The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (22 page)

March 20

What God Hates

     
They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the L
ORD
:

     
But such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Ladies, we need to think deeply about what this says. There are things that God really hates, and there are things that bless him so much, he is actually delighted. This is an astounding and inviting concept—that we personally can bring delight to the God who created the stars!

Hmm, let’s see: to be an abomination or a delight? What should we choose?

First, what is it that is an abomination to God? A froward heart is an abomination.
Froward
is an old-fashioned word for distorted and false.

One of my least favorite moments for women in the Bible is found in Genesis 27. Rebekah influenced her son Jacob to lie to and deceive his father so that he could receive the blessing planned for his older brother. Jacob did not feel good about it and feared the deception would bring trouble. His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say” (Genesis 27:13,
NIV
). Well, if you read the story, you learn that he did, but it did create a great breach in the family. Jacob had to flee from his brother’s anger, and Rebekah never saw her son again. She thought she could do a wrong thing and it would turn out right—but she was wrong.

So, in contrast, let’s look at what God does love. First Peter 3:3-4 says, “Let your adornment be . . . the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (
NKJV
).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

To be froward is to be distorted, false. To be upright is to be sound, wholesome, innocent, having integrity. God hates one and loves the other. The truth is, so does everyone else. Those who know you best, behind the scenes—what would they say? Do your kids see you distort the truth and make compromises? Do you tell them to do one thing while you do the other? Do they hear you blame your husband (or ex-husband) for your bad attitude? God hates these things, and so do your kids. Just putting it frankly, it’s time to knock it off!

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 30:1–31:54; Luke 4:1-30; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 11:20-21

March 21

Beauty Is as Beauty Does

     
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout

          
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

This is a ridiculous picture. A gold ring absolutely does not belong on the ugly nose of a pig. A pig lives in the mud. Likewise, a woman with no discretion acts and dresses with bad judgment and poor taste. She is just plain rude and selfish. Therefore, a beautiful face on such a woman is wasted and misplaced.

Josh Billings said, “To marry a woman for her beauty is like buying a house for its paint.” Maybe he had seen men who fell for a pretty face and then lived miserable lives trying to make their beautiful wives happy. Studies have shown that the more beauty a woman has when she is young, the harder it is for her to watch herself age. So, my dear sisters, no one is saying go ahead and just let yourself get ugly. But I am saying, get over the anxiety and priority of needing to look young and beautiful.

Let’s now get to the main point of this proverb. The main point is that beauty, real beauty, is more than skin deep. So although the world does not affirm this for us, we can affirm it for each other. Moms, read stories of great godly women in the past like Amy Carmichael and Corrie ten Boom, not just to your girls, but to your sons as well. These women had an inner glow and are true examples of Proverbs 31:30: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the L
ORD
is to be praised” (
NIV
).

Because beauty is as beauty does.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Since indiscretion is ugly, let’s look at the beauty of discretion. Discretion is not only noble, it is classy. It looks good on you no matter where you are or what you look like. Discretion carries an air of authority and dignity. Discretion guides us with the power to choose, to be careful, discerning, and wise. If you are a child of God, your Father in heaven is the great and noble King of the universe. Will you chose to live your life today to honor him, reflecting godly nobility and true beauty?

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 32:1–33:39; Luke 4:31–5:11; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22

March 22

Righteous Desires

     
The desire of the righteous is only good,

          
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

This proverb gives a picture of contrasts. We are shown the end result of right living and the end result of wickedness. Many lives are like a car racing out of control heading straight for a cliff. We need flashing red lights that say, “Danger ahead, slow down, turn around, and drive carefully in the right direction.”

So our quest today will be to discover how to cultivate good, godly desires and appetites that lead to good things. There is no better place to start than by asking God for a fresh love for him and a fresh desire for his Word.

How can we develop a fresh desire for God? Choose to read God’s Word every morning, not just as a Christian duty but to know him more. I love to get up before anyone else, while it is still dark. There is something exciting about this secret time alone with God. Make a place in your house that is your “holy place,” your place to meet with God. I have my
One Year Bible
there, my favorite devotionals, highlighters, pens, a journal, and my “to do” notebook.

Then, as you read, write little notes in the margin. Sometimes I write a date next to a promise as I ask the Lord to help me believe and trust him. Underline words that stand out, write out Scriptures. Stop and pray about the lessons you see and need to apply.

“Delight yourself also in the L
ORD
, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4,
NKJV
).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

What is the result of spending the first half hour of the day with God? He rewires your thoughts with hope. Maybe you woke up still angry about something that happened yesterday at work, or worried about your kids, or anxious about the bills. The psalm reading for today is Psalm 65. As you read these words, let them give you fresh confidence to face your day: “God our Savior, . . . who stilled the roaring of the seas, . . . where morning dawns . . . you call forth songs of joy” (vv. 5, 7-8,
NIV
).

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 33:40–35:34; Luke 5:12-28; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 11:23

March 23

Refreshing Others

     
One man gives freely, yet gains even more;

          
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

     
A generous man will prosper;

          
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Isn’t this just the opposite of what our natural instincts tell us? When our natural mind does the math, we think,
Give and you have less, hoard and you have more.
But Jesus gives us the true formula, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35,
NKJV
).

I learned this principle the hard way. I once slipped into a terrible time of depression. I was disappointed with situations in life, and on top of that I was feeling like a failure. And so I kept sinking deeper and deeper. Then one day, someone suggested that the best way out of depression was not to do more things for myself, but to find someone else who needed cheering. Just at that time I was invited to teach sewing to boys at a juvenile detention facility. It was a step—and I took it. It ended up that the most popular project with these troubled teens was to make teddy bears. They wanted to make pink and yellow and blue teddy bears. Then they told me the reason. They wanted to make them for their moms and little sisters and grandmothers. Then I realized they were just like me. In their troubles, they needed to give, too. Because “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” It was the way out of depression for them and for me, too.

“He [or she] who refreshes others will [themselves] be refreshed.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Have you been feeling discouraged and depressed? Does it seem you just can’t shake it? Will you try this formula? Will you look around your world and ask God to show you someone who is also going through a hard time? You don’t have to look very far. Then will you ask him to show you something tangible you can do? I never thought sewing teddy bears would be the turning point for me. God knows what will turn you around, too. As you refresh others, he will indeed refresh you.

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 36:1—Deuteronomy 1:46; Luke 5:29–6:11; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 11:24-26