Devotionals
RELIABILITY!
Scripture: Proverbs 30:2-4
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Observation:
This is an interesting passage. If you’ve ever read the book of Job, then you’ve seen something similar to this. This chapter was written by a man named Agur, not Solomon. In verses two and three, Agur is talking about how limited his knowledge and understanding of God is. In verse four, he asks his readers five questions and the answer to each one is God! This passage is written to show how big God is and how small we are. Verse five finishes this section by giving us comfort that we can trust God to take care of us.
Application:
How smart do you think you are? I know it’s a funny question to think about, but it’s important. If you’re like most people, you go through times where you think you know best…and you don’t want to hear what anyone else has to say. No matter how much we may think we know, when we’re compared to God, we may find ourselves thinking like the writer of this Proverb…”Surely I am only a brute.” He understood that the wisdom and knowledge God has cant even be compared with his own wisdom. In this Proverb, we are encouraged to trust in the greatness of God and to take refuge in Him. We need to stop relying on our own wisdom and strength and start trusting in God’s wisdom and strength!
Prayer:
Spend some time talking to God about what’s going on. You and I have decisions that we make every day, and unfortunately a lot of those decisions are made before we ever talk to God about them. Ask for His wisdom and His understanding in the decisions you need to make.
DISCIPLINE!
Scripture: Proverbs 29:15-17
15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. 17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
Observation:
The first two verses listed above each show contrasting situations. Discipline in a child’s life brings wisdom; no discipline in their life brings disgrace. Sin may thrive for a while, but the righteous will eventually see the downfall of the wicked. The third verse is a little different; the second part of the verse expands on the idea in the first part. When parents discipline their children, their children will behave in a way that brings the parents joy. These three verses show us a theme that runs throughout the book of Proverbs…discipline is important!!
Application:
How do you respond to discipline in your life? Growing up, I always fought back with my parents when they tried to discipline me…for some strange reason I thought I knew better than them! Based on the verses above, discipline is a good thing in our lives. We need people holding us accountable and encouraging us to do the right thing. The more of that we have in our lives; the better off we’ll be. When we rebel against Godly discipline, we’re displaying an attitude that says we know better than God. If you have Christian parents who discipline you when you need it and expect you to do things the right way, don’t fight them! Praise God for those parents. If you have parents who don’t give you much discipline or accountability, try to find some people who are willing to help hold you accountable. Ask a strong Christian friend, a life group teacher, or a student pastor. We all need discipline!
Prayer:
Ask God to change your attitude towards discipline. The Bible is clear that discipline in our lives brings us wisdom. Think about your life…who disciplines you? Thank God for that person and ask Him to give you an attitude of respect and thankfulness for them.
NEEDS!
Scripture: Proverbs 28:27
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
Observation:
If you have time, pull out your Bible and read all of chapter 28. Eighteen of the twenty-eight verses in the chapter are verses that contain contrasts, or opposites. Solomon is trying to make it really easy for us to understand these verses. He introduces a situation and then gives two possible choices for us. In this verse, it’s all about our responsibility to those in need. We can be one of two people. We can give to those in need, or we can look the other way. Both choices have consequences.
Application:
Think about the last time you drove past someone in need. We see people all the time living in Houston who need help, need food, need shelter, and much more. The question is: how do we respond? How do you respond? Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” We have a responsibility to help those in need. Sometimes personally I have the attitude, if I give, I have no idea what my money will be spent on. God didn’t call me to make their decisions for them, He called me to give! Where can you help someone out? Who at school or work do you know needs just a little extra help? How can you give to them? According to this verse, when we learn how to give, we’ll have everything we could possibly need.
Prayer:
Ask God to give you a passion for helping those who are in need. The Bible is very clear from beginning to end that Christians should be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who are in need. Spend some time talking to God about your attitude towards people in need. Ask Him to give you eyes to see the needs around you and the wisdom to understand how to best help out!
INFLUENCE!
Scripture: Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Observation:
When iron is rubbed against another piece of iron it shapes it, molds it, and sharpens it. As it goes through this process it becomes something that can be used more effectively. People are the same way. By interacting with each other, we can share thoughts, ideas, and truth with one another. The people we interact with the most are going to have the biggest effect on our lives. They are going to be the ones who mold us into the people we will eventually become.
Application:
Who is sharpening you? Who is shaping your life on a daily basis? Influence can have a positive or a negative effect on our lives. If we surround ourselves with people who are not following Jesus and who don’t care about following Jesus, then there’s a pretty real chance that we end up the same way. But the good news is, if we surround ourselves with people who are passionately following Jesus, they’ll encourage us to follow Jesus too. We need to ask ourselves two questions today: 1) Who is influencing us? 2) What direction are they encouraging us to go? Surround yourselves with people who love Jesus and who are going to help you grow in your walk with Him!
Prayer:
Take a few minutes to ask God who is sharpening you. You may have never thought about it before…but the people around you are shaping you. Spend some time in prayer asking God to help you surround yourself with people that love Him and who help you grow closer to Him. Thank Him for the opportunity to be surrounded by so many believers!
GOSSIP!
Scripture: Proverbs 26:20
“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.”
Observation:
Solomon keeps things pretty simple for us in these verses right here. He is comparing a wood burning fire to a quarrel or a disagreement between people. Wood fuels a fire. As long as people continue putting logs on a fire, it’s going to burn. Here, Solomon says that gossip fuels a fight. If people who have a disagreement with one another continue talking about it behind each other’s backs (gossiping), then the fight will continue. However, if people discuss their problems directly with each other or drop them all together, the fight or quarrel will run out of fuel and die down.
Application:
Are you fuelling any fires right now? Gossip seems to be something that a lot of us struggle with from time to time because there are times we do it and don’t even think about it! This verse is a great reminder for us to think before we speak. Our words can do a lot of damage when we’re not careful. By refusing to gossip we can stop so many fights even before they start. Don’t start any fires with your words!
Prayer:
Ask God to help you control your words. Ask Him to help you think before you speak. At times, we’re all tempted to talk about someone behind their backs. Ask God to give you the strength to only speak words that honor Him.
LOVE!
Scripture: Proverbs 25:21-22
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Observation:
We live in a society where people fight and insult each other. Sometimes it may seem as if it’s a jungle out there and you have to live in a survivor mode all the time. The love of God is what should distinguish us in this society! It is what needs to make a difference in our relationships with people. It is not only good for others, but it will be good for you and me.
We know what love is because Jesus Christ gave His life for us. There is no greater example of love. We can learn how to love only if we know Jesus. The Gospels in the Bible—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—describe Jesus’ personality, perfectly. Love comes from God. Only those who know Him and learn from Him can truly love.
Application:
We love those who love us, we love those who are easy to love, we love those who treat us well, we love our way. But we don’t try to learn to love the one that makes our life miserable, the one who always looks at us in a bad way. We need to try to understand and support and love the complicated people, the one who does not love you, and the ones who are always causing trouble. Love makes the difference. God gives us words of wisdom in the Bible in Proverbs 25:21-22, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink. In doing so, you will heap coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
Prayer:
Lord, please help me to love everyone. I know that by loving people, I’m loving You. Please help me to understand where they are coming from, so I can help them. I also pray that people will love me and they will see You in my life.
PERSEVERE!
Scripture: Proverbs 24:10
“If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!”
Observation:
There were two frogs that fell into a bowl of cream. They sank immediately and felt that it was impossible to swim in the cream. At first the two kicked and kicked in the cream from the rim of the container, but it was useless. They only managed to paddle in the same place and kept sinking. It was difficult to stay on the surface and to breathe. One of them said, “It is impossible to get out of here this stuff is not for swimming. Since I'm going to die anyway I don’t want to prolong the pain. I don’t understand, what’s the point of dying exhausted by this useless effort?” So the frog stopped kicking and sank quickly. Literally he was swallowed by the thick white liquid. The other frog, more stubborn, said, “There is nothing I can do! Nothing can be done to get out from this bowl of cream. However, because death comes to me, I prefer to fight till my last breath. I would not want to die a second before my time comes.” He kept kicking and splashing, always in the same place, without moving an inch. Hours went by and then from all the kicking and shaking, the cream turned into butter. The frog jumped surprised, and skating, reached the edge of the pot.
Application:
Perseverance is the attitude of being firm in achieving an objective. When you have something very important, fight for it and get it. Do not be discouraged when you are not able to accomplish your goals. Do not give up from exhaustion, don’t worry if others are not with you or they left their work halfway done. Keep going. You're not alone. The presence of God is with you and He will give you the strength to finish. You have extra help if you are a child of God! You can do things that others can’t, if you use the Lord as your strength. The Bible says in Proverbs 24: 10 “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! You know, the Lord never gives up. Philippians 1:6. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” And I believe it! He is our best example of perseverance. Not only he will help you to persevere, but he also will equip you to succeed. Pray for that goal that you want to achieve and mimic the frog who continued kicking until she accomplished her goal.
Prayer:
Dear God, please give strength, understanding, courage to keep going forward. I want to serve you and accomplish the goals that you have set for my life.
FOCUS!
Scripture: Proverbs 23:17
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. 18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Observation:
When in school, taking a math test would always get me extremely nervous. Even though it was years ago, I’ve never forgotten one test experience. We had a two page test full of problems to solve. I had studied a lot for this test and was exhausted! I had a friend named Andres. He usually wanted to sit near another guy, Pablo, during the exams. Pablo was the math guru in the class. Obviously, Andres wanted to sit close to Pablo so that he could copy his answers, and he did. When our grades came back, I got 80% on my test. I was fine and happy with my test results. What made me upset was that Andres got a 100%, as always! Andres had no idea and no interest in math. Yet he received a perfect score. Cheater! I was upset about the whole situation. It was not fair that Pablo received a better grade then me by cheating. That evening when I got home from school I was still upset. jumped in my bed and covered my head with a pillow. My grandfather was home and asked me what was wrong. I told him everything that had happened at school, with tears running down my face. In an effort to cheer me up, my grandfather tried to be funny. He said that he could see smoke come out of my ears due to me being very upset. He failed, it wasn’t funny. I was still upset. Then he asked me, “Do you like chocolates, son?” “You know I do’, I said, ‘why do you ask”? “Because I want you to answer an important question,” he said. “Tell me, what's better to have on your hands- a chocolate bar that belongs to you, or 6 chocolate bars that belongs to another person?” I was thinking for a moment about the number of chocolate bars. It was better to have six than just one. But then I analyzed the questions and realized that the one bar of chocolate would belong to me and that the six bars would belong to someone else. So, finally my answer was, “It is better to have one that belongs to me”. My grandfather told me that it is more valuable the product of my effort, in this case an 80%, than a 100% grade that does not belong to me. Pablo had a 100% grade that did not belong to him, but my 80% was mine, I earned with nobody’s help. Suddenly I felt I could see the situation through different eyes, because the anger was gone. After that my grandfather got his Bible and shared with me Proverbs 23:17.
Application:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus!! Focus your energy on what God wants to do in your life. Don’t let other people take away the blessings that God has prepared for you. Do not get upset with cheaters, pray for them, show them with your life, with your testimony, what God is all about.
Prayer:
God, when I see things that are not right, help me to see them with Your eyes and as an opportunity to share with people Your love, Your mercy, and Your salvation.
GOD'S TIMING!
Scripture: Proverbs 22:17-21
17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve?
Observation:
If you were to cook a soup, what would the ingredients be? Water, noodles, and vegetables, of course! This soup tastes delicious if you add a little salt. If you were to put a broth in, the flavor would be even more pronounced. Have you tried to put in your soup a handful of grated cheese? I don’t think so!! Now imagine your heart as the soup, just with water, noodles and vegetables. There are many ingredients that would make your heart a more healthy and attractive heart. Do you know what ingredients I am talking about? One of them can be love for others. Another may be patience, respect for others, obedience, etc. The Bible speaks of an ingredient that is received a little at a time...slowly. Do you know which one is that? It is Wisdom. Verse 17 and 18 says, “Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips, apply your heart to what I teach.”
Application:
Let your heart be that bowl of soup and allow God the help you put all the ingredients that you need to live a life that will please God. He will also use the authority figures that He has placed in your life to add wisdom to your life. Remember it is a slow process. God’s timing is perfect.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to open up my heart to you, help me to open up my heart to those that you have placed in my life as authority figures. I want to incline my ear and hear the words of the wise and apply them to my life.
SHARE!
Scripture: Proverbs 21:13
13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
Observation:
A couple of months ago I was on a mission trip to El Salvador. We were given the opportunity to serve many children and youth in the town of Apopa. It was truly a life changing experience. While on the trip, I began to realize how good God is to us in the U.S.A. I also thanked God for giving me and my family the opportunity to live in this beautiful country. Through this trip, I learned the importance of being more sensitive to the needs and cry of the poor. In El Salvador, there is a cry, but not necessarily the cry of suffering. Despite the needs they have, they are happy! Many do not even realize what they lack. However, their need was evident to me. For the rest I my life I will always do something to help those children and young people.
Application:
May this devotional help you realize how blessed and fortunate you are by living in this country, and attending the school you attend. There are many people in your school, in your neighborhood, in your family that are crying out for something. They don’t know what it is, but you do!! Go, share with them the blessing of Salvation.
Prayer:
Thank you Lord for everything you do for me. Thank you for calling me your child and blessing me on a daily basis. Show me how to listen to the needs of others. I’m certain that you are listening to my need and confident that you will take care of them.