Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Monday July 20, 2009 and we are beginning our studies in the book of Proverbs, please read chapters 1-3 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%201-3&version=9

Today's Message: Not Our Own Understanding
Do you ever try to figure something out, yet have no answer? Well, the problem is that we are trying to figure it out all on our own. We need to learn to lean toward God for understanding, not our own if we want to figure things out.

The Book of Proverbs is the twentieth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirty-one chapters. Most of the Proverbs we written by Solomon, except for the last two. It was first written to the Israelite's, but the truths for practical living are applicable to all believers. The purpose of the book was to teach wisdom, instruction, and correction to all, what we are to learn from it is Vertical wisdom is necessary for horizontal living. Proverbs is a collection of wise principles given by God to man (vertical) to govern living with others (horizontal). It is recorded in I Kings 4:32 that Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs under the inspiration of God. Some of these are preserved for us by the Holy Spirit in the book of Proverbs. Some of the Proverbs Solomon set in order himself, meaning that he not only wrote them, but also arranged them in the order in which they are presented in the Bible. Other Proverbs of Solomon were put in their order by King Hezekiah’s men.

The word "proverbs" means "a brief saying instead of many words." Each verse in Proverbs is a concise summary of an important truth. It is difficult to make a general outline of the book because each chapter and sometimes each verse within the chapter deals with a different subject. The reason for writing these brief sayings is to condense wisdom to help us remember spiritual truths better. The Proverbs are short summaries of great spiritual truths. “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”- Proverbs 1:1-7. The Proverbs were written to given us an easier way to understand God's Word, His commands, and teaches us about the things we need to stay away from if we want to have a right relationship with God.

Solomon, along with approximately 40 other writers of the Bible, was inspired by God to record exactly what He wanted us to know in order to be the person He created us to be. “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:1-6. God is saying that we are to take His Words and hide them deep within our heart, mind, and soul, for they are the most precious treasure that anyone will ever find.

Let's face it, life is hard enough to try to figure things out all on our own, but when we put our trust in God and let Him help us understand it's not so difficult. In fact God tells us not to lean on our own understanding, but on His, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” - Proverbs 3:5-12. We can try and try and try to figure things out yet get nothing out of it except pain and suffering, but when we trust God with all our heart He will direct our paths for us and show us how to handle things. I will tell you what, I spent too many years trying to figure things out without God and all it did was make me feel worse, but the second I gave things over to God I felt peace and am a hundred times better than I was, even if I may not have all that I use to.

We can learn a lot by reading the Proverbs, there is so much truth in them regarding the everyday circumstances we face. The more we read them the more we will understand, as with any book in the Bible. Do you think that God would give us His Word and not show us how we can understand it? The Bible is a huge book and I doubt that we will ever learn all there is to learn from it in our life-time here on earth, but we can learn a little each day and as we faithfully read we will understand more and more. It is said that we are to read a Proverb for each day of the week, every month of the year, hence thirty-one proverbs. Incidentally, the only way we will fully understand any of the Bible is through the Holy Spirit, He is the only who enables us to comprehend God's Word. The only way to receive the Holy Spirit is by receiving Jesus Christ, otherwise one can read and read and read and never get any wiser. Why do you think there are so many different versions of the Bible? They do not understand it, so they try to re-write it to understand it and completely mess it up. Remember, we are not to lean on our own understanding, Trust God and His True Word, which can only be learned through the Holy Spirit.

Today's Prayer:

Dear God,
When we gave you our heart, we made the willful choice to no longer conform to the trends and philosophies of this world.  Instead we ask You to daily renew our minds so that we see this world and its philosophies through the eyes of Christ. We are put to the test daily in deciding what is truth and what is error. May Your Holy Word be our reference point and Your Spirit be our Guide as we are exposed to countless philosophies based on human understanding and the basic principles of this world rather than Your eternal foundational truths. Sharpen our discernment and grant us courage so that we readily know truth from error and are fearless in saying so.  In Jesus' Name...........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day and week.
God Bless You,
Christina