Proverbs 12:15; 15:22, 31-32; 19:20
Do you want to be wise or do you want to be foolish? I think we’d all say we’d like to be wise..but what do our actions reveal? Proverbs is chucked full of wisdom for us. Proverbs is all about probability. If you apply the wisdom, the probability of it working is high. It doesn’t mean it WILL happen, but that it’s likely. Our scriptures for today remind us that wisdom can’t be achieved on our own. We must listen to wise counsel. Fools do what's right in their own eyes, but the wise surround themselves with people who push them to be better.
I remember when I was 18, I thought I knew best. I mean what teenager doesn't? I was now an “adult.” As if wisdom came with an age number. I moved out right at 18, got my own apartment, found “the love of my life,” only to end up heart broken and moving back in with my parents. Those who knew what was best for me warned me of my decisions, but I was too eager to do what I thought was best. My lack of regard for wise people in my life led to a road of destruction. In those years I lived for the world and all its pleasures and got caught up with some really bad people. I later regretted my decisions. I cried many tears and thought I had ruined my life.
Discipline is never fun, but it helps us grow. Proverbs 15:22, “Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” Yikes. If you hate yourself, you’ll ignore instruction. Let that sink in for a minute! It took me EIGHT YEARS to finally start listening to some Christians in my life who knew what was best for me. After eight years, I surrendered to fully live for the Lord and to stop living a double life. It wasn’t easy, but it’s brought more joy, peace, and purpose than I could have ever imagined for myself. If you’re a young adult reading this, I beg you, no URGE you, to please listen to the godly people in your life. The pain is coming if you don’t. You’ll look back and wish you had listened. The Lord disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). If you’re in a season of discipline, don’t be discouraged. It means you are on the road to growth. If you haven’t realized yet, the Bible is full of messy people who mostly didn’t listen to God. Their regret, sorrow, and consequences are all over scripture for us to learn from! But thank God we have a savior who doesn't give up on us. He disciplines us because He loves us and wants us to follow Him. He has our best interest in mind and wants to help us if we’ll just listen!
I remember when I was 18, I thought I knew best. I mean what teenager doesn't? I was now an “adult.” As if wisdom came with an age number. I moved out right at 18, got my own apartment, found “the love of my life,” only to end up heart broken and moving back in with my parents. Those who knew what was best for me warned me of my decisions, but I was too eager to do what I thought was best. My lack of regard for wise people in my life led to a road of destruction. In those years I lived for the world and all its pleasures and got caught up with some really bad people. I later regretted my decisions. I cried many tears and thought I had ruined my life.
Discipline is never fun, but it helps us grow. Proverbs 15:22, “Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” Yikes. If you hate yourself, you’ll ignore instruction. Let that sink in for a minute! It took me EIGHT YEARS to finally start listening to some Christians in my life who knew what was best for me. After eight years, I surrendered to fully live for the Lord and to stop living a double life. It wasn’t easy, but it’s brought more joy, peace, and purpose than I could have ever imagined for myself. If you’re a young adult reading this, I beg you, no URGE you, to please listen to the godly people in your life. The pain is coming if you don’t. You’ll look back and wish you had listened. The Lord disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). If you’re in a season of discipline, don’t be discouraged. It means you are on the road to growth. If you haven’t realized yet, the Bible is full of messy people who mostly didn’t listen to God. Their regret, sorrow, and consequences are all over scripture for us to learn from! But thank God we have a savior who doesn't give up on us. He disciplines us because He loves us and wants us to follow Him. He has our best interest in mind and wants to help us if we’ll just listen!
Posted in Devotional