Wisdom vs. Confusion

(Prov 17:24 CEV) Anyone with wisdom knows what makes good sense, but fools can never make up their minds.

This morning we continue our current series Here Solomon, the wisest man of his time, once again drives home the importance of receiving and applying God’s wisdom. There are many smart people in the world and while I don’t think Solomon was necessarily the smartest, the Bible tells us that he was the wisest.

At the end of the day, what good is knowledge if you don’t know how to apply it? The wisdom Solomon speaks of involved a keen sense of how to apply the knowledge that you have to every day situations. It is the application of that knowledge and the subsequent benefit that you gain from making wise decisions that makes wisdom valuable.

What good would wisdom be if it were only for superfluous dissertations? The person who is truly wise allows his wisdom to inform and shape his decisions. This person is decisive and directive. He knows where he is going and he makes the decisions that will lead him there. This person has learned from his past, he applies those lessons to his present, and he makes decisions that help shape his future.

Another translation of the first part of this verse reads: “The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard.” A wise person is so accustomed to operating in wisdom that they find it everywhere. The wise are able to see things (to help inform their heir decisions) that the fool overlooks.

In the Old Testament kings visited priests and prophets in order to receive Godly counsel. They wanted spiritual insight so that they would have an advantage when doing business in the earth. The kings did the secular business; the prophets and priests did the spiritual. However, in the New Testament, God has made us both priests and kings (Rev 1:5,6).

The Father wants to give us His divine wisdom (spiritual) so that it can help us deal with every area and facet of our lives (secular). When God’s Word and wisdom is IN us, it not only helps us focus and aim for His ultimate destination for our lives, but it also helps us make every day decisions. When we walk in the wisdom of God we can be sharp, alert, aware, and decisive. We make good decisions and we reap the harvest of them. On the other hand, those without Godly wisdom are often dazed, confused, dumbfounded, and aimlessly wandering through life. As Solomon says: “Fools can never make up their minds.” Fools are excited about one thing today and something else tomorrow. Fools go down one path this week and another next week. They lack focus, aim, and direction, because they don’t understand their purpose. In chapter 29 Solomon said, “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained” (v18).

People without divine vision, insight, wisdom, revelation, or purpose simply shoot at whatever target comes their way. But those who operate in the wisdom and purpose of God for their lives are people that are fixed and focused. They are not confused. They know where they are going and are therefore NOT easily taken off course.

So what does this mean to you? It means that the Father desires and expects you to walk in His wisdom. He does NOT want you to be dazed and confused. He does NOT want you to aimlessly wander through life. The Father expects you to develop in His Word and wisdom so much that you find it around every corner.

He wants you to be alert, decisive, fixed and focused daily. That is how you will shine as light in the midst of darkness and you will draw others to Him!

Father, I thank You for Your wisdom. You give me insight, wisdom, revelation, and understanding. I am able to apply the knowledge that I have attained over the years and my skillful application of knowledge sets me apart and gives me an advantage in the earth. You bless me to grow spiritually and to experience Godly success in the secular realm. As you use me for Your glory and as You give me uncommon favor with man, others quickly recognize Your hand upon my life and I am able to shine as light in the midst of darkness. I know where I am going and I confidently step out in that direction today – and every day! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

How Jesus’ Resurrection Can Help You Through Hard Times

Are you going through a hard time? Maybe you recently lost your job, or you’re dealing with a death in your family. Or maybe you’re just not sure anything good in life can happen to you. Whatever you’re dealing with, I want you to know that you’re not alone and something good can come from the tough spot you’re in right now.
Romans 8:28 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.
Jesus experienced hard times too…the road to the cross was no small matter. But He had to decide to go through it. He even asked God if it was really necessary. (But we know how this amazing love story ended.) Matthew 26:42 (New International Version) 42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."


Just like Jesus had to make a choice, you and I also have to decide to go through hard times.

Is Good Friday Really Good?
As we celebrate His resurrection, I like to look at how we go through our own hard times. I think we also go through our own private crucifixion and resurrection on a somewhat regular basis. Often I say “Friday always comes before Sunday.”

Ever wonder why we refer to the day of Jesus’ death as “Good” Friday, since it’s a day that involved so much pain, agony and heartache? Well, it’s because the result of this particular Friday—Christ’s resurrection from the dead on Sunday—was good.

In our daily lives, we need to believe that when we go through hard times, the result will be good. But when we're hurting, probably one of the most challenging things for us to remember is that God is going to work it out for our good.

The Only One You Can Trust
All things do work together for our good! Romans 8:28 (New American Standard Bible) 28And we know that [a]God causes (A)all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are (B)called according to His purpose. this is a key scripture for Christians when we go through hard or disappointing times. When something doesn’t happen the way we would like it to happen, we can believe God will work things out for good. It’s the place we can always come back to in every kind of trial.

Now this doesn’t mean the trials are necessarily good, but God can work them out for our good because He is awesome. You have to be some kind of awesome God to be able to take bad things and turn them around for good!

If we love God and really want His will for our life, I think it’s safe to say that we can trust Him to bring good from it—no matter what happens to us. Even if we have to take detours because of our own stupidity or if we’re innocent but someone else gets involved and brings hurt and pain into our life, we can trust God to work it out. I like to say, “No person on earth and no devil in hell can keep me from God's will.”

The Crucifixion: Growing in Hard Times
It’s comforting to really believe things will work out okay…even on a day like Good Friday, with so much suffering and pain. When nothing made sense and everything was hard, God worked it out for good—bringing the greatest blessing mankind will ever receive!

We can believe Friday was good because of the result it brought, not because of what happened at the time.

I know after I have gone through a really hard time, I’ve looked back and thought that I wouldn’t even be half the person I am now if that wouldn’t have happened. Haven’t many of us experienced this? Don’t we wish we could just grow in good times?

But we only seem to really grow during hard times. I think it’s because it’s during those times that we really press into God and go to a deeper level in our relationship with Him. Why? Because we have to. It’s our only choice if we want to make it through the difficulty. When we trust God, He gives us the comfort of knowing that He can work bad things out for our good.

Two Sides of the Cross
There are usually two sides to everything. The cross has two: a crucifixion side and a resurrection side. And Jesus had to endure one side to get to the other. But if He hadn’t endured, then we'd all still be left without a Savior and no forgiveness of our sins.

Hebrews 12:2
2Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God
says that Jesus, for the joy of obtaining the prize on the other side of the cross—the resurrection—endured the pain. Like Jesus, we have to endure bad things. To endure means to outlast the devil; to be steadfast long enough to let the trial do whatever it's going to do in our lives and get from one side of the cross to the other.

The Grave: Waiting for a Good Ending
Now, we don’t just go from Friday to Sunday. We have to learn to endure Saturday, which I think is sometimes the hardest to do. We'll call it the middle. In everything, there's a beginning, an end, and a middle. The beginning is sometimes a little bit exciting because it's a new thing. And the end is certainly exciting because it’s where we experience the victory. But, oh…that middle! The Saturdays may be even harder than the Fridays because on Saturday, we're in the grave and we’re not sure what’s going to happen next.

Most of the time, we don’t know how long the middle's going to last, and although God knows…He's not telling. (Isn't He great at keeping secrets?) So we need to remember that when we’re going through the middle of something, we can be assured Sunday always comes after Friday. But we have to endure Saturday—we have to outlast the devil, remain steadfast and not give up or quit. Galatians 6:9 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
When we do, we will enjoy the resurrection benefits and blessings that come on Sunday.

The Resurrection: Making It Through
So, I want to remember that Jesus endured the cross because He knew what was waiting on the other side of it. In our daily lives, we are going to have to endure some things, and we’re going to face some hard times. But the only way to do it is to go through it.

Whether we’re hit by an unexpected circumstance, suffering for doing something wrong or for resisting temptation and sin by doing what’s right, we have to go through things. But waiting for you on the other side of the hard times is the joy of obtaining the prize—the good result.

Power of the Resurrection

(1st Cor 15:14 NIV) And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

For the next two days I am going to take a pause from our current series from Proverbs to discuss the single most important event in Christianity: the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

This week is commonly known as “Holy Week.” During Holy Week we celebrate the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Since I only have two (work) days left before Resurrection Sunday, I will just focus on the resurrection. But before we get too deep in the subject matter, let me at least a few things about celebrating “Easter” vs. “The Resurrection.” This upcoming Sunday children all over the United States will go on extensive searches through fields of grass, with their best clothes on, looking for colored eggs. They will call this “Easter,” and while it may be fun for the kids and seen harmless to many, to me, it makes a mockery of the event that separates Christianity from all other world religions.

I call this upcoming Sunday morning Resurrection Sunday, because it has nothing to do with Peter Cotton tail, or bunnies, or eggs, or pretty colors. Resurrection Sunday has everything do with celebrating Jesus and how He conquered satan, hell and the grave by conquering death, so that we could do the same.

Mark records the events following Jesus’ death and burial: “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Solome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body… As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here” (Mark 16:1-6).

Have you ever taken the time to ponder the fact that we, as Christians, are the only people on the planet who serve a God who lived on the earth, died, and yet still lives? We serve a living Savior – Jesus is His name! That’s Good News! That empty tomb gives Christians all over the world the spring in our step. That empty tomb is the fuel in our fire, the air in our lungs, and the wind beneath our wings! Without the empty tomb there is no Christianity. Without the empty tomb we have no hope. Without the empty tomb our message is just a story.

Over the nearly 2,000 years since many have tried to discredit and discount the validity of Jesus’ Resurrection, but the truth lives on.

The most telling affirmation of the validity of His literal Resurrection was and is the dramatic change that it produced in the lives of those followers. From the weak, wavering, faltering, denying group of fishermen, tax collectors, etc.; the twelve plus the others became the most zealous, faithful, dynamic group who ever lived. They literally became burning evangels for the cause of Christ; and they totally turned the world upside down for Him over the next 71 plus years. They were condemned, threatened, imprisoned, beaten, and commanded to be silent; but they just got right back out on the streets and just started preaching Jesus again – alive by Promise, dead by Purpose, Resurrected by (God's) Power, and reigning for our good Measure and Pleasure!

So what does this mean to you ? A few things:
1. It means that Jesus’ victory over death liberates us to reign over death as well. Jesus took the sting out of death and He took victory from the grave (1st Cor 15:55).

2. It means that Christianity is the only religion with a living Savior. The prophet Mohammed died and remained dead. Siddhartha, the man who came to be known as “the Buddha,” died and remained dead. Mahatma Gandhi died and remained dead. The same could be said for EVERY other religious figure. Jesus conquered satan, hell and the grave with the Resurrection!

3. It means that to be a Christian you must have a personal encounter with the Christ! You can be a Muslim without ever meeting Mohammed, you can be a Buddhist without ever meeting Buddha, but if you are going to be a Christian you have to meet Christ for yourself!

Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to die so that I could live. I live for Him, in Him, with Him, and through Him. It is in You Father that I live, and move, and have my being. Jesus’ victory over death means that death has no victory over me. I am dead to self, alive to Christ, and I know that I will live forever in You and with You. I love you with all my heart and I live for You all my days. Help me to share Your love, Your light, and Your Resurrecting power with others today! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be Holy

(Prov 17:23 TNIV) The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.


Here Solomon teaches us about the integrity the Father expects us to walk in. If we are IN Him and He is IN us, then we should be like Him. I have taught you a great deal about the fact that God is love. That should be ingrained in your heart by now, but God is also light. In the New Testament John taught us that “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1st John 1:5). God is completely virtuous, true and righteous. There is no sin, no darkness, and no variableness in God and since we are called by His name, we are to be the same.

Now, does that mean we will never sin. Of course not, but it does mean that we should strive to avoid sin and to live in the righteousness that Christ Jesus died to give us. I know many preachers today don’t even mention sin and many believers are too consumed with what they can GET from God that they don’t focus at all on what they can BECOME in God. But make no mistake, God will not overlook sin. Jehovah expects us to walk upright everyday and if we sin, we are to quickly repent. Earlier in the New Testament Peter quoted what God said through Moses (in Leviticus), when He said, “You must be holy because I am holy” (1st Peter 1:16). There is not a lot of wiggle room there. You and I, as believers, are called to be holy.

This leads us to our text. Corruption is nothing new. In Solomon’s time, just like today, there were those who sought to use their money to buy a favorable verdict, when they knew they were clearly guilty. The person who gives the bribe and the judge who accepts it, are both called wicked here. While these people (lacking integrity) are willing to pervert the course of justice, they will not go unpunished. Both will eventually reap a harvest from the corruptible seed they have sown. Back in chapter 15 Solomon said, “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live” (15:27).

A judge takes a vow to exercise righteous judgment and to serve the community, but when they distort the truth, for money, it turns justice into injustice. This is an exploitation of justice and when someone exploits others, without any sense of personal integrity or accountability, it deteriorates the moral fabric of the community. And for what? In chapter 10 Solomon told us that “tainted wealth has no lasting value” (10:2).

The Father is not against financial advancement, but He is against us pursuing it the wrong way. In chapter 28 Solomon said, “A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper” (28:25). When you honor God in all your ways (being holy) you are able to prosper—spiritually, physically, socially, psychologically, and financially—without causing dissension, discord, and strife.

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

1. Walk in righteousness: God is never going to over look sin. If you do sin, quickly repent (1st John 1:9). Don’t allow it to linger and don’t allow yourself to fall into condemnation. The Holy Spirit will convict you, but He will never condemn you.

2. Walk in integrity: The Father expects you to say what you mean and to mean what you say. Let your “yes” be a true yes and your “no” be a true no. Align your words, thoughts, and actions with the Word of God. In other words: your audio must match your video.

3. Walk as light: You are called to be the light of the world (Mat 5:14). You are never going to draw sinners to God if you live just like they do. Be holy, be different, and allow the Father to shine His light through you, so that it can reach this dark, dying, and decaying world.

Father, You are Holy, therefore I am holy. I walk in the righteousness that Christ Jesus died to give me. I avoid sin altogether, but if I do sin, I will quickly acknowledge my sin, repent, receive Your forgiveness, forgive myself, and move on. I refuse to allow condemnation to keep me from Your best. I walk in integrity and I represent You well in all that I do. Lastly, I have been called out of darkness and into Your marvelous light, so I will walk in it. I submit to You and Your ways so that Your light will freely shine through me for the entire world to see. Use me to reach others with Your light and love today! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Enjoying Life!!

(Prov 17:22 NLT) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

Here Solomon teaches us a lesson that I hope more Christian learn: the importance of have a cheerful heart. The message in this verse is that a merry heart or a joyful attitude (internally) can actually work healing externally (in your physical man). Simply put, the condition of your inner man will directly affect the condition of your outer man. Back in chapter 12 Solomon told us that “An anxious heart weighs a man down” (12:25).

Have you ever met someone who worries all the time? Unfortunately, there are even many Christians who are caught up in excessive worry. You can’t worry and trust at the same time. These people obviously have a trust problem (they are not trusting God) and they have a faith problem (they are not living by faith). The result is that they excessively worry about everything and anxiety can have detrimental affects to your body and your soul.

The Good News Bible reads: “Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.” Did you catch that? Those that live with a doom and gloom mentality are actually dying a slow death. Jesus did not die so that we could live a slow death of doom and gloom; He came that we might have life and that we would have it more abundantly (John 10:10). He not only came so that we would make it to heaven; Jesus wants us to enjoy the ride!

We already read what Solomon told us in chapter 12, in chapter 15 he gives us that other side of the story. Solomon said, “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face” (15:13). This is the way that the Father wants us to live. Jehovah wants us to have and enjoy His life, the God-type of life. The Message Bible paraphrase of this verse reads: “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.”

Here is a simple question: do you want to be healthy and happy or sick and tired? While the answer is obvious many allow the enemy to get them to focus on the wrong things. If the enemy can get your attention for five seconds, he will have your mind for five minutes (or more). Taking control of your thoughts is utterly important. Your thoughts give birth to images. Those images influence your words and actions. Your words and actions help shape your habits. Your habits help develop your character. Your character will ultimately determine where you end up in life.

It all starts with thoughts.

If you think the wrong things you will become the wrong person. That is why it is so important for every believer to fix his or her mind on the Word of God. Your mind must be renewed to think about things in the way that the Father desires for us to think. We must see ourselves the way He sees us. We must make our opinion of ourselves to line up with His opinion of us. If we do, we WILL NOT fall into the trap of stress, struggle and strain. If we don’t, not only will negative and ungodly thoughts rob us of God’s desired future for our lives, but they can actually make us sick along the way. Wouldn’t it be a shame to be miserable through life only to find out that you didn’t need to?

So what does this mean to you?

It means that you need to have fun!

I am tired of people that don’t want to give their hearts to God saying, “I don’t want to become a Christian yet, because I still want to have fun.” Why are they saying that? They are saying it because too many believers walk around lifeless. If you are in God and He is in you then you should enter every day with a spring in your step, a song in your heart, a smile on your face, and an attitude that enables you to whistle while you work! If you keep this attitude, then God will shine through you, others will be drawn to the Christ in you, and you will live longer and stronger for God!

Don’t kill yourself from the inside out!
Father, I sincerely thank You for this Word this morning. I know that a merry heart works healing in my body. I take the medicine of Your Word today. I look up and not down. I look forward and not backward. I take control of my thoughts and I declare that I am the victor, not the victim. I look at every challenge through the lens of faith. I see myself overcoming ever obstacle. I will not rob myself of the victory You want me to have and the health You want me to enjoy. I live long, healthy, and strong, because I hide Your Word in my heart and I align my thinking with Your thoughts concerning me! I am excited about this day and the rest of my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Walk in Love

(Prov 17:19 NLT) Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

Here Solomon teaches us about two things: strife and pride. I will discuss them individually.

As a believer we are called to walk in love, not strife. Jesus always drove home the love message. At the end of the day we must realize that God IS love (literally) and if God is in us and we are in Him, then we MUST operate in love.

Nothing we do for God matters if we fail to do it in love.

Everything we are called to do in the Kingdom requires faith and even faith works by love (Gal 5:6). Solomon tells us that those who love to quarrel (fight, argue, disagree) love to sin. I am sure you have met your fair share of people like this. People who love to fight seem to get some sort of twisted satisfaction from getting others riled up. While you and I both know people that are this way, don’t ever let this be said of you. God will not be glorified through you if you continually cause turmoil everywhere you go. You and I are called to be peacemakers, not peace breakers.

Paul drove this message home to the believers in Rome when he said: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love… Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse… Do not repay anyone evil for evil… as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom 12:12-18).

The latter part of our focus text for today seems a bit confusing. Solomon says, “Anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.” Another translation of this portion reads: “Build a wall, invite a burglar.” To understand the message here we have to know something about the time.

Solomon’s culture and setting help give us the context. Back then people built walls around their homes to establish borders. Without the walls stray animals and those traveling on horses could wander through a person’s yard and damage whatever produce they were attempting to grow. While the walls were customary, they were not meant as a form of protection. In other words, the average person was not seeking to build a fortress and they did not want to close themselves in, so they normally built walls that were relatively short.
However some, because of pride, built high walls with very large doors. Their pride often backfired, because the high walls and large doors often drew the wrong sort of attention, the attention of those with bad intentions. More often than not those will high walls were attacked. This is why Solomon said that these people were inviting disaster. Why bring unnecessary attention to yourself?

OH, I know why. PRIDE!

The Bible has a great deal to say about the dangers of pride. In chapter 11 Solomon said, “When pride comes, shame follows. But wisdom comes to those who are not proud” (11:2). In chapter 16 he said, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). Later in Proverbs he says, “No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin” (18:12), and “Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected” (29:23).

So what does this mean to you ? The message this morning is simple: walk in love and humility. If you seek to live in peace everyone and you remain humble you will enjoy God’s best life every day!

Father, I thank You for the reminder this morning. I know You ARE love. You are in me and I am in You. Therefore, I declare, by faith, that I will walk in love with everyone I come in contact with. I am a conduit of Your love and an example of Your goodness. Use me to reach others, with Your love, today. Also, I avoid pride at all costs. I remain humble. I don’t bring unnecessary attention to myself. I seek to bring You glory in all that I do and resist every temptation to operate in arrogance. I humble myself before You and I know that You will exalt me as You see fit, so I don’t need to exalt myself. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Sound Decisions

(Prov 17:18 NLT) It's poor judgment to guarantee another person's debt or put up security for a friend.

This morning Solomon gives us sage financial counsel; he was more than qualified to do so. Solomon ran a nation with a multi-billion dollar surplus and he definitely knew how to manage a budget. Here he basically tells us to avoid co-signing a loan for someone else.

During Solomon’s time credit was not a new concept, but to this point is was relatively fair and it was offered at reasonable interest. But the Phoenicians developed a new system of credit at unusually high interest. This caused several people to be locked into bad deals.

Solomon warned his readers (believers) to avoid putting their good name on a bad loan; especially for someone else. Earlier in Proverbs he said, “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe” (11:15). Or in other words, it is better to avoid putting your name on someone else’s loan, because if you obligate yourself, the Lord will expect you to pay if the other person defaults. At the end of the day, this is just not he best practice. The Contemporary English Version of our verse makes this very plain; saying: “It's stupid to guarantee someone else's loan.” It’s hard to misunderstand that.

We live in a society today that sees nothing wrong with filing for bankruptcy. This practice is NOT OK with God. If you borrow something and you obligate yourself to pay it back, then God expects you to pay it back – period. Remember, as a believer, we do all that we do for the Lord. So it is simply better not to obligate yourself in the first place than to obligate yourself and then not pay it back. The Bible is clear about this. Moses said,

“When you make a vow to the LORD your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised Him. For the LORD your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the LORD your God” (Deut 23:21-23).

In Ecclesiastes Solomon said, “When you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to Him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it” (5:4,5).
So what does this mean to you? A couple of things:

1. Failing to pay is NOT an option for the believer. For the believer the word, “pledge” is a serious thing. You are putting your name on the line. You are giving your Word that if this person fails to pay, that you WILL; and as a believer, you are bound to do so. A person of poor character and deceitful intent may enter into a loan without the intentions of paying, but you MUST never do so. Your word has to be your bond. We are expected by God to meet every obligation. That is why we must “Count the cost” (see Luke 14:28-30) before we enter into a binding agreement.

2. Your family can be affected. You have an obligation to God and to your family to manage your finances well. Making a poor decision like this can put your family at risk. That is why prayer is so important. Many people make foolish decisions then say things like, “God, why did you let this happen to me?” No! Don’t blame God. He is not obligated to bless your mess. There is a difference between being generous and making a poor decision. Don’t allow your emotions to take you where your bank account can’t keep you.

Father, I thank You for providing me sound counsel through Your Word and by Your Spirit. You lead me in the way that I should go. I declare, by faith, that everything decision I make is a decision that is birthed out of my prayer life. I make decisions that line up with Your counsel. I am a blessing to others and I give to those in need. However, I am led in my giving. I don’t overextend myself and I don’t endanger my family by making poor decisions. I pray, I think things through, I count the cost, and I make sound financial decisions – BY FAITH! In Jesus’ name. Amen!