Posts Tagged: Bible

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20
Jul 08

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 20

Many of us desire to be leaders, yet we simply aren’t equipped to do so at this moment. I think that we all can lead if we seek to lead from the right perspective. Many times we want to lead because we really don’t want to follow. I’ve actually been in situations where even though I didn’t want to lead, I was forced into it because everyone else wanted to follow, but that is a very situation. It’s funny though as once someone takes on a leadership role because no one else would do it, then most everyone else finds some reason to complain. Some days it seems like one can’t win for trying.

What is a simple way of looking at the qualities of a leader? Well, the Bible gives us a brief, yet to-the-point description in Proverbs 20:28:

Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

Integrity is so important when it comes to leadership! If one doesn’t have integrity, how can they expect anyone to follow them for very long? This is something Jesus always had during his 3-year ministry here on earth. He never compromised and was absolutely true to his word always. In fact, he always spoke truth and did so in the name of love.

As leaders, we must love those we lead and be true to who we represent ourselves to be. We must always speak truth as well. Whether we are leaders, managers, or followers we should all apply the principles of Proverbs 20:28. Loving integrity will provide a solid foundation as a character trait for any person and for any task.

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19
Jul 08

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19:15:

Lazy people sleep a lot,
and idle people will go hungry.

So often we are asleep to all that is going on around us. We see things happening in the lives of others and not in our own and we get resentful and jealous. Come on now, we’ve all done it! In reality, if we would just take action and actively pursue what we are believing God for, we could see our miracles happen. When we are idle, we go hungry.

A lot of us believe that if we pray for something that God is obligated to answer. Well, he’s not. However, rather than sit back and watch for God to respond, many times he is already moving in answer to prayer, but we won’t initiate the response through our action. Sometimes he wants to bless us as a fruit from our own cultivation. We need to invest some effort in order to reap a harvest. He won’t just drop fruit into our laps without helping in the work of growing it.

Is there something you’re believing God to do on your behalf, but are still waiting on the response? Know that God may be waiting on you to take action believing he is moving already in order to see the blessing be revealed. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Stand firm and take steps towards your blessing today…God will meet you there!

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18
Jul 08

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 18

Ever known someone that never cared to understanding anything believing they always knew what was best? How about someone that always has to offer input on everything regardless of whether it’s necessary? Well, there is a reason that some people tend to have way too much input and draw way too much attention to themselves. Let’s look at Proverbs 18:2:

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.

I don’t mean to sound harsh or judgmental here, but in essence these people draw attention to themselves and it tends to seem rather foolish. They don’t realize it, but it is a way of self gratification and seeking affirmation through their perception of being important. The one thing I’ve learned over the years is that it isn’t always important for me to be right and that I have carefully pick and choose which things I will go to battle over and which things just aren’t worth the extra effort. Quite simply, it’s called getting along with others!

I can’t tell you how many times I have met with senior leaders in my church and then thought to myself that these guys need to listen to me because I know a better way, but chose to shut up and listen and try it there way first. You know what? Most of the times I am so thankful I didn’t speak up because in the end their way was the right way for that situation and I would have looked like a fool in the end.

So many of the proverbs advise us to hold our tongue and it will cause us to find wisdom. This is a lesson that I hope you won’t need to learn the hard way, but heeding it will cause your eyes to be opened as you realize that there are multiple ways to accomplish things and sometimes as much as we think we know better, we are proven wrong in the end, yet are better for having gone through the experience in silence.

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17
Jul 08

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 17

As I tried to focus on which verse I was going to pray about and give a devotion on today, I was struck with the thought of God’s word in Psalm 46:10 (NIV) which states:

“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Therefore, I am going to list all of Proverbs 17 and just ask that you take a quiet moment to pray and ask the Lord where He would lead your mind and thoughts today. I’d truly enjoy your feedback on how your day goes today if you’d like to share your comments by posting a reply :)

Be still, and know that He is God…

Proverbs 17 (New Century Version):

1 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace
than to have a feast where there is quarreling.

2 A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful child
and will even inherit a share of what the master leaves his children.

3 A hot furnace tests silver and gold,
but the Lord tests hearts.

4 Evil people listen to evil words.
Liars pay attention to cruel words.

5 Whoever mistreats the poor insults their Maker;
whoever enjoys someone’s trouble will be punished.

6 Old people are proud of their grandchildren,
and children are proud of their parents.

7 Fools should not be proud,
and rulers should not be liars.

8 Some people think they can pay others to do anything they ask.
They think it will work every time.

9 Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend,
but gossiping about the sin breaks up friendships.

10 A wise person will learn more from a warning
than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings.

11 Disobedient people look only for trouble,
so a cruel messenger will be sent against them.

12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than to meet a fool doing foolish things.

13 Whoever gives evil in return for good
will always have trouble at home.

14 Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
so stop it before a fight breaks out.

15 The Lord hates both of these things:
freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent.

16 It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom,
because he doesn’t have the ability to be wise.

17 A friend loves you all the time,
and a brother helps in time of trouble.

18 It is not wise to promise
to pay what your neighbor owes.

19 Whoever loves to argue loves to sin.
Whoever brags a lot is asking for trouble.

20 A person with an evil heart will find no success,
and the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.

21 It is sad to have a foolish child;
there is no joy in being the parent of a fool.

22 A happy heart is like good medicine,
but a broken spirit drains your strength.

23 When the wicked accept money to do wrong
there can be no justice.

24 The person with understanding is always looking for wisdom,
but the mind of a fool wanders everywhere.

25 Foolish children make their father sad
and cause their mother great sorrow.

26 It is not good to punish the innocent
or to beat leaders for being honest.

27 The wise say very little,
and those with understanding stay calm.

28 Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet;
if they don’t speak, they appear to understand.

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16
Jul 08

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 16

One of the reasons why we fail sometimes is because we never made the commitment to do the task in honor of the Lord. Sometimes we do things from our own wisdom or by our own ways rather than seeking God and trying to do it His way. By the hands of man, some plans will come to fruition and appear successful, but in the long run we can’t on that!

Proverbs 16:6 reveals to us to:

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.

If a plan is revealed to you by God and you prayerfully seek to do it all for Him and to allow Him to get the credit, why would you not be successful? God wants us to be successful and gives us the wisdom and tools to be successful, but we must first commit to doing things in the ways of the Lord and in ways that honor Him. Not haphazardly or irresponsibly and definitely not through deceptive means.

Is there anything you have been stuggling with that maybe you could be successful at if only you’d give it to God and ask Him to reveal to you the ways of success? Maybe there is something you set your mind to, but after hitting some stumbling blocks you just gave up? Is giving it another try through committing it to God first something you should re-consider?

If a course of action is from God, He will make a way to see it though to success. That is something you can count on!

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