Proverbs 1:33: “But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Proverbs was written mostly by Solomon. They are short instructions, wise sayings, which give practical, godly wisdom for our daily life. Proverbs contain a wealth of guidelines for everyday decision-making, how to attain knowledge, discipline, as well as character building. It does not include prophecies or promises, but principles of practical observations and direction in how to do what is just, right, and fare. It refers to the way of wisdom and the way of foolishness.
What the book of Psalms is to prayer and our devotional life, Proverbs is to the practicality of being guided by wisdom. One can read for a month, a chapter a day in the book of Proverbs as there are 31 chapters.
Solomon strongly urged his son to be teachable and not have a lack of good sense or judgment. He often compared a foolish man versus a wise man. Parenting principles are found in the book of Proverbs.
To make wise choices we need to be guided by principles of wisdom. We all need to have Eli’s in our life as Samuel did as a young boy. I can think of two or three women that are Eli’s to me when I need a sounding board and a listener.
But am I always listening and waiting for God’s direction, or am I the one doing all the talking when processing making a significant decision? A sage woman once told me, “Linda, sometimes the best thing to do is absolutely nothing. Be patient and do nothing right now.” I recall her words frequently.
So I am to wait on the LORD and let Him unfold what is ahead of me, even when I cannot see the end of the road. It is like clinging to my car’s GPS navigational instructions, and letting it guide me in making the right turns that it has mapped out in arriving correctly at a new destination I have never been at before.
Here are Cross Reference Verses to Proverbs 1:33:
Psalm 25:12:“Who is the person that fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.”
Psalm 112:7-8: “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks with triumph on his adversaries.”
Proverbs 3:24: “If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”
Proverbs 12:21: “No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.”
Ecclesiastes 8:12 NIV: “Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God.”
We all want our children to make right choices, be obedient, have self-control, integrity, be responsible, teachable, and to hear the voice of God in their own lives. That is what Solomon wanted for his son and wrote about in the book of Proverbs for us to read.
When feeling uneasy and needing to make a right decision, we need to wait until we hear the voice of God. The Holy Spirit is the hook-up connector cord to hear and discern God speaking to us. The Holy Spirit turns our desires to listen for the voice of God, as we lean on the LORD, pray, and search the scriptures and meditate on the promises of God. He may just do it while you are reading something in Proverbs, or Psalms, or some book in the New or Old Testament. It says right in John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Questions:
Have you asked God for confirmation and to give you complete peace in a decision you need to make this week? Be ready to listen to what He has to tell you.
Do you suspect God is trying to tell you something? Eli instructed Samuel to say “Speak LORD, for your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:9).”
What wisdom has God given you? Did you learn it from a successful accomplishment or going through a trial?
How can you use your resources, time, and talents, wisely?
God never causes division.
As we grow in our knowledge of God, we grow in opening the key to having wisdom in making right decisions.
My Prayer for Today: “God give me your wisdom for my day today. I am listening. Help me to not act or say anything foolish that would embarrass you. Help me to apply the knowledge You have taught me through trials rightly. Be my teacher in helping me to be a wise woman and to use the talents and gifts You have given me efficiently and beneficially for Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Listen to King & Country’s song “Shoulders”