‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.’ (Vs. 12)

What are you hoping for? It could be; waiting to get a job, hoping to find a spouse, praying for your family to come to Christ, longing to conceive.

Whatever it is that your heart is yearning for or you’re impatient about, we all know that feeling and know how it can ‘make the heart sick.’ The comforting truth however, is in the second part of this verse – that good things are worth waiting for and when they finally arrive, they bring joy, life and fulfillment.

We know this truth as a couple. During our engagement we endured a long-distance relationship – only seeing one another every few months, having to maintain our relationship through phone calls and texts. The waiting was hard; we longed to be together and for no more goodbyes. But on the day of our wedding, the Lord fulfilled our longing – there was much joy and we believe that our marriage is all the stronger for having had our hope deferred.

A passage to ponder: Philippians 1:20-26

Read the full chapter on Bible gateway

The verses that I found most challenging in today’s chapter were all about words…and more importantly their consequences.

Truthful lips endure for ever (v19) and the Lord delights in men who use them (v22). The words of wisdom we have learned also have the ability to rescue (v6), give honest testimony (v17) and bring healing! (v18)

So the challenge for us all today is, what are we going to do with the wisdom we have acquired and discussed? In James we read, “do not merely listen to the word… do what it says.”

(v25) “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”

Who could you encourage today?

Reading Proverbs 11 today has led me to think a lot about the two ways in which we can live our lives; the righteous way and the wicked way. This chapter states that the life of a righteous person is humility, trustworthiness, respect and knowledge of wisdom. However, the life of a wicked person consists of pride, unfaithfulness, evil desires, gossip and deception. I have been challenged to think about how I live out my life on a daily basis. Do my words and actions show the life of a righteous person or a wicked person? The repercussions of both ways of living are written in V20-21.

“The Lord detests men of perverse heart, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.”

We have a choice to make. How are we going to live our lives for Jesus? What do we need to change about ourselves to make us righteous? Let’s choose to live a righteous life, one which the Lord will delight in.

What particularly struck me about Chapter 10 was the repeated nature of advice concerning our speech (in 11 out of 32 verses).

The tongue is the strongest muscle in the human body (fact!) but Solomon’s words here relate to a different kind of power. I’m sure we’ve all said things we’ve later regretted because of the tone, timing or choice of words. Thankfully, God has given us the wonderful ability to use our tongues just as powerfully in a positive sense. An encouraging word or two to a friend might seem insignificant to us, but to them it could be invaluable.

Let’s ask God today for wisdom in our words.

Proverbs 9 offers two invitations. The first is to sit at the table wisdom has prepared and “to leave your simple ways behind you and learn to use good judgement”. The benefits of doing so are found in verses 11 & 12 “V11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. V12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.”

The second invitation in this chapter is a stark contrast to the invitation of wisdom. The women named Folly seduces/entices those who lack good judgement into her house saying “V17 Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes best”. But V18 shows us the consequences of this “But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave”

Proverbs 9 sets out two paths of which we can only choose one, the consequences/end result of both paths are there to see. The path of good judgement will “multiple your days and add years to your life” or the path of folly which leaves us “in the depths of the grave”

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Proverbs 8:10, 11 NIV)

When I think about reading my Bible, I often see it as a chore and something I feel I need motivation to do. Yet afterwards I feel refreshed, and so Proverbs tells us, that knowledge and wisdom are more valuable and precious than silver and gold. So we should pursue wisdom, by reading our Bible and studying God’s word as enthusiastically as we often pursue worldly goods. This is were 31Proverbs has been great, each day I excitedly read the Chapter and check the blog, I just hope to continue the energy and motivation after March!

Proverbs 7 guides us through a vivid scene as the foolish young man is ensnared, of his own volition, by the adulteress’ temptations.

There are lessons for both sexes in this story. Christian men; the Holy Spirit gives you wisdom to keep your hearts pure. Women of God, who long to be loved, to feel attractive and desired, you must look to the proper channels for these yearnings to be satisfied. Husbands; do your utmost to gratify these desires in your wife, do not be complacent, love her, be satisfied with her, and allow her to love you. Keep the passion of verses 16-18 alive in your own marriage. Of course, all of these morals can apply to both sexes as the roles of the characters of the Proverbs 7 narrative could be reversed; the man the tempter and the woman led astray…

Read this chapter on Bible Gateway