Category: Proverbs

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Humility is something I struggle with at times, not because I think I’m “all that and a bag of chips,” but because when I throw my heart into something, I want recognition from someone, just a “good job,” or “I see how hard you are working,” or something will do, but that is still pride—wanting someone on this earth to give me accolades for my actions.

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

I struggle with this a lot. My validation needs to come only from God. It truly doesn’t matter what humans think. But it’s so nice to know what you do is appreciated. I try to use that knowledge to compliment others more, and I keep trying to turn my earthly, prideful side over to God. Jesus, Help me.

Proverbs 11:7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the understanding of the role of pride in my life. Help me to humble myself before You daily. It doesn’t matter what this world thinks of me. Help me not to crave earthly accolades. Draw me closer to You. Amen.

Proverbs 11:24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Chapter 10 is where Proverbs dips into its familiar form. While the pithy advice can be useful, I miss the cohesion of a story. For me, there is a huge mindset shift that has to happen for these chapters to have the same impact.

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

For instance, I find verse 12 to be incredibly true: hatred leads to conflict. Love leads to reconciliation. What more is there to say? But I know the longer I spend in scripture, the more my Savior will whisper to my heart, so I will continue to ponder and study, trying to draw closer with every word.

Proverbs 10:13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the times when sitting with You and drawing closer seems so effortless. Thank You also for times where I have to read and study (and then read and study some more) to discern Your meaning. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.

Proverbs 10:14 The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Lord, Thank You for taking the time each day to sit with me. Forgive me for the times that I am distracted or inattentive. When I come before You each morning, help me to block out the distractions of the world and focus solely on You.

Proverbs 9:11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Lord, I know that my attitude makes a huge difference in how I approach each day and in how each day feels. Help me to have a positive attitude, non-toxic but optimistic. Help me to approach each day with the hope that can only come from You and to share that hope with others.

Proverbs 9:12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder to ground myself in You every morning. Help me to protect our time together and to take Your peace with me throughout my day, no matter what the day entails. Draw me closer. Amen.

Proverbs 9:13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 8:32 “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

I pray daily to draw closer to God in my reading, study, and prayer time. What I am praying for is wisdom to know God better, to see Him more clearly, to follow His way more closely. 

Proverbs 8:33 “Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.

I love the way wisdom is personified in this chapter, but for me, what is crucial to remember is that I am not seeking wisdom for wisdom’s sake. I am seeking wisdom to draw closer to my precious Savior so that I can shine His light more keenly.

Proverbs 8:34 “Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for this deep desire to seek You each day, to know You more and better. Help me, always, seek wisdom to draw closer to You. Help me to shine Your Light for all to see. Amen.

Proverbs 8:35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.”

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 7:6 At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.

Take a moment to read Proverbs 7:6-9 all together. Commentary made an interesting connection to The Lord’s Prayer, where it says “lead us not into temptation.” We also have a responsibility to keep ourselves away from temptation, which the young man here clearly does not do.

Proverbs 7:7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.

If I am an alcoholic, I’m going to keep alcohol out of my house and stay away from bars. If I’m on a diet, I’m going to keep candy and ice cream out of my cabinets and my freezer. If I’m easily influenced, I’m going to stay away from those who I know will lead me down dangerous paths. (I’d also do well to steer clear of social media.) It’s more about setting myself up to be successful in avoiding triggers than it is about setting restrictions and barriers. When I learn that principle, life will be easier.

Proverbs 7:8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house….

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that I need to guard my heart from temptation by being mindful of what might trigger me and staying away from those things. Help me, always, to draw closer to You and to point others to You. Amen.

Proverbs 7:9 …at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 6:16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him….

It’s easy but dangerous for me to feel superiority when reading Proverbs 6:16-19. After all, I’m not haughty, I try not to lie, I’m not a murderer, I try to stay away from wicked schemes and stay out of evil, I don’t bear false witness, and I try to stay away from conflict within the community. Check, check, check, check, check, check, check. 

Proverbs 6:17 …haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood….

Except…when I make judgments about others, I’m being haughty. When I engage in rumor and speculation, my tongue is not innocent. When I speak negatively about others, I could murder their reputation or other’s opinions of them. When I engage in the latest political muck—whether on Facebook or via text, I’m rushing to evil and stirring up conflict. It would seem I’m not as innocent and upright as I had hoped.

Proverbs 6:18 …heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil….

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that I am here on this earth to draw closer to You and point others to You. Humans are careless, Lord, thoughtless, mean, selfish, cruel. I am these things, often without stopping to think. Help me, Lord, to focus solely on You, to live solely for You, to uplift and encourage instead of tearing down. Forgive me when I fail, Lord. Help me to forgive myself, brush myself off, and do better. Draw me closer. Amen.

Proverbs 6:19 …false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 5:15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.

I think as a society we do a disservice to young people especially in the way our culture handles marriage. By and large, there is so much emphasis put on the wedding day and so little put on what it takes to make marriage work. 

Proverbs 5:18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Building a life together is not just about one day where everyone is shiny, attractive, and perfect. Marriage takes commitment and hard work. It means giving your partner the benefit of the doubt when they seem thoughtless, remembering all the little blessings when they pluck your last nerve, investing time and effort into keeping the love alive even when you are comfortable and complacent together. 

Proverbs 5:22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the gift of my husband, whom I love so deeply. Thank You for this marriage, which isn’t always easy but is absolutely worth the time and effort to keep our love alive. We are not perfect, Lord, but Your power is perfected in our weakness. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Proverbs 5:23 For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Lord, Be in my heart, at its center, always. Life makes no sense without You at my core. Guide me. Guard me. Draw me closer. Help me to shine Your light. Be the source of everything that comes from me.

Proverbs 4:24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Lord, Help me to use my words to build people up, to encourage them, to point them to You. Help me to stem the tide of grumpy, snippy, discouraging words from my mouth. They aren’t helpful, and they don’t point others to You. I don’t want to contribute to the negativity of this world.

Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder to guard my heart, guard my mouth, watch my step, so that I can fully align myself to You. Draw me closer with every breath. Help me to show others Your love through my words and actions. Amen.

Proverbs 4:26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding….

“This is not the way it’s supposed to be….” Sadly, this refrain was (and sometimes still is) a large part of my vocabulary. I’m a planner, which is a gift in many situations, but it also causes me a lot of issues when I cling so tightly to my plans that I can’t let go and embrace God’s plans for me with all my heart.

Proverbs 3:6 …in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

It’s all tied up in trust and worry and self-sufficiency, issues I’ve been very open about struggling with. I’m thankful for a Savior who is sovereign and merciful enough for me to say, “I hate this. I would never choose this. I do not want this, but I trust You—that You are with me, that You are loving and good, that You are making a way, even now.” 

Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for this morning’s scripture and the reminders and promises that it contains. Thank You for Your presence, Your compassion, and Your mercy. Draw me closer. Amen.

Proverbs 3:8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Lord, Help me seek every minute of every day to know You better and understand You more. Help me to seek Your ways, to love as You do, without limits.

Proverbs 2:7 He holds success in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless….

Lord, I mess this walk up every single day. Thank You for loving and covering me in my ineptitude. Thank You for seeing, knowing, and understanding my heart. Help me keep trying to get it right.

Proverbs 2:8 …for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the desire to draw closer to You, to understand You better. Thank You for who You are and for my relationship with You. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.

Proverbs 2:9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.

Have a blessed day.