

The prophet Jeremiah said that our hearts are deceitful and wicked.(Jeremiah 17:9)  Jesus said out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak (Matthew 12:34) . Jesus also said that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart would bring forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil things (Luke 6:45) 

This may sound hard and confusing but keep in mind it takes time, prayer and study to learn discernment. It can't come from a teacher, but teachers can help us learn. Discernment comes from a willingness to allow the word to live in us and form the image of Christ in us. 

It means we can't rely only on our intellect. We don't check our intellect at the door and become fools, but we learn in humility that God knows everything and we don't. 

Simple childlike.. not childish prayer is  something like, "Lord let the good guys win and the bad guys lose and trusting Him to decide who is who. Otherwise we may be operating in our own wisdom and that's just arrogance hiding in the shadows.

Our feelings are not dependable. They are highly subjective but truth is not. So when our hearts ... the emotional part of us,  are not in sync with the Holy Spirit we can see it as an opportunity for us to invite Jesus right into our feelings and into the light. 

Feelings are not bad. They are only bad when we are governed by them. 

It takes time to develop discernment. I grew up in a household of coffee drinkers and over time I learned to enjoy it, but as a little kid. Heck no way! That stuff was hot and bitter.  Now I can take it with cream and sugar or without it. I prefer it with cream and sugar and for me that is like learning that wisdom is received best from sweet lips.  Lord help me to speak the truth in the meekness of His wisdom!

Please Father let us be governed by Your Spirit and help us to  be aware of our thoughts especially when we wander into thoughts that don't glorify You. Help us to remember that for the believer there is no difference between the sacred and the secular and invite you into every hobby, movie, video, book, game and all conversations. Wash us and make us new.  We love You, Jesus and ask these things in Your mighty name, Amen

Fruit-filled Thoughts!

                

Following Jesus isn't easy but it is simple. Proverbs 16:3 says: "Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established." 

Each day when we come before the Lord we commit whatever we do to Him. We do this knowing that He is either good or He isn't. Can't have it both ways. He is either in control or He isn't, He is either trustworthy or He isn't, He either loves us or He doesn't. 

So as my husband and I come before the Lord our minds are already made up that He is good, He is trustworthy, He has everything under control, He is good and we are loved.  That's already starting out our seeking time in truth fully committed to Him. Perhaps that is our way of standing strong in the Lord and His mighty power. We have also made it our practice to speak a verse out loud every morning first thing. Before coffee or news or anything. It's a simple little discipline that places truth in our minds before any other information bombards the day. It's fun to start out the day that way and see where the Lord will use that verse. The verse we have been reciting, contemplating and chewing on is John 15:5  (Jesus us talking here) " I am the vine and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. "

We've been doing this for about a week now and its funny because our thoughts are more peaceful, joyful, loving. We are recognizing the fruit of the Spirit in our thoughts. If you think about it that makes sense because if we don't have good thoughts we won't do good things.  So the fruit of the Spirit has to be in us before is shows up on the outside of us. We are learning together to let the sweet, fruit of the Holy Spirit be our gauge. When we find ourselves getting grumpy or grumbly we are learning to invite Jesus right into our dark places and He is lighting them up.  We don't deny our anger or frustration that wouldn't be honest before Him. We are learning to speak kindly and respectfully to each other and even set healthy boundaries. We do not have this all figured out but we are learning and it is fun, exciting, challenging and rewarding. 

Father, I pray right now for the ones who will read this. Please help my brothers and sisters to have juicy, fruit filled thoughts as they walk with You. In Jesus' name. Amen

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Cooperating With The Holy Spirit Is A Choice

 

Galatians 5:16 I say then; Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

When we go to the grocery store often times the very first department we see is the produce department. Think about all of the colors and fragrances. I love to smell fresh strawberries and apples! So many different colors and fragrances. 

We choose fruits and vegetables that are ripe and healthy. They are good. But what if there is rotten fruit or unripe melon? We have to make a choice. It's pretty obvious that we would choose the good and not the bad. 

On a spiritual level we also have choices and this is why we really need to be aware of our own thoughts. We have many opportunities every day to either be irritated or forgiving. We have the choice to yell at people or overlook their mistakes. Life is full of choices and whether or not we realize it we make them all the time. The difference in walking in the Spirit is that we cooperate with the Holy Spirit. It starts with baby steps. We learn to listen to that inner voice that may say something like, "that wasn't kind." or "that was selfish". It could be any number of things but the important thing to remember is to learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. 

Always remember though that we will mess up. When we mess up, we fess up, we get up and walk on. We are like little children. Jesus doesn't beat us up. He helps us up. Satan on the other hand wants to keep you down. (1 John 1:9)

Its important to realize too that if we aren't willing to listen to correction we aren't going to be able to receive direction. Feelings are not direction. The point is that when we get in tune with the correction of the Lord we can then be confident in the direction He is leading.

Ps. 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd.  He is good and kind and loving and lovely. He is the bread of life, living water. His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 

If Jesus is guiding our thoughts they will always bring us to the paths of righteousness. This not necessarily the righteousness that He gives us but more like the righteousness of thinking and doing the right things. Jesus will always lead us to think right and do right. All actions begin with thoughts. Pay attention to where your thoughts are taking you and also what is feeding those thoughts.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.

Jesus said in John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me.

This tells me that He gives me the opportunity to choose whether or not to be troubled. Don't be discouraged this takes practice.

Life isn't always peaceful, joyful or happy. So don't look for happiness in your circumstances. Look to Jesus. He will honor silent prayers. Even the very simplest of prayers like Peter as he walked on the water. He was doing ok until he took his eyes off of Jesus and onto the wind and the waves. Then he said Lord, help! Immediately Jesus did two things. He corrected and He helped, but He didn't condemn.

A couple other things to consider is that in John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow me. One of the hallmarks of a child of God is that we are comforted and corrected by His word. We must have a willing heart to be corrected by the Word.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

He is God and we are not. He knows what's best and loving correction is the hallmark of good parenting. Proverbs 3:12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Finally... take comfort when you are corrected by the shepherd's rod. It is because you are hearing the heart of the Father's love for you!

Freedom of Self-Control

 

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Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law

 In every place where it is hi-lighted in red place your name. This is a picture of spiritual warfare.

There may be a plate of cookies on the table. If it is there I may be tempted to take one every time I pass by it. But because I am filled with the Spirit I am free to not place a plate of cookies on the table in the first place! If it is there I am free to only eat one. I am free to eat more but the Holy Spirit gives me the power to only eat one. The task master of the flesh demands that i eat and eat and eat.

Here is a tool that can help. Please take the time to memorize this verse:

I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

One of the things that helps is to pray without ceasing like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. That's also what I think Jesus meant when He said to abide in the vine. In John 15:4. This is what He said: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Another thing that is helpful is to be aware of our thoughts.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will direct your paths.

When we become aware of our thoughts its very easy to acknowledge Jesus in them. One prayer that impacted my life is this, "Lord I don't feel spiritual right now, but I know that You are with me right now." That prayer changed my life!

My prayer for you today is that you be saturated with the awareness of His presence and that in those moments when you are aware of your thoughts that you may talk to Him in your every decision. He loves you and wants to fellowship with you!

 Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

A Word About Impulses

 

Let's be honest. Who hasn't made an impulsive purchase? Who hasn't spouted off something silly or hurtful. I have been there and done that way too many times to count. 

One of the things that I am learning is that we always can wait a few seconds and test that thought. How does that work? Just talk to Jesus! Take a breath. "Lord, should I (fill in the blank)?" Then if you don't have peace leave it alone.

He that the Son sets free is free indeed! We are no longer slaves to hasty feet, words or deeds. The only thing we have to do is co-operate with the Holy Spirit!

Victory in Jesus

 

This is  a happy picture that came to mind this morning after a time of prayer and praising. I like to dance around the house will cleaning and praise the Lord. While I do that my head tends to nod in agreement and in my minds eye I could see a horse marching in victory. 

We praise God for what He has done, for what He is doing and what He will do and that praise is putting us into agreement with His word! Remember this... Jesus never loses. Never!