Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
Read Proverbs 3:1–6
In his fatherly advice about worry, Solomon turned from the horizontal dimension to consider the vertical (Proverbs 3:5–6), our relationship with God. There are four verbs in these two verses, four action words that are of special interest to all who want to live beyond the daily grind of worry.
Read Proverbs 3:1–6
Read Proverbs 2:7–9
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
Wisdom is its own reward. Even so, Solomon predicted that the person seeking divine wisdom will enjoy significant advantages. Today we will consider the benefits of wisdom from within. Tomorrow, the benefits of wisdom from above.
1. Benefits of wisdom from within: further wisdom plus knowledge and understanding
For the LORD gives wisdom;From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
If you genuinely desire God’s wisdom, rest assured He has promised not to withhold it. He declares, “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17). Here are two additional disciplines that will put you in touch with God’s insight, knowledge, and understanding.
3. The discipline of prevailing prayer
“Cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding” (2:3).
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
This week, let’s level our gun barrels at shallowness. Let’s allow the sayings we just read to speak out against our times with forceful relevance. I should warn you ahead of time, this may not be easy. Solomon has taken us into a mine shaft, as it were, to a place of hard work, but he will lead us to a valuable discovery.
As I look closely at these nine verses in Proverbs 2, I find that they can be divided rather neatly into three sections:
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
Read Psalm 142:1–7
David’s dark song, Psalm 142, concludes with a final request and a bold prediction.
Bring my soul out of prison,So that I may give thanks to Your name;The righteous will surround me,For You will deal bountifully with me. (142:7)
Read Psalm 142:3–6
In David’s dark song of depression, recorded as Psalm 142, the king confesses his deepest feelings of isolation and despair.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,You knew my path.In the way where I walkThey have hidden a trap for me. (142:3)
Read Psalm 142:1–2
The raw emotion of David’s prayer in Psalm 142 comes through clearly in his choice of words. In his Cave of Adullam, the beleaguered future king struggled with depression and shrieked heavenward.
I used to wonder why we ever needed to utter words in prayer since God already knows all our thoughts (Psalm 139:4). Then one day I stumbled across Hosea 14:1–2.
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