Prov 27:14
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
It will be counted a curse to him. NKJV
- Not only is what we say important but where, when, and how, make all the difference in the world. Are you just thinking about what you have to say or are you thinking about how to say it so they can receive it? Are you a message or a receiver focused communicator? Prov 15:1;
Rom 1:12
12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. ESV
- Prov 27:17; whose faith encourages you? Are you building others up? There should be both in your life. If there isn’t any one around whose faith encourages or builds you up you need new friends. (Prov 13:20) Lord, help me to always surround myself with people that will sharpen me.
- In this verse we see something that is so important, yet so often missing. When someone is in ministry they often have a heart to serve which is good, but sometimes they get so focused on serving and helping others that things slide in their own lives. They build up others, they give others support, but they themselves need it. I know this because it has happened to me before. Lord, help me to always be surrounded by people that will pour into me and challenge me as we pour into others.
- “Don’t ever get so focused on what God is doing through you that you miss what He wants to do in you.” – I cannot remember where this quote is from.
Luke 6:26
26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. ESV
- Being liked isn’t the goal. Not only does it tell us not to live to please people, it says if every one likes you- be careful, stop and reflect and make sure you haven’t slipped into compromise or become two faced. Prov 29:25
Luke 6:35
35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. NLT
Mark 6:19-20
19 Herodias was enraged and wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless. 20 And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, so he kept him under his protection. NLT
Deut 29:18
8 Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit,
ESV
- “Beware” implies that if one is not careful this will happen. He warns that if we don’t watch against it our heart will go off course. 2 Chron 12:14; We have to choose on purpose the course of our heart, then we have to watch carefully to make sure we stay on course.
- We are also warned about a root that will bear poisonous and bitter fruit. Lord have I let anything take root that is producing bad fruit? Is their anything in me producing, bad attitudes, resentment, un-forgiveness, anger, jealousy, hatred, greed, or just plain selfishness? Have I given the room or a foot hold for the devil in any part of my life? Eph 4:27; A seed so small becomes such a great tree, a comprise so small becomes such a great fall. Eccl 10:1;
- God I ask that you help uproot anything that would take my heart off course or produce ungodly fruit in my life
Hosea 14:1
Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! NIV
Throughout the book of Hosea it describes I how many sins Israel has committed and how evil they have become. Yet, even in the midst of the evil God is still calling them to come back to Him. God cries out in this verse, He says RETURN, your SINS have been your downfall. He just wants them to stop sinning and come back to Him so that He can care for them and help them.
God I pray for my friends that don’t know You or have simply forgotten You, please draw them back to you and help them to understand that if they will just turn to you and stop living in sin that you will welcome them back with open arms.
Help me to always go back to you when I make a mistake and to seek forgiveness right away so that I can have relationship with you again. Just because I sin once does not mean I need to keep going.
Thoughts from AVK
Prov 22:11
11 He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend. NKJV
- Your words determine what friendships you will have.
- “He who…Will have…” Our lives are the fruit of our choices. If you don’t like what is growing change what you are planting. Look into the choices you make and plant what you want to reap.
- Your life is not a product of your circumstance but of your choices.
Prov 29:12
12 If a ruler honors liars, all his advisers will be wicked. NLT
- Your life will attract the people you honor. You will find yourself surrounded by the people you listen to. What kind of people are around you. Are you honoring the right people. If we honor the wrong people they will fill and can ruin our lives.
- Honor Prov 26:8
