God’s Providence

(Prov 16:33 GNB) We may make our plans, but God has the last word.

This verse is nothing new. Solomon has already made similar statements in Proverbs. What I want to focus in on today is God’s providence. The New American Standard Version of this verse reads: “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.” The practice of ‘casting of lots’ was similar to today’s rolling of dice. Actually, The New Living Translation of this verse reads: “We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.”

In the OT and even up to the time of Pentecost, the casting of the lot was a legitimate way of determining the will of God. It may seem strange to us, but many of Jehovah’s followers believed in the process. Now, before you judge them or criticize this seemingly strange way of seeking God’s will, you must remember that they were not Born-Again and therefore did not have God’s Spirit living inside of them. So many of them resorted to this seemingly random way of hearing from God. While the process may seem much like a matter of chance, Solomon was teaching that the Lord could even work through lots (or dice) to make His will known.

This speaks to the God’s sovereignty. There is no such thing as chance, luck, or mere coincidence. God knew what would happen, before the foundations of the world, and He has planned accordingly.

It may seem like chance or luck that when Joseph was sold as a slave that he ‘just so happened’ to be bought by a person who worked directly for Pharaoh. Or that when Joseph wound up going to prison that he went to the same prison that Pharaoh’s workers went to and that he “luckily” ran into someone who would be able to bring his name up to Pharaoh some day. It may seem like a random coincidence that when Jesus needed to borrow a boat from which to preach a message that He wound up running in to Simon (later known as Peter), who ‘just so happened’ to be cleaning out his nets.

What if Jesus had gone up to a guy named Willie? Would we be reading 1st and 2nd Willie today? It may seem like a fluke that Moses ‘just so happened’ to be pulled out of the water by the Pharaoh’s daughter, who in turn took him as her own, resulting in Moses getting the best education. Somehow I believe God knew that Moses needed that education to write the first five books of the Bible. And the list can go on and on.

Yes, we may make plans, but what about God’s plan?

Growing up as a kid on Maui Hawaii I had no earthly idea that I would be living in California and teaching God’s Word some day. Little did I know that the social skills I learned as I to live among a lot of different racial groups would actually prepare me to minister to multi-racial groups today. I did not know it when I met him, but by marrying a man from California with a different complexion than mine, who also speaks perfect English and was a entire different back grown than myself, the Lord was pairing me up with not only a wonderful husband, but also a ministry partner, who would help me reach all the people the Father desires for me to reach.



So what does this mean to you? It means that there is a method to the madness. It may seem like your life has taken a random course, but if you take the time to think (and pray) about it, you will realize that God’s hand has been with you the entire way. So make plans, that’s OK, but remember that you must seek to submit your plans to God’s overall plan for your life!

Father, I know that there is no such thing as luck. You knew, before the foundations of the world, that I would be where I am today and You planned accordingly. I thank You for blessing me to make plans, but I also thank You for leading me concerning them. If I ever find a disconnect between my plans and Your overall plan for my life, I will give way to You. At the end of the day, I know You have a plan for my life and I want to find it, follow it, and finish it before I die. Thank You for being so good to me. You were working with me well before I decided to work with you. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Self Control

(Prov 16:32 NASB) He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.


When we read the Bible we must remember the setting. We have to take into account: who is writing, to whom, for what purpose, and etc. A scripture can never mean what it never meant. That is why I always attempt to share with you what I believe it meant (back then), before we seek to apply what it means to us today.

As we read this scripture we must remember that Solomon, a sitting king, wrote this around 950 B.C. This was a time when successful leaders led by the sword. Kings and kingdoms were challenged regularly. Therefore, kings were wise to maintain vast armies. Kingdoms were expanded by conquering cities and territories. The military leaders that were courageous enough to lead men into brutal and bloody close-in combat were considered mighty warriors and were celebrated openly. For example, people danced for David when he killed Goliath.

This is the backdrop upon which we read Solomon’s words. It is somewhat surprising that a sitting ruler – in a land and time where safety depended on might and skill in warfare – would make such a statement. I believe Solomon’s point was that conquering yourself is the greatest challenge. Greater than taking a city, if you can learn to govern yourself, to control your own temper, and to rule over your emotions, then you have won a great battle.

Yes, winning the war within is one of the greatest challenges we face. Bishop Noel Jones preached a message entitled, “The Enemy IN-A Me!” In his message he spoke of the challenges we, as believers, face when we are attempting to let go of the old man (and nature), in order to lay hold of the new.

Self-control, especially where our temper is concerned, should be our ultimate goal. Back in chapter 14 Solomon warned us against losing our temper. He said, “Short-tempered people do foolish things” (v.17) and “A hot temper shows great foolishness” (v.29). Later in Proverbs Solomon said, “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls” (25:28) and, “A foolish person lets his anger run wild. But a wise person keeps himself under control” (29:11).

So what does this mean to you? It means that self-control is superior to conquest. Countless people, even believers, have lost their jobs, marriages, children, friends, and health, all because they lost their temper. If you fail to win the war for yourself you run the risk of ruining all that God has done and desires to do in your life. Greater than capturing a city, greater than being a military warrior, greater than seeking fame and fortune what you can do to others, seek to govern yourself. If you lead yourself well, then God will open the doors of opportunity for your to lead others and to make the impact in their lives that He desires for your to make. But it all starts with you. Look in the mirror this morning and ask yourself: “Am I in control of myself? Am I capable of controlling my anger, temper, lusts, illicit desires, and wayward thoughts?” If the answer is NO, then it is time for you to spend some time in prayer and study about this. If you lose control, even for a few minutes, you might lose it all!

Father, I thank You for the sobering reminder this morning that I must develop the ability to control myself. Many believers have wrecked their lives over a few minutes of uncontrolled passion. I declare, right now, by faith, that I will do everything I need to do – developing in the Word and in prayer – so that I can rule over my own spirit with confidence. I refuse to allow my emotions or lusts to derail me from my destiny. With Your power and Your grace, I control myself and I am able to be used of You for Your glory! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Recruiting

(Prov 16:29 NASB) A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.


Here Solomon continues to explain the wicked acts of the man of Belial. Now he tells us that the man of Belial is a “violent man.” The Hebrew word used for violent in this verse is chamas. This word is also translated as forceful and malicious. Vines Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament says the following about this word: “Basically chamas connotes the disruption of the divinely established order of things.”

So, in context, Solomon is describing a troublemaker who forcefully attempts others to join him or her in their troublemaking; seeking to disrupt God’s order and God’s best. Not only is this person a sinner, but they are not content to sin alone and they don’t just want others to come along, they force them to do so.

So what does this mean to you? Several things:

1. The devil has many people that are completely committed to His way of living: There is no shortage of sinners in the world; not even of those who are not ashamed of sinning. I, for one, used to be a good sinner. When I was living without God, I did so with fervor and zeal. I was not a borderline sinner, I was a hardcore sinner, but I was not proud of it. I still attempted to at least maintain the appearance of being a good and Godly person. But there are many people in the world, like the one Solomon describes, who not only live in sin, but they boldly and unashamedly seek to influence others to do the same.

2. The kingdom of darkness has their recruiters: It’s one thing to live in sin because you are deceived, but there are many sinners who have a clear understanding of what they are doing. Not only do they sin on purpose, but they become recruiters for satan; seeking to bring as many along with them as possible.

3. You must be ready to resist: James said, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (4:7). If you attempt to live your life for God, then you WILL be tempted and even targeted. You must be prepared to submit to God and to resist satan. Resist the enemies’ advances with all your heart. If you give the devil your attention for five seconds, he will have your mind for five minutes (or more). Peter said, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1st Peter 5:8). Make no mistake, the devil WILL find people to devour, just don’t let it be you and don’t allow yourself to be forced into anything by the people Solomon describes in our text.

4. Use the same Zeal: Just like I did not play around when I lived in sin, I am not playing around now. I hope you are not either. Use the same passion, fervor, and zeal that you once had for the things of the world and turn it around for God. Paul persecuted the church with all his might, but then the Lord got a hold of him. Once Paul was converted, he used that same passion – that he was using against God – to work FOR God!

5. Become a recruiter for God: If the enemy is going to have recruiters (and he does), then it stands to reason that God will too. God is looking for men and women to boldly, unabashedly, and unashamedly represent Him in the earth. Will you sign up for Godly recruiting duty? Will you allow God to use you to lead others to Him? Don’t be ashamed of what God has done in your life. Passionately share it with others and God will use your testimony for His glory!

Father, I realize that the enemy has people on his team that are willing to boldly and unashamedly recruit for his side. They seek to coerce people into sin daily and they do it without apology. Well, since I know You are looking for men and women to do the same for Your Kingdom, I declare, by faith, that I will sign up for the assignment. Us me Father to share Your love and light with others. I will unashamedly tell of Your goodness. Just like I used to be a good sinner, I shall be an even better believer. I will evangelize for You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I am not ashamed of what You have done I my life and I will tell it everywhere I go! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Deprogram to Reprogram!

(Prov 16:28 NASB) A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

In this verse Solomon continues to explain the wicked acts of the man of Belial. Here he tells us that this man is truly perverse (or perverted). He is not living the way God intended for him to live. He is not walking down God’s desired path for his life. He is not seeking to maximize his purpose or potential. The enemy has been successful in perverting his purpose and the sad reality is that most people who are in this condition don’t even realize it. They are deceived and they don’t even know it. They think it’s harmless to talk about others. They don’t see it as a big deal to be instigators of strife. Why? Because it is part of their nature. They are programmed to it, so doing it comes natural. I will talk more about the programming part in a minute.

Solomon says that this man, this perverted and twisted man says things that wind up separating even the best of friends. If they don’t find any ‘juicy’ gossip on the surface, they dig for it until they find it and if they can’t, they simply make it up. They surmise stories, force innuendos, suggest wrongdoing, and are always on the lookout for something bad. The problem is that you will often find what you are looking for. So, if you are looking for trouble it will not take you long to find it.

It is truly sad when the slanderous talk of the twisted gets between close friends. I believe we all know relationships that have been destroyed by the loose and lying lips of others. As believers, we are here to spread goodness, not hatred; love, not strife; peace, not turmoil; and hope, not despair. But that’s the issue. Solomon is not speaking about believers. He is describing the man of Belial, the man who is deceived, the man who is programmed to live like the godless.

So what does this mean to you? You may be thinking, “Well Rick, if Solomon is not describing the believer, and I am a believer, then no big deal. This does not apply to me.” But hold on. Not so fast. Guess what? You were not always a believer. You used to be lost and you used to be programmed to live like the godless.

The question is: have you ever been reprogrammed? See, when you come to God you already have a way of living. You may have been so accustomed to doing things like the ungodly that you had no clue that you were doing them. And then you give your life to Christ. You are Born-Again. Praise God for that, but being Born-Again doesn’t mean that your mind changed overnight. When you were Born-Again your Spirit was changed, but your soul still has to BE changed. Your soul is comprised of your mind (your thinker), your emotions (your feeler), and your will (your chooser).

After your conversion experience, you must then learn – through God’s Word – how to think, feel, and choose God’s way.

Believe me, this is no instant process. Paul tells us that our mind has to be renewed (Rom 12:1,2). And oftentimes, for us to be reprogrammed we must first be deprogrammed. We must read passages like this that highlight the wickedness that some of us still practice. So can you be a believer and a slanderer? Can you be a believer and still talk about people stir up strife? Yes you can, but after reading passages like this my prayer is that you won’t, that you realize that this is not God’s best, and that you release the old in order to take hold of the new.

Father, I thank You for highlighting to me the destructive characteristics of the wicked. As I read passages like this I often realize that I am still practicing evil ways. The more You expose the sin I have in my life, the more I am able to recognize it, repent of it, and release it. My spirit was saved instantly, but my soul is being saved progressively. Day by day I am becoming more and more like You! Jesus did not only die so that I could miss Hell, He died so that I could become the person You desire for me to be. I shall become that person before I die. I am determined to deprogram and reprogram so that I can think, feel, and choose in ways that are pleasing to You! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Are You Value-Added?

(Prov 16:27 NIrV) A worthless man plans to do evil things. His words are like a burning fire.

Over the next four verses Solomon will describe the man of Belial. The Hebrew word for "worthless" in this text is Belial (or Beliyaal), which is actually a proper name. Not a name as in something your parents would name you, but rather a name created by the society of the time to describe a man that was adding no value to his community. The name means: worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, and useless.

In these verses Solomon gives us different portraits of wickedness as he refers to troublemakers of various kinds: those who plot evil (v.27), who stir up strife (v.28), who lead others into violence (v.29), and who are steadfast in sin (v.30). We will stick with verse 27 today.

The first portrait of the man of Belial Solomon paints is that of one who spends his time plotting, planning, and devising evil schemes. While this man is wicked and he knows it, he is not content with being wicked himself. He spends time planning ways to stir up contention and strife in the lives of others. If that were not bad enough, he uses his tongue (his words) like a blowtorch, scorching and injuring all those he speaks to. This man fully understands the power of the tongue and he seeks to use it as a weapon of mass destruction. He is called "worthless" because He has no Godly value. He does not add value to any place he goes.

This is definitely not a picture of what you want to be as a believer. God has called you to be light and salt. The Father expects you to add value everywhere you go. Your family should be better because you are in it. Your workplace should benefit from your presence. Everywhere you go, every project you sign on to, every organization you connect with, everything you put your hands on, should be better because you are involved.

You should strive to the anti-man of Belial. Instead of spending your days thinking of ways to be disruptive, you spend your days thinking of ways to be a blessing. You plot, plan, and scheme for God.

You put creative energy towards Godly projects and you allow the imaginative nature the Father has given you to be used for good, for His glory, and for His purposes.
Not only that, but you too understand the power of the tongue and you are determined to harness it for God's glory. You speak words of life and not death, blessing and not cursing, peace and not turmoil, hope and never despair. You go around building people up with your words. Your words help encourage the discouraged, enlighten the wayward, and bring peace to the troubled. You are an ambassador for good and you spread goodness everywhere you go.

So what does this mean to you? I think I have already said it. But it is worth repeating. It means that you should strive to be the anti-man of Belial, the anti-worthless man, the anti-man of strife. You have God in you and he should be in you so strong that you can't help but add value to every place that your feet tread.

Father, I declare, by faith, that I am "value added" everywhere I go. I am the anti-man of Belial. My mind is fixed and focused on You. My imagination is conditioned to creatively think of ways to promote You and Your kingdom purposes. I spend quality time thinking of ways to be a blessing to others. I am a creative force in Your Kingdom, for Your glory. Furthermore, I harness the power of the tongue and I unleash it for good. I speak life into every person I come in contact with. Send me, today, to the downtrodden, so that You can encourage them through me. Send me, today, to the confused, so that You can shed light on their situation through me. Use me as a weapon, as a tool, as an instrument of Your glory - today and every day. I am light and salt and I add value to every place my feet tread! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Are You Hungry?

(Prov 16:26 GNB) A laborer's appetite makes him work harder, because he wants to satisfy his hunger.

Here Solomon gives us an interesting proverb. He was in charge on an entire kingdom. He had countless citizens under his dominion and countless employees directly working for his throne. Solomon knew a thing or two about management and motivation.

He tells us that that one of the greatest motivations people have is their hunger. While they are working for others, to earn a living, their hunger is working for them, motivating them to continue on. The worker knows that if he stops working he won’t get paid and will therefore not have the money to sustain himself.

So if he is ever tempted to stop working, his appetite helps him overcome his desire to quit.

This reminds me of something Paul said in the New Testament. In Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica Paul said, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thes 3:10). While this sounds cruel, it is a call against laziness and it is connected to what we learn from Solomon. If you are hungry and you know that you can satisfy your hunger by simply earning the resources (by working) to buy food, then your hunger will become your inspiration.

I have only been talking about physical hunger thus far and by all indications that is what Solomon was referring to. But I do believe the same principles apply to spiritual and person goals.

If you don’t have a hunger – an inner drive, an insatiable desire – for something, then it will be difficult for you to put in the work required to attain it.

One of the greatest reasons why believers do what they do is because of the vision the Father has placed in their heart. We are in February 2010, but many of us already know where we want to be at the end of the year. Many of us can “see” ourselves two years, three years, and five years from now. That God-given vision creates a hunger (a holy desire) to see it come to pass.

Even when we feel like giving up, throwing in the towel, quitting, and just being lazy, it is the hunger to see the vision come to pass that motivates us to keep going.

James said, “Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail” (5:10,11 MSG).

What is it that kept the prophets of old as they endured and overcame their challenges? What is it that gave Job his staying power? What is it that kept Joseph as he went from a pit to a palace? I believe it was an inner hunger to maximize their purpose and potential in life BEFORE they died!

So what does this mean to you ? It means that you must keep the vision before you. It is that vision that will create a hunger in your soul to see it come to pass. During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Mat 5:6). If you are truly hungry for it, then you will put in the work required to make it happen. Don’t sit down, don’t be lazy, don’t give up, and don’t quit; allow your hunger to motivate you to keep going!

Father, I know that life is a gift to those who simply stay the course. I declare, by faith, that I have staying power. You have placed vision down inside of me and I keep that vision before me. I can see myself – with my spiritual eyes – years down the road. It is that mental picture, that vision, that keeps me going. My vision creates a hunger and thirst in my soul that will not be filled until I see, in my hands, what I have already received in my heart. While I work for others my hunger is working for me. I am hungry and I will never quit! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Don’t Be Deceived

(Prov 16:25 NIV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Here Solomon basically repeats what he said back in chapter 14 (verse 12) and I believe it is worth repeating. This is a major truth. I really like the way the Message Bible paraphrase of this verse reads; it says

“There's a way that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell.”

The way without God, for many, seems right and harmless. But while it may seem harmless enough, it is not without consequence. I have met countless people that have said things like, “Hey, I’m a good person. I try to live a good life. I don’t bother anyone. I think I am good to go.” The problem with that argument is that none of us—based on our own merit—are good enough.

Every single human that has ever lived (outside of Jesus) has sinned. The Bible says, “We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). We have all come up short. We have all missed the mark. We have all done things that violated God’s standard. None of us are worthy, period! But then there those that say, “That’s the problem right there. I don’t believe in this ‘so-called’ God’s standard. Man wrote the Bible anyway. I don’t believe that stuff. If there is a god, he will be OK with me, because I live a good life.”

The problem with that argument is that there is a God, He has given us His Word, His Word is true, and His Word clearly offers us eternal life through His Son Jesus.

John plainly stated: “This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1st John 5:11,12).

Whenever I read that passage I normally follow it up by asking, “What are your questions? It does not get much plainer than that. Eternal life is available, but only through Jesus. But many don’t believe it. Many have been deceived into thinking that the Bible is wrong, that there is no such thing as heaven or hell, or that if there is, they will ‘make the cut’ based upon their supposed goodness. Eve fell into this trap. She knew what God said. She knew His standard. She knew the consequences. She knew that if she violated God’s command that she was going to die and she told that to the serpent (Gen 3:3). But the serpent (satan) said, “You will not surely die” (Gen 3:4). Do you see what happened? He spoke against God’s Word. He basically told Eve that God’s Word was not true and she made the fatal mistake of believing him. Paul tells us that Eve was “Deceived by the serpent’s cunning” (2nd Cor 11:3) and he warns not to fall into the same trap. During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Mat 7:13,14).

So what does this mean to you ? It means that there is a Broad Way, but believe me, it’s not the one you want to visit. Satan has deceived multitudes into believing that God’s Word is not true, that His standard is old-fashioned, and that His way of living is not practical today. But don’t be deceived.

Not only is God’s Word true and His way of living practical, but it is AWESOME! You can enjoy supernatural peace NOW, even when faced with challenges. You can have an indescribable joy NOW, even while surrounded by despair. You can experience God’s overwhelming love NOW, even in a world full of hate and selfishness.

Don’t take the road that “seems” right; take the one that IS right, the one that goes through Jesus!

Father, I am not deceived, neither shall I be. I know that I could never earn a right to make it to heaven. I am only going to heaven because I accepted Your Son Jesus as my Lord. I am clothed in His righteousness and His blood has cleansed me. I am whole, complete, at peace, and I have an optimistic perspective of life, because I am on the right road. I know that many are still deceived, therefore I declare, by faith, that You will use me Father to help lead them to You. Use me today to share Your truth, Your love, and Your peace with the lost, that they may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Fountain of life

(Prov 16:22 NIrV) Understanding is like a fountain of life to those who have it. But foolish people are punished for the foolish things they do.

Once again, Solomon does not reach deep into the annals of divine truth to bring out unfathomable revelation. What Solomon tells us this morning is as much common sense as it is a proverb. If you have understanding and you apply that understanding to your decisions, then things will go well for you. The Hebrew word used for “understanding” in this verse is a word that is also translated as prudence, wisdom, and insight. When you have divine insight, wisdom, and understanding operating in your life, you become prudent in your decision making process.

And guess what? If you make good decisions you will get good results. There’s no mystery in that. Make no mistake, your life is a grand-sum-total of your decisions. But wait a minute! You may be thinking, “Hold on. But what about God’s providence? What about God’s sovereignty? Doesn’t God do everything? And if God is doing everything, then why do my decisions matter?” While God is sovereign and provident, you know that that does not mean that He does everything.

The truth is that Jehovah does not have to wait until Friday to see what you are going to do on Friday and He, in all His sovereignty, has made plans for you that coincide with the decisions that you will make. Make no mistake, God wants to operate in your life, but for the most part, He waits on us to cooperate with Him. He doesn’t fight against our will. This is why it is so very important that we develop in His wisdom and understanding. When we align our thinking with His, our ways with His desires, and our decisions with His Word, we get good (and Godly) results.

Solomon uses the term “fountain of life” several times in Proverbs (see 10:11, 13:14, and 14:27). The picture he paints is that of a fountain that is refreshing, life sustaining, and inexhaustible. When divine wisdom is the foundation upon which you make decisions your life is awesome, enjoyable, and interesting.

As good as that sounds, the other side of the coin sounds equally as bad. Solomon tells us that fools are punished for the foolish things they do. Fools are considered fools because they are foolish. Webster’s dictionary definition of a fool is a person who lacks sense, judgment, prudence or discretion. This is a picture of the anti-wise! A fool ignores divine counsel and makes the same mistakes over and over again. They get punished, not because God is mean spirited or cold-hearted, but because they make punishable offenses.

If you make poor decisions you will get poor results and it WILL NOT be God’s fault. Good or bad, you are where you are today because of the decisions you have made in the past and you will be where you will be tomorrow because of the decisions you make today. Back in chapter 13 Solomon made it plain, saying, “Sound judgment is praised, but people without good sense are on the way to disaster” (13:15).

So what does this mean to you ? It means that God created a system of laws and principles – sowing and reaping, cause and effect, and the free will of humans – that governs the earth. The choice is yours. You can either seek, receive, and incorporate His wisdom in your decisions (resulting in a fountain of life) or you can ignore His counsel altogether and take the way of the fool (which results in punishment).

Father, I completely understand the importance of my decisions and I declare, by faith, that I make sounds decisions daily. I can say that with confidence, because I have determined to make Your Word the foundation for my life. I don’t make decisions that go against Your counsel. I force my will to align with Your Word. I will my will to honor You. In so doing, I know that I am becoming more and more like You daily and that I am developing in Your wisdom. I cautiously consider the decisions that I make and I refuse to be the fool that endures constant punishment. I am a Godly wise man/woman and I enter this day expecting to enjoy the fountain of life that You have in store for those you apply Your truth! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Sweet Lips

Sweet Lips

(Prov 16:21 NLT) The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.

Here Solomon continues to flow in the vein of plain truth. He has been teaching us about the importance of receiving and developing in God’s wisdom for many chapters. Now he tells us that if we do it, if we truly develop the wisdom of God and walk in it, that we will be known for it. We will establish a reputation as someone who has discernment and insight.

Others will bring us their problems and challenges, because they know that we can quickly get to the heart of issues and formulate solutions that are profitable for all parties involved. But the latter portion of the text is very interesting. Solomon tells us that pleasant words are persuasive. In other words, he is teaching us that if we really want people to listen to and apply what we say, that we should say it in a pleasant way.

People are not going to willingly come to receive advice/counsel from someone who is demeaning and disrespectful. You may have all the answers, but if your disposition is so unpleasant that no one will approach you, then what good is the wisdom you possess? How can you help anyone if no one is willing to hear what you have to say? So not only does Solomon urge us to be wise (with God’s wisdom), but to also be pleasant and approachable. Now that’s sound counsel!

Others translations, when mentioning the pleasantness of our words, speak to the “sweetness” that should be in our lips. For example, the New American Standard Bible reads: “Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” From this I get the term, “Sweet lips.” When God sets up a divine appointment for you and someone comes to you for insight and wisdom, then make sure you maintain sweet lips as you share it, because if not, the wisdom might not be received.

It is one thing when someone rejects what you have to say because it is the truth, but it is quite something else when they reject what you have to say because of the way you said it. The right thing, expressed the wrong way, might be rejected altogether. Later on in this chapter Solomon drove home the importance of using pleasant words, saying, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (v.24).

The Father wants you to build people up, not tear them down, and when you share His Word, with a pleasant disposition, then the experience will be sweet and satisfying to the receiver. Mother Teresa said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.” Never underestimate the power of a kind word. One word, shared from the right person, in the right way, can change the day (or even the life) of another. Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that you may have been blessed with an elevated position and maybe even supernatural wisdom, but if you don’t have the right disposition you will not be able to make the impact the Father desires for you to make.

So seek wisdom, develop in understanding, and allow God’s truth to be the platform from which you speak, but remember that no one will ever come to you for that wisdom if you don’t share it with sweet lips!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to develop in Your wisdom. I declare, by faith, that Your wisdom is in me so strong that I develop a reputation as someone who walks in divine understanding. You send people to me, for me to impart Your wisdom into their lives, and they come willingly because I share Your truth with sweet lips. I build up and I do not tear down. I am here to help and not to hurt. I am here to bless and never to curse. I will never allow my position, no matter how high You bless me to go, to sway me from having a pleasant disposition daily! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Plain Truth!

(Prov 16:20 GNB) Pay attention to what you are taught, and you will be successful; trust in the LORD and you will be happy.

Here Solomon gives us some sound counsel, but it is written so plainly that some may miss the power behind it. Many people are searching for ‘deep revelation.’ They pore over the scriptures, in search of deep truths that are hidden in places that only the Holy Spirit can reveal. While it is true that we definitely need divine revelation in searching, reading, receiving, and understanding God’s Word, there are many truths in the Word that are in plain sight.

This scripture is a good example. There is nothing deep about it. Solomon had Godly and worldly success and by all indications, at the time of this writing, he seemed to be very happy as well. He was successful and happy. Isn’t that what most people are looking for? If you walk up to the average person on the street and ask them what they want in life, the majority will tell you that they want to be successful (whatever that means to them) and happy. Well, Solomon had both and here he tells us how to experience the same in our lives.

The key to Godly success is not hidden behind a guarded door, nor is it waiting for us at the end of an arduous obstacle course. The key to Godly success is sitting on most people’s coffee table – it is found in the Word of God. When Solomon says, “Pay attention to what you are taught, and you will be successful,” he is talking about Godly instruction. Most believers have a Bible, or more than one Bible, but not all believers read it.

If we want to experience the success that the Father desires for us to have, then we must do things His way. We must pay close attention to learning His way of doing things, and then, we must turn our learning into living! Learning the Word does no good if we don’t turn the corner from information to application. I could rephrase this verse to say: “Read your Bible, do what it says, and trust the One who wrote it.” How hard is that to understand?

Back in chapter 13 Solomon said something that was equally as plain. He said, “If you reject God's teaching, you will pay the price; if you obey his commands, you will be rewarded” (13:13). Jehovah created us, knows us, and loves us. It only makes sense, then, to listen to His instructions and to do what he says. The Bible is God’s unfailing Word to us. It’s like an owner's manual for a car. If you obey God's instructions, you will “run right” and “run long.” However, if you ignore His manual you will have breakdowns, failures, and severe accidents.

That takes care of the first portion of the text, but what about this trust issue? We are to live by faith and you can stand in faith when you are standing on his Word. You have a Word from God and you are determined to stand on it, no matter how long it takes.

But what about the times when you don’t have a Word from God yet? What about the times when you don’t know what God is going to do? What do you do then? Well, you trust Him! You trust that God has you’re your best interest at heart and that He will see you through whatever challenge you are facing. In my old church we used to say, “Trust Him, even when you can’t trace Him!” In other words, trust Him, even when you don’t know what He is doing! Jeremiah said,

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (17:7,8).

So what does this mean to you ? I’ll just restate something I already said. It means that you should read your Bible, do what it says, and trust the One who wrote it.”

Father, I thank You for blessing me with Your Word. Your Word is the truth that I live by. I am determined to walk in accordance with Your Word all the days of my life. I read my Bible, I do what it says, and I trust in the One who wrote it. I stand in faith, in accordance with Your Word, daily. But even when I don’t have a Word yet, I fully trust in You. I trust You, even when I don’t know what You are doing! My trust and my faith will give me access to Godly success and happiness! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Trusting God Financially

(Prov 16:19 NIrV) Suppose you are lowly in spirit and are with those who are beaten down. That's better than sharing stolen goods with those who are proud

Yesterday I shared with you some of the scriptures that Solomon wrote about the dangers of pride. Remember, these are not just Solomon’s words, but God’s Word. God hates pride. Back in chapter six, when Solomon listed the things that God hates, pride was listed first. In other words, pride was #1 on God’s hate parade (see 6:16-19).

Pride is what got the archangel, whom we know as satan today, kicked out of heaven. He was Lucifer—son of the morning—probably the highest creature God created until pride was found in him. Lucifer attempted to lift himself above God and he would up taking a great fall.

Pride is so despicable to God that here He tells us that is actually better to be in poverty – which I know, from firsthand experience, is NOT good – than to share plunder (gains, riches) that were acquired dishonestly. Remember, Solomon is not against money and neither is God. Solomon was the richest man of his time. To provide contemporary context, this would be like Bill Gates speaking to us about the dangers of gaining wealth the wrong way.

Solomon had wealth and God blessed him to have it, but Solomon was warning us to avoid the association of those, who through their pride, attempt to gain riches without regard for God’s standard.

Let’s bring this into today’s setting. The United States’ economy is still in the middle of a recession. Many have lost their jobs. Millions of people are struggling to make ends meet. Some have opted to make money through dishonest means and many believers have been invited to join in. This is where the believer must make a choice. Either you are going to take the bait and violate God’s standard to make a buck or you are going to stand on your values and the principles of God’s Word and believe that God will open a door for you to be financially stable; without violating His law! If you dishonor, disrespect, and disregard God, you might make a few bucks in the short term, but believe me, you will regret it in the long term.

God’s favor, grace, and anointing on your life should be too valuable to you for you to lose it over temporary riches. Solomon tells us this morning that is better to struggle financially, while maintaining your Godly integrity, than to get rich through dishonest means.

So what does this mean to you ? A few things:

1. Trust God to be your source: If you honor Jehovah He will honor you. If you manage your finances the way He tells you to in His Word, then you can trust Him to supply all your need according to His riches in Glory!

2. Watch your associations: If you hang with the wrong people you will become the wrong person. My mother often said, “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” Solomon warns us about connecting with those who are doing wrong.

3. Maintain your integrity: I know I say this all the time, but it is worth repeating. God does not want you to say one thing and then do another; or to claim one thing on Sunday, any live another way during the week. Be a person of integrity and align your thoughts, words, and actions with His Word; and don’t let anyone sway you from your convictions!

Father, I thank You for blessing me financially. I honor You with my finances, doing those things that You instruct in Your Word, and I truly believe that You will honor me. I give, save, and spend (in that order) and I believe that You will supply all my need, according to Your riches in glory. I don’t lean to the arm of the flesh. I resist every temptation to do wrong. I don’t have close associations with those who seek riches the wrong way. I keep myself pure and centered in Your Word. As You bless me and cause me to increase, I will be able to testify to others that you don’t have to violate God’s Word to be financially secure. Even in the midst of an unstable economy, I thank You for causing me to increase, prosper, and succeed. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Super Bowl XLIV


Shalom Women of Destiny I just wanted to share my opinion on Super Bowl XLIV
It’s hard to ignore the Super Bowl especially this year with its David and Goliath, ripped from a Hollywood screenplay match-up. As I’m sure you’ve heard, the New Orleans Saints will make their Super Bowl debut this year up against the epic Indianapolis Colts. Super Bowl XLIV (44 if your roman numerals are rusty) could well be one to remember.
Talk of offensive and defensive lines is lost on me. What little I know about football I learned from my brother. But I even I know this: this year we might really see something special. For the first time in their 43 year history, the Saints are going to the Super Bowl. They get to play with the big boys and could emerge as champions. No disrespect to Peyton Manning, but I’d love see them pull it off. And I know I’m not the only one.
There is something inside us that hopes for the unlikely, the impossible, and the miraculous. Believing that a team that has never been to the Super Bowl could come away winning it all is just a step away from believing that God could have something incredible planned for me, too.
On Sunday the players will wait, lined-up, muscles tensed and ready for the start of the game. Have you ever felt like you are waiting for something to happen? I’ve felt that too (although admittedly, thankfully, I was not wearing football equipment). It’s pretty common to wonder if there’s something more. We hear stories like J.K. Rowling’s and wonder if it could happen to us. (She is the author of Harry Potter and her life story is truly amazing). We wonder if we’re destined for greatness.
Do you ever wonder if God’s plan for you is something extraordinary or just a footnote on the end of someone else’s great adventure? We’ve all read Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” But sometimes I think we wonder if God has big plans or little plans. I think sometime we wonder if we’re even supposed to want big plans.
In his book Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus talks about the soul’s desire for destiny, how this longing for meaning is coded into the very core of who we are. He talks about destiny at length, but the part that stuck out to me the most was this line, “You are not supposed to passively enter into tomorrow. You are supposed to be actively engaged in the creation of tomorrow.”
I’ve often thought of God’s plan as something that is already established, something that I have little control over. It’s a different thought entirely to think that God’s plan for me is something that He wants to talk about with me, something that He wants me to participate in.
I heard Oprah say something the other day that was rather interesting. I know that some people love her and some people really, really don’t, but I had a professor in college who said that “all truth is God’s truth” and I like to think he was right. The truth is true, no matter who speaks it. What Oprah said was that whatever we can dream, if we give it to God he can dream a bigger dream for us than we ever could dream for ourselves.
I think she’s really on to something there. I might have an idea of what God’s plan for me is but He has so much more that He wants to share. He has dreams for me that I haven’t even considered yet. This is where I am supposed to be “actively engaged in the creation of tomorrow”. It’s me and God, talking about it, seeing where God will take me.

By the end of the day Sunday, someone will be Super Bowl champions. The Saints may prove that they had it in them all along, or the Colts might remind us why they’ve been to the final game so many times. Either way, someone’s dream will come true and another’s will fall away. There will be confetti and campaign, a dance of victory and a long walk back to a subdued locker room.
What will happen to the rest of us? By the end of the day Sunday will God’s dream for you be a step closer, or just a shadow on the horizon? My challenge to you, and to myself is this: don’t wait. Your real life is what’s happening right now. Go and talk to God about it. I promise you, His plan for you is nothing ordinary. (GO SAINTS!)

Remaining on God’s Path!

(Prov 16:17 KJV) The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Here Solomon tells us that the upright depart from evil. While that statement, in and of itself, is no deep revelation, it is a great reminder for us this morning. If we are going to travel down the straight and narrow way that Jesus spoke of (Mat 7:13) we are going to have to make a conscious decision to avoid evil. Make no mistake, sin is a choice, just like resisting sin is a choice and there are spiritual forces attempting to get us to move in both directions. For the Born-Again believer, the Holy Spirit works on the inside and He attempts to lead us in the way that we should go; thus avoiding sin and its consequences. But this does not exonerate us from the attacks of the enemy. That’s why Peter said,

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1st Peter 5:8).

The devil knows that sin has devastating consequences, even for the believer, and that is why he does all that he can to get us to sin.

The latter portion of the text, in the traditional King James Version reads, “He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.” By keeping your way, or in other words, by avoiding sin, you preserve your ____. The Hebrew word translated “soul” in this verse is nephesh. This word is translated as “soul” here, but it can also be translated as “life.” Many of the translators of more modern versions opted to use the word “life” instead of “soul.” For example, the New American Standard Bible reads: “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life.”

Let’s talk about both applications. Your soul is comprised of your mind, emotions and will. I like to call your mind “your thinker,” your emotions “your feeler,” and your will “your chooser.” By choosing (actually with your mind, which is part of your soul) to remain on God’s path for your life, you shield yourself from unrighteous influences.

The devil wants to pollute your soul so that you would live a defeated life. If he can get you to think, feel, and choose in ways that are contrary to God, then your soul will keep you from God’s best. You will be defeated in many areas of your life and the enemy will be happy. Don’t give the devil the satisfaction of triumphing over you and don’t disappoint your heavenly Father by living beneath His best. Determine to remain on His path and to protect your soul.

So what if Solomon meant “life”? Well, it is also true that if we remain on God’s path you will live a longer life. You don’t believe me? Well, read Your Word. Back in chapter 3 God through Solomon said, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity” (verses 1,2). He went on to say, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold… Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor” (verses 13,14, and 16). In chapter 9 he said, “Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of wisdom. To have understanding, you must know the Holy God. I am Wisdom. If you follow me, you will live a long time” (verses 10,11).

What’s the insinuation? If you follow Godly wisdom – God’s way of doing things – you will live a long time. But what if you don’t? Your life will be cut short!

So what does this mean to you ? It means that your decisions matter and that carry considerable consequences. Make up your mind today to remain on God’s desired path for your life. In so doing you will preserve your soul and your life!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to understand the dire consequences of my decisions. Your have given me Your Word, Your Spirit, and divinely inspired pastors and teachers to help keep me on Your path for my life. I also acknowledge the fact that I have an enemy that makes constant attempts to derail me from Your destiny. At the end of the day, the choice is mine, and I declare, by faith, that I will choose Your best, Your path, Your way, and I will live long and strong because of it! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Temporary Income

(Prov 16:16 NASB) How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

Here Solomon plainly tells us that earthly riches are not to be compared to divine wisdom and understanding. Now, it’s easy for someone who does not have money and has never had significant amounts of it to speak against it. I hear that all the time. However, you don’t normally hear those with significant sums of money downplaying the benefits of wealth.

The wealthy understand, firsthand, how wealth can be used to make a difference (whether good or bad). The same can be said for the wisdom of God. I hear many people discount the wisdom of God, but that is only because they don’t possess it. I have never heard anyone, who walks in the wisdom of God, downplay the benefits of divine counsel and insight. The point is that people are not truly qualified to discuss what they have no working knowledge of. Solomon, on the other hand, is more fully qualified to discuss both divine wisdom and wealth.

Solomon was the richest and wisest man of his time.

Let me give you a little background on Solomon. Solomon was young when he took over the throne from his father David. He was concerned about assuming such a great responsibility (being king) at such a young age. The Lord spoke to him through a dream and said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." This was Solomon’s golden opportunity. He was young, in charge, somewhat afraid, so he sought help from God.

God told him what we all want to here, “Ask for whatever you want!” Now, you know that most of us would have started rattling off a list of selfish desires, but young Solomon was different. He said,

“Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong… The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings” (see 1st Kings 3).

WOW! Since Solomon did not ask for selfish desires, but rather the wisdom to lead, the Lord promised to give him wisdom like no one before or after him and riches as well! Solomon received both and he was enjoying both at the time of this writing.

Solomon had wisdom and riches and as he thought about both he told us that wisdom is not just greater, but far greater. He tells us this with assurance and conviction. I like the way the Message Bible paraphrase of this verse reads. It says,

“Get wisdom—it's worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.”

So what does this mean to you ? It means you can lose money and get it back, if you have wisdom. But if you lose wisdom you will lose the money and the ability to ever recover. So thank God for money, but never compromise His standard, nor your character to attain it. If choosing God’s standard costs you money, that’s fine, you will get that money back (multiplied). But if choosing money costs you God’s standard, then you may enjoy the money in the short term, but you will lose BIG TIME in the long term.

Father, I declare, right now, by faith, that You are my LORD and You are the ONLY LORD over my life. Money is my servant, not my master. I never compromise Your standard or my character to attain money. Even when I know that choosing Your Word, will, and way, will cost me financially, I choose to take the short term loss and maintain Your grace and favor, then to take the short term gain and to lose Your anointing on my life. Since I pursue You instead of money, I know that money will pursue me and I won’t ever have to worry about it. In Jesus’ name. Amen!