Now let's move on to Proverb 5.

Before you begin this short exercise each day that will radically change your life, find your quiet place where you can spend 15-30 minutes alone with God and His Word.  It is very important that you do not rush this or try to move through it as quickly as you can. Don't have the time? If you will spare this time for God to go through this exercise each day, you will soon find that God will open your days up to you, giving you even more time than you ever thought possible or had before. Your delays will be shorter, your days will run smoother with less waste. You will actually GAIN time. Remember, God is a loving and giving Father who promises to give back everything we give and offer to Him in love - in MULTITUDES, and that includes time.

Start with this simple prayer:

Our Father in Heaven and earth, Creator of all, Thank you Father God for this day and for the gift of your Son that I may live and walk in your love all the days of my life.  I ask Father that you open the eyes of my heart and soul to hear and understand what lesson it is that you want me to learn from your words today. Please show me the wisdom that is contained in your holy words and allow me to discern the message, so that I may apply it to my life today, to draw me closer to you and to enrich the lives of others.  As I read these words oh Lord, fill me with wisdom and understanding, compassion and love, so that I may be a blessing to others today. Thank you God.

Now let's begin reading Proverb 5, versus 1-23, and be sure to speak it out loud:

 Proverbs 5:1-23

  1MY SON, be attentive to my Wisdom [godly Wisdom learned by actual and costly experience], and incline your ear to my understanding [of what is becoming and prudent for you],
    2That you may exercise proper discrimination and discretion and your lips may guard and keep knowledge and the wise answer [to temptation].

    3For the lips of a loose woman drip honey as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil;(A)

    4But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged and devouring sword.

    5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold of Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead).

    6She loses sight of and walks not in the path of life; her ways wind about aimlessly, and you cannot know them.

    7Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

    8Let your way in life be far from her, and come not near the door of her house [avoid the very scenes of temptation],(B)

    9Lest you give your honor to others and your years to those without mercy,

    10Lest strangers [and false teachings] take their fill of your strength and wealth and your labors go to the house of an alien [from God]–

    11And you groan and mourn when your end comes, when your flesh and body are consumed,

    12And you say, How I hated instruction and discipline, and my heart despised reproof!

    13I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers nor submitted and consented to those who instructed me.

    14[The extent and boldness of] my sin involved almost all evil [in the estimation] of the congregation and the community.

    15[a]Drink waters out of your own cistern [of a pure marriage relationship], and fresh running waters out of your own well.

    16Should your offspring be dispersed abroad as water brooks in the streets?

    17[Confine yourself to your own wife] let your children be for you alone, and not the children of strangers with you.

    18Let your fountain [of human life] be blessed [with the rewards of fidelity], and rejoice in the wife of your youth.

    19Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant doe [tender, gentle, attractive]–let her bosom satisfy you at all times, and always be transported with delight in her love.

    20Why should you, my son, be infatuated with a loose woman, embrace the bosom of an outsider, and go astray?

    21For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the Lord, and He [Who would have us live soberly, chastely, and godly] carefully weighs all man's goings.(C)

    22His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked man, and he shall be held with the cords of his sin.

    23He will die for lack of discipline and instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray and be lost.
 

Meditation:

After you have read through the daily Proverb, close your eyes and reflect on what you have just read. Ask God to reveal His message to you and be still and quiet for a few moments as you listen for His Voice. Go back and re-read verse 1 of the Proverbs a second time. Read it out loud and pause at the end of the first verse. Close your eyes to allow God to speak to you through His words. Focus on your connection to God Almighty and imagine that you are plugged into Him (like an electrical plug in a socket), receiving a charge of His power through this direct connection with Him. Open your mind and heart to hear His words. Pause for at least 10 seconds but more if you feel His words speaking to your heart.  Open your eyes and read the second verse. Again, close your eyes, focusing on God and repeating the words you just read in your mind. Be still and quiet as you draw on the charge of His power, through your connection with Him. Continue to pause as you read through each verse. The second reading through these Proverbs will take longer than the first but it is very important that you do not rush. Once you have completed reading the Proverbs for the second time, close your eyes and listen for God's voice to speak to you. 

A third reading and meditation on the Proverbs is even more powerful than that first two. In the third reading, read each word even more slowly than before, out loud, really trying to understand what each word means and how it applies to you. Continue to pause at the end of each verse but you may find that in the third reading, you are pausing betweeen the verses or after only a few words are spoken when God will bring revelation to your heart and mind. Continue reading and meditating on His word until you have completed the third reading of the Proverbs. Once you have completed the third reading of the Proverbs, take another moment to close your eyes and ask God to open your heart of understanding so that you may be able to apply this lesson in your life.

Conclude the daily meditation with this prayer, again spoken out loud:

Dear Father in Heaven and earth, Creator of all, Thank you Father God for your words today. May they lift up my heart and spirit, and allow me to be everything you want me to be. May your teaching council me this day and allow me to walk in your love and live the life to be all that you have created me to be. You promise that if I give it all up to you, that you will make my paths straight, so today I choose to surrender it all to you, dear Lord. I Thank you Father for opening the eyes of my heart and soul to hear and understand what lesson it is that you want me to learn from your words today. Continue to speak to me and to show me the wisdom that is contained in your holy words so that I may apply them to my life today, to draw me closer to you and to enrich the lives of others.  Lord, fill me with your wisdom and understanding, compassion and love, so that I may be a blessing to others today. Thank you God for the gift of your Son so that I may walk in the light and live a righteous life. In the holy name of Jesus I pray and give thanks to you and all that is good. Amen.

Now go and have yourself a wonderful, blessed day. If you have experienced any revelations from God while reading this or any time throughout your day, you are welcome to share your experiences, your thoughts and your feelings below.

Shalom!

The snow globe enclosed a peaceful landscape. Serene and still, everything was perfect until I picked it up. The slightest movement created a snowstorm.

My world feels like that at times. I try to maintain a modicum of control. It works well until the unexpected happens. The balance shifts and suddenly all I have organized is slipping and sliding.

“A place for everything and everything in its place,” has been my life’s motto. But just when I have it all together, one challenge collapses my carefully erected world. I prefer the accustomed, habitual, and business as usual. However, safe, comfortable, and predictable are not God-words.

Letting go is never easy. A phone call in the middle of the night, a dreaded diagnosis, a toddler’s first steps, the first day of school, handing a teen the car keys, relocating to another city, a new job, or different ministry responsibilities are just of a few of the pivotal points in life.

Change is often fraught with emotion, worry, fear, and dread. How will I go on? What will happen next? Will my children be okay? How are we going to make it? I never asked for this!

We live in a changing world. Family dynamics evolve, friends come and go, and health issues are inevitable.

The Scripture repeats, “And it came to pass.” It is one thing to read about changes in the lives of others but something else entirely to face our own. However, change is unavoidable. All that comes into our lives will pass in time. Nothing ever comes to stay.

Our past experiences may leave us apprehensive about God’s desire for change. When we read of His promise to do something new, we may wonder, “And what does that mean? Is it something I will enjoy?”

Perhaps the “new thing” He refers to is whatever we need. Do you need healing? Are you emotionally battered and scarred? Are you looking for answers? Does your family need a divine intervention? Are you struggling in your walk with God? Does your faith need a boost? What is lacking?

Throughout the Word of God it is confirmed, He will be — He will do whatever we need. It is the loss of control and right to dictate these changes that is unsettling.

Indeed, God is always at work in the world. He is creating new lives, new hearts, new beginnings, and His mercies and compassion are new each morning. Yet we are reluctant to trust Him.

An aging friend related to me the grief process following a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. At first she behaved as if it were not happening to her. She ignored it. But when it did not go away, anger replaced her denial. She felt betrayed. It took time, but she realized that while her life had changed, it was still good. Her life had value. She had significance.

We grieve over many things besides the death of someone we love. Events transpire in our lives that leave us shattered. Loss of control is never easy.

Why do we resist change? The unfolding of the seasons confirms life is about change. The stillness of winter erupts into sunshine and blossoms, increasing heat ushers in summer, summer fades into autumn, and fall foliage heralds the coming cold.

Some changes blindside us, and leave us reeling. The stages of life are inevitable, and we prepare ourselves as they approach. Other alterations we dare not avoid, not the ones God has planned for our lives. Missing out on anything He has for us is dangerous and not an option.

God is a God of change. He wants to remake us inside and out. This transformation began with repentance, when we turned away from our old lifestyle. It continues each day with a commitment to become all He desires.

We prefer to linger in secure places. However, for God to give us something new, we must be willing to let go of what we now grasp. This new thing God is doing in our lives is a process that will last a lifetime.

For us to receive more from God we must be willing to let go and let God have His way in our lives.

Lately God has placed a few loved ones in my path who are feeling low and defeated; their dread and anguish crushing my spirit and breaking my heart. The best and only thing I could do for each one of them was to say – “Give it to God” because I know with all my heart that He is the ONLY one who can help them where they are in their journey.

If you are also feeling this way, rest assured that our Lord is there for you too. Here are some things you can do to strengthen your faith and hope in tomorrow.

Pray and read His word daily

Start each day with a short Bible reading and meditation before you begin your day. Just dedicating 5 minutes to God each morning will radically change your day. (Do it every day and you will start to see a noticeable difference in your life within a very short time.) Pray more than once a day, as often as you can and everytime you feel down or sad, alone or defeated. Read not because you have to but because you long to know Him better, the King you serve, the Creator who crafted you, the perfect Father who loves you unconditionally. Even when He is correcting you He loves you because that is what perfect fathers do.  Do not say that you are being punished! Those are lies created to hurt you and keep you down. Instead, Rejoice! In the midst of your tears, in the core of your struggles, Rejoice that you are being lifted out of the valley and into the light.  

Love. Joy. Peace. Warmth. Grace. Mercy. Comfort. These are God.

Use and post these words in full plain site where you will see them often. Print them out and put them on your wall, near your computer, on your fridge, by your bed, where ever you can. Then anytime you look at them you can smile and rejoice because He is all of those things – and YOU dear one are his pride and joy, a son or daughter of the King in whom He is proud. The Bible says that you are "the apple of His eye" (I like that thought too . He is proud of you and only wants the best for you. He loves you. If you want out the valley and into the light then DO THESE THINGS. Trust me…. trust God… you may have lost the fight but the victory was won by God long before you and I were even born. The valleys can be dark and lonely but we all go thru them. There is no need to go through them alone when He is there, waiting for us to reach out to Him. We can sit and cry to no avail, or we can stretch out our arms and cry ‘abba, father” and surrender it to God, then allow Him to carry us through – but understand that He will do so only on His terms, or not at all.

It's not about being perfect.

Of course you’re not perfect. No matter how hard we try, no one can be perfect, that's why Jesus died for us. Mankind could not measure up to the rules of God. He had to die. He was the sacrifice that washed our sins away but in order to be cleansed we must first confess them with our mouth in total and complete honesty and in all humility, and then offer them up to Him.

Honesty is never easy.

It took me a year of being angry, hating my boss (and struggling with the feeling of such hatred) while I was enduring physical pain, suffering the loss of my father, battling a family court custody case, and resenting being squeezed out of a company I had devoted myself to, to realize the part I played in the bigger picture and my contribution to it all.  Not standing up for myself for fear of losing my job, the fear of losing my kids, my fear of this and my fear of that, I was choking and drowning in fear! I was crying out for God to help me but I was drowning in my own dread and emotion that I could not see Him standing right in front of me. I thought my prayers were going unanswered and I wondered about God..nearly doubting Him. The struggle seemed long and hopeless until one day I realized that it was me who was keeping myself locked up in my own fear.  Fear is NOT of God. Fear is the enemy's lie to knock us down and keep us off track. The Bible says that “the Devil is a thief and a liar”! Do not believe his words, he will do and say things to make you feel worthless, hopeless, sad and defeated. The longer he can keep you down in the darkness, the longer he can stifle the true light inside you that could be shining on others. Don't you see????? It's a trick. It's all a game to him.  “Fear not, for I am your Lord.” Says God.  God could not help me before because I was asking for His help but then I was going ahead and doing things my way, complaining and crying to others, my eyes were down in sadness and sorrow yet I wondered where He was and why He wasn't there to help. It was only after I was able to look up and beyond my own fears that I could see the Hand of God, waiting to lead me out of the valley and into the light of His love. My role was simply to follow and trust in Him.

"You ARE more valuable than gold or silver" says the Bible. Believe it.

If you want out, there is a way out, you just can't see it but it's not your job to see it. It's only your job to have faith and believe it to be true … to give it up to Jesus and allow Him to steer you out of it. The hopelessness I hear in others can only be mended by the true love of Christ, who is waiting for you to totally give it up to Him.

Keep eyes and ears open to Him.

 GGodGod speaks all the time, but our eyes, ears and hearts must be open to hearing Him and receiving His message. The Bible illustrates that God can speak to us in many different ways, thorough dreams like Joseph, visions like David or even thorough a burning bush like Moses. Other times he will place people in our lives, who have the words to encourage us when we are down. As Christians we are each a very important and special part of God's family. Spending time with other Christian brothers and sisters will strengthen you when you are down. But even if God was to shout out to you from the tallest building in your neighbourhood, the message will do you no good if you do not stop to listen for it and obey.  If you keep your focus on Him, He will take care of the rest – His promise, not mine.

Peace. 

^{Ps 77:13} Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?

^{Ps 77:14} You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

We witness God's miracles in our lives each and every day; the sun rises, the birds sing, and we live and breathe them through the harmonious and spectacular beauties of life, love and nature. For those who choose to see, God opens their eyes to the miracles all around us and in giving thanks to Him for his goodness, He blesses us.  Paul tells us that: “The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance.” ^{2Co 12:12 NIV}