The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (19 page)

March 8

Wise, Godly Advice

     
The godly person gives wise advice,

          
but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

     
The godly speak words that are helpful,

          
but the wicked speak only what is corrupt.

Our proverb today says that the godly give wise advice and helpful words. That’s so good. Let’s ponder this for a moment. Even Moses at times needed advice. Remember when his father-in-law told him he needed to spread out his workload and have others help in his leadership (see Exodus 18:13-26)? Delegate. It was good advice to delegate.

Think about the times that you needed the wise counsel of a godly sister. Did you find it? When others come to you, do they expect it, and then do they find it? If so, God bless you. Women like you, my friend, are in short supply.

I’m going to talk to you about the best tool I have ever found for counseling, discipling, encouraging, and comforting others. It’s the
One Year Bible
. It has been my policy for years that I will counsel someone once, but if they would like to continue, I ask them to start reading the
One Year Bible
too. I find that all of the struggles and issues I am personally dealing with are addressed consistently in my own daily reading. Also, as I read, I sense how the reading of a particular day is meeting others right where they are. Then when we do talk, we talk about God’s Word and process it in the light of the things that they’re going through. The fun thing is because the Lord has already spoken to them, they are the ones who point out the solutions, not me. Pretty good, huh?

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

There is absolutely no issue or dilemma known to man (or woman) that is not, at least in principle, addressed in the Word of God. Are you struggling with a sin or failure in your life? Do you need godly advice? Will you read Psalm 51:1-19 (listed below as one of our readings today)? As you read it, you will find words of correction, mercy, repentance, honesty, and restoration. What a package! No one knows the complications of your soul and how to fix them like God himself. Will you let his words be your last word?

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 10:1–11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32

March 9

Honorable Living

     
The L
ORD
hates cheating,

          
but he delights in honesty.

     
Pride leads to disgrace,

          
but with humility comes wisdom.

     
Good people are guided by their honesty;

          
treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher. He said, “It is not necessary that whilst I live I should live happily; but it is necessary that so long as I live I should live honorably.”

To live honorably. This is not a concept we hear much about in our society. Although on one hand that can be very discouraging, on the other hand, it gives us a great opportunity to live our lives in contrast. The apostle Paul wrote some incredible things when he was in a Roman jail. It is said he was chained to a Roman soldier every day. In Rome, life was very dog-eat-dog; immorality and power were more popular than integrity and virtue. It was in that atmosphere that Paul wrote these words in Philippians 2:14-16: “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life”(
NKJV
).

So no matter where you work or live, God has set you there to shine. Honesty and humility truly shine bright in the dark world. And as Samuel Johnson said, “It is better to suffer wrong than to do it.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

You might not be chained to a Roman solider, but all of us have situations that we are “stuck with.” Are you the only Christian in your workplace? Are the conversations there so wrong they grieve your spirit? Live honorably! Go the extra mile, give grace, don’t get tangled in office politics. Honor the Lord.

Is your husband an unbeliever? Live honorably! Find ways to encourage and respect him. Never put him down with your friends at church. Share the gospel by your actions and love and thankfulness more than your words. Honor the Lord.

Are your in-laws hard to get along with? Live honorably! Don’t take things too personally. Pray a lot, and honor the Lord.

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 11:24–13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3

March 10

Eternal Treasures

     
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,

          
but righteousness delivers from death.

Wealth. It seems to hold all the answers to our worries and problems. We think,
If only I had money, life would be complete. Then I would have the luxury to concentrate on the things of God.
Many people do believe that with money all the world’s problems could be solved, but the Bible tells us that at the end of all time, the things of this world—money, material things—will all burn. In others words, in the grand scheme, all of our efforts to gain material wealth will be worthless. So here is the question to ask yourself: What is real wealth to you? What do you value most of all? The answer to this question could be life altering, because the most valuable thing in this world is being delivered from death and to receive eternal life—really. Jesus said, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Salvation is offered to each of us through the precious blood of the risen Christ. Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice. We owed a debt we could not pay. He paid a debt he did not owe. So if we choose to accept this gift, it is ours for the taking. How ironic it is that the one thing that is worth the most, eternal life, is a gift, completely free. If you haven’t, will you accept this gift today? Second Corinthians 6:2 says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (
NKJV
).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Mother Teresa was very poor materially, but she is now rich in eternity. She gave this wise advice: “Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. . . . Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.”

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 14:1–15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4

March 11

As It Should Be

     
The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them,

          
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

     
The righteousness of the upright delivers them,

          
but the unfaithful are trapped by their evil desires.

C. S. Lewis said, “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.”

Doing the “right thing” is like a crystal bell that rings deep in our souls. Doing the wrong thing is like the sound of fingernails on the chalkboard. “Right” sets a course that is clear and straight.

     
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King;

     
trust them with Jesus; “do the next thing.”

     
Do it immediately; do it with prayer;

     
do it reliantly, casting all care;

     
do it with reverence, . . . safe ’neath his wing;

     
leave all resulting; “do the next thing.”

Recently I came across the phrase “as it should be.” Now when I am in a moment of decision, I hear this simple phrase and it helps me to make the better choice. It helps me land right; forgive quickly, give freely, or be patient “as it should be.”

It helps me notice when others land right, too. As my friend bought a ticket for a retreat, she remembered a single mom who had no money—so she bought two. I thought, “Yep, that’s ‘as it should be.’” A teenage girl in the church made a mistake. Instead of casting her out in shame, the women came to her side and loved her. Now, that is truly “as it should be.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Did you know that every time you make a right choice, the next right choice is easier and comes more naturally? It’s the same principle as erosion. Once a path for water is started, it gets deeper as more water flows through the grooves. The same is true with godly attitudes and thoughts. This is great news. Try it out. For instance, the more quickly you choose to overlook a rude action or word, the more quickly your thoughts are restored to peace. You’re less uptight and more resilient for the next test.

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 15:17–16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 11:5-6