90 Days of Wisdom: Day 89

"This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.' (Proverbs 30:20)

We have a tendency to rationalize our sin. Whether it is adultery, as pointed out in the above verse, or some other form of detrimental behavior; we play with it in our minds until we feel justified in what we are doing.

The problem is, this kind of behavior negates God's blessings upon our lives. Also, in the long run life will force us to the conclusion that we have cheated ourselves out of the best He had in store.

Let's not fall victim to our own devices. Instead of rationalizing, heed the Holy Spirit's conviction and confess your transgressions. You'll find yourself forgiven and free... and not having to make excuses for your life.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. (The Message)

Throughout Proverbs we learn about the importance of wise counsel and seeking the advice of others. This is true for all of us, especially leaders. At the same time, we cannot effectively lead if we are afraid of what people may think. Fear of human opinion can be paralyzing. It is also an easy habit for one to develop.

The remedy is not a head-strong my-way-or-the-highway attitude, but a healthy and strong trust in the Lord that develops a desire to please Him over all others.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 87

Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. (Proverbs 28:14)

This verse, like many in Proverbs is a contrasting couplet. Here we find two opposite attitudes that each produce differing results. The Message interprets this verse:

A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life;

a hardhearted person lives a hard life.

One of life's tougher battles is that of keeping our hearts soft, tender, and pliable. Life has a way of hardening us on the inside. Circumstances can harden our hearts as we are wrongly treated and respond by building walls of protection and resistance. Sin hardens our hearts when we choose not to repent and confess them and instead hold on to them.

Our hearts do not harden overnight. That's what is so dangerous about this dilemma. In fact, the process goes almost unnoticed until it is too late. We have all wondered how good, solid Christian people fall. This is one way it happens: the slow road to a hardened heart.

We need to battle this issue every day. We need to go before God every day and ask Him to search our hearts and show us if we are drifting in this direction. We also need to listen to our speech. Jesus pointed out that our speech--the way to talk to others--is a reflection of our hearts. Hard words are often a warning sign of a hard heart.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 86

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Proverbs 27:6)

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:9)

A true and good friend will tell you the truth, even if it stings. We need to be careful around people who are always flattering us, as alluring and addictive as their words may be.

Be a friend who will speak the truth in love. Choose friends who will do the same.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 85

If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. (Proverbs 26:27)

As a kid growing up, one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons was The Road Runner. Every week poor Wile. E. Coyote would do his best to catch the fleet-footed desert bird. He would order his A.C.M.E. products that were guaranteed to give him the upper hand, but each attempt would end in his trap backfiring, and the poor coyote would find himself either at the bottom of a canyon or burned to a crisp.

Bad attitudes have a way of backfiring as well. When we carry a grudge, spread gossip, or seek revenge, the person we will inevitably hurt is ourselves. The Message puts it this way:

Malice backfires; spite boomerangs. (Proverbs 26:27)

The next time you are tempted to cut someone down, either face-to-face or behind their back, or get even over a wrong you've endured, remember that poor old coyote with his rocket jet pack strapped on his back, a fork in one hand and a knife in the other, thinking he had the perfect plan to capture his dinner... only to fly himself into the side of a mountain. That's the same thing malice will do to us.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 84

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. ²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22)

You've heard the saying, "Fight fire with fire." Our natural inclination is to take revenge and to get even when someone wrongs us. Sometimes our revenge is active as we retaliate. At other times, it is passive as we pull out the weapon of the cold shoulder.

God's weapon for dealing with those who have wronged us is kindness. Kindness will tear down the walls of defense and open up a entry way into your enemy's heart. Kindness will either win your enemy over... or so baffle him that he'll not know what to do. Kindness towards those who wrong us also comes with a promised reward from God.

Who is on your "hit list?" Ask God to show you a kind act you can do for them. Trust God on this... follow through... and see what happens!

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 83

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. (Proverbs 24:16--NLT)

All of us trip, stumble and fall. Sometimes we even get knocked down by someone else. At times the circumstances of life seem to suck the joy out of living. But those who walk with God never stay down long. The Holy Spirit gives us an inner resiliency that causes us to get back up and keep moving forward.

As believers in Christ, we should never be down. We are either up... or getting up.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 82

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. ¹⁸ There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:17-18)

It is easy to fall into the trap of looking at those who have bought into the philosophies of this world and long to be like them. We want their success, their popularity, and their fast-lane lifestyle.

However, all of those things lead to nothing. In the end, they come up empty-handed.

We need to live with an eternal mindset. Our greatest rewards lie ahead of us; and unlike the rewards of this life, that only last a little while, God's best rewards for us will last for eternity.

Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—
That's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing. (The Message)

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 81

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

One of our main duties as parents is to help our children discover their strengths, talents and abilities. That's really what this verse is talking about. The emphasis is on "he": "Train up a child in the way HE should go..."

If you have a child living in your home, ask yourself the following questions:

1) What is he/she really good at?

2) How can I help my child get better at these skills?

As parents, our duty is not to mold our kids into our image... into what we want them to be and relive our lives vicariously through them. We need to help them discover who God created them to be, see their unique and divine gifting, and walk the path God has for them.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 80

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23)

The opportunity will present itself at some point today to say something rash, pointed, cutting, and hurtful. It might happen at home. The door may open at work. Commit now to guard your words. When the temptation to spout off presents itself, instead of talking start praying. Ask God for wisdom and commit your words to Him.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 79

Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you. (Proverbs 20:22)

When someone does us wrong, it is tempting to get even--to get our revenge. Sometimes we seek active revenge by openly retaliating against a person who has done something wrong to us, or by spreading the news to everyone we know. At other times our revenge is more passive in nature as we cut off communication and give the cold shoulder.

Revenge is not ours to give. Paying back evil-for-evil and getting even are not weapons of righteousness that God has placed in our arsenal. Instead, we need to put these situations in our Lord's hands and wait on Him. He can do a far better job of getting even for us than we can ever do for ourselves.

So what should we do? We need to forgive, pray, and learn. We need to use these situations as an opportunity to practice forgiveness... to let it go. We need to pray for those who do us wrong, that their eyes will be opened and their hearts broken over their actions. We need to learn from each experience. God allows these experiences to purify us, mold us, and grow us.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 78

A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. (Proverbs 19:13)

A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child; a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet. (The Message)

When family relationships go sour, every other area of life is affected. A rebellious child wears on a parent's mind all day and all night. A spouse who is always complaining and never happy is a drag to live with.

This is why it is important to keep communication lines open within the family. Deal with issues as they arise. Don't allow issues to linger and tensions to build.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 77

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. ¹¹ The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall. (Proverbs 18:10-11)

Where do you look for security? Many put their faith in money. Perhaps you've seen the TV commercials about investing in gold or developing a retirement plan. Saving for the future is important and the Bible supports it. However, it is dangerous to let our savings account become our security blanket.

Our future is secure because of our relationship with God. He is the one who keeps us safe during times of trouble, whether relational, physical, or economic. A savings account can be wiped away quickly, as many have experienced in recent months. But our Lord never leaves us and never forsakes us.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 76

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (Proverbs 17:1)

The tale of two households:

1: Dad pulls up to a small house driving an old car. His children run out the front door to meet him in the driveway. They walk inside and find the aroma of chicken, okra, mashed potatoes, and Mom's homemade biscuits. The table is not draped with a tablecloth, but placemats spot where each person will eat. There is no fine china at the table; in fact, the dishes are mismatched and some of them are chipped. Different styles of stainless silverware are at each setting. The family holds hands, Dad asks the blessing, and they dig in. Laughter fills the house as each family member recounts their day. The love this family has for each other is obvious.

2. Dad pulls up to his mansion located in a gated community. He steps out of his new BMW and kicks the cat out of the way as he attempts to get in the door. No one comes to meet him. They are all in their rooms, watching their private TVs, playing with their personalized Playstations or Wiis. At dinner time, the family gathers in the formal dining room where a long table is eloquently draped and set with fine china, crystal, and gold-plated silverware. Dinner has been ordered out--again--due to Mom's hectic schedule. It's Tuesday, so Chili's to-go is their menu. Dad sits down and eats as fast as possible, obviously preoccupied with other things. Mom has a face like a hatchet as she is sure her husband is fooling around with his secretary. The teen-aged kids sit stone-faced, eat, and say nothing unless it is sarcastic and cutting.

Which of these homes would you rather live in?

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 75

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

There are two aspects to the concept of committing your work and/or plans to the Lord. The first is that of giving it to Him. When we commit something to God, we are giving Him ownership of it. It is no longer ours, but His. He is the owner and we are His stewards.

The second aspect is that we put God in charge. He is the boss and we are the employees. The Message translates this verse:

Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place.

Are you struggling in your business? Have you launched a new venture that isn't getting off the ground? Commit it to God. Put it in His hands. Take the role of a steward and employee with the Lord in charge... you will see a difference!

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 74

A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. (Proverbs 15:5)

Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die. (Proverbs 15:10)

A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise. (Proverbs 15:12)

We all need it... but at the time we really don't want it: correction. There is something within us (pride, maybe?) that resents being told what to do or how to do something better.

Throughout Proverbs we are encouraged to be coachable. It is imperative that we listen to others, especially those God has placed in leadership/authority positions in our lives. When we resist correction, it is inevitable that life will get tougher. Verse 10 above alludes to that.

We have two choices when it comes to correction: we can listen and learn... or we can live and learn.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 73

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)

The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water so you won't go off drinking from poisoned wells. (Proverbs 14:27--The Message)

There is an ongoing battle in many believers. They battle God on doing life His way. We are tempted to believe that we know better for ourselves than God knows and that if we follow Him we will be cheated out of something really, really good.

That's why this same chapter of Proverbs warns us, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" (14:12).

When we are tempted to go our own way and go against God's way, we need to remind ourselves that God is Love, and therefore He truly wants what is best for us... AND, that God is All-Knowing, so He actually sees the big picture and knows what's best for us. For this reason, we can trust Him and walk with Him with an understanding that His way will not be a dead end street.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 72

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. (Proverbs 13:20, NLT)

Attitudes are contagious and we have a tendency to pick up the predominant traits of those with whom we hang out. Choosing friends who build us up and encourage a positive attitude is vital if we are going to be successful in life. Choose your friends and associates wisely.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 71

Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. (Proverbs 12:24)

The 12th chapter of Proverbs is a list of contrasts: the good man v. the crafty man (v2), the noble wife v. the disgraceful wife (v.4), the righteous v. the wicked (v.5), and so on. In verse 24 we see the diligent contrasted with the lazy.

Many people are caught up in a conflicting paradigm concerning their work and/or career. On the one hand, they want to climb the corporate ladder, receive promotions, and enjoy the benefits of a higher income. On the other hand, they don't want to do any more than is absolutely necessary in their current position.

We live in a "just enough" culture when it comes to work. If you need proof, what kind of customer service did you receive the last time you went to a restaurant, department store, or even the gym? A few months ago I had to purchase a refrigerator for the house we have rented back in Charleston. I went to a local appliance store, walked through the refrigerators, opened them up, looked at all the tags, and did everything I could to let the people working their know that I wanted to buy something. There was a group of employees across the room talking to each other. They saw me... but never approached me. The end result was I left and went somewhere else. Three people at this store, whose name I won't reveal (but it sounds like someone's name--two initials then a last name that could be a first name) went to work that day, but didn't work that day.

Here's the point: when we apply ourselves, do our best, and go over and above what is required, we set ourselves up for promotion. You may be a waiter today, but apply yourself and you'll be a general manager tomorrow. You may just be an assembly line worker today, but do your work with excellence and one day you'll be promoted to leadership.

Here's a goal for each of us at work: work yourself out of a job. That is, do your work so well and with such excellence that your boss or owner will be compelled to move you up in his or her business.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 70

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. ²⁵ A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24-25)

Notice how these two verses are translated in The Message:

The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. ²⁵ The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

There are two viewpoints when it comes to generosity. Many people have a "poverty mentality." They do not think that they can be generous and still meet their own needs. Their thinking and their words reflect this: "We don't have enough money"... "I don't have enough time"... "We can't afford to help them."

On the other side of the coin, are those with a "prosperity mentality." They think the opposite. Their faith is such that as they look at others who have been blessed, instead of being jealous they have the attitude that if God can bless him then He can also bless me. When it comes to giving of their time, talent, and treasure, those with a "prosperity mentality" understand that God has already given us more than enough.

Let's develop the right kind of viewpoint when it comes to generosity. Let's remind ourselves every day that God has blessed us with more than we need. Let's remember his promises that as we are generous, He will return to us a greater portion that what we have shared. Let's keep our eyes opened to opportunities to be generous.

By the way... random acts of kindness are a form of generosity! Reach out to others in this way, and see what God does in return!

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 69

Ill-gotten treasures are of noue,
but righteousness delivers from death. (Proverbs 10:2)

The memory of the righteous will be a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot. (Proverbs 10:7)

The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land. (Proverbs 10:30)

Throughout Proverbs 10 we find a contrast drawn between the righteous and the wicked. We are tempted to believe that those who cheat and steal get ahead. Many people ask, "Why do the innocent suffer, while the wicked get rich and prosper?"

In the short-run, those who cheat, cut corners, lie, and blackmail may seem to be getting ahead. But short-cuts never pay off in the long-run. Short-cuts always come back to haunt us.

When we commit to live with integrity, we lay a foundation for our lives that cannot be destroyed. When we cheat, the person we cheat the most is ourselves.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 68

"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. (Proverbs 9:7-8)

One of the key components for growing in wisdom is to develop and maintain a teachable spirit. None of us are perfect. We all have blind-spots and areas where we need to be challenged. How we handle correction and even rebuke says a lot about how teachable we are.

We must be open to the teachable moments in life and not allow pride to keep us from growing. Be open to suggestions, correction, and even rebuke from others. Learn from criticism. Allow God to use these moments to grow you.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 67

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. (Proverbs 8:34)

Wisdom is personified in Proverbs 8. As Wisdom concludes its discourse, having shared its benefits and what it will add to our lives, we find the above verse. Here we find three steps to growing in wisdom:

1) Listening. There is a difference between hearing and listening. Many times what we hear goes in one ear and out the other, bypassing our brains altogether. Listening means to pay attention to what is being said and to engage in the subject that is being covered.

2) Watching daily. Again, this is an active verb. We cannot be passive and find wisdom. Neither can we look for it sporadically. We must watch daily, as God teaches us wisdom both through His Word and in life's lessons.

3) Waiting. Wisdom is not developed overnight. Instead, it is built into our lives as we listen and watch day-after-day. Wisdom cannot be zapped up in a microwave, it simmers slowly in a crock pot.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 66

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your kinsman; ⁵ they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words. (Proverbs 7:4-5)

You've heard the old say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Ask anyone who has suffered a heart attack, and the surgeries and medications that follow such a malady, and they will tell you that if they could turn back time, they would have taken better care of themselves, eaten a cleaner diet and exercised more often in order to prevent both the physical and financial catastrophe that can be the aftermath of a cardiac arrest.

Guarding our lives from sin is much the same. Ask any family that has dealt with the malady of infidelity, and they will tell you that is was not worth it. However, at the moment of opportunity, the unprepared heart may find itself caught up in a vortex from which it cannot escape.

We don't avoid sexual sin at the moment of temptation. Sexual sin is avoided by daily building into our lives the wisdom and understanding of God. Sexual sin is short-sightedness--we allow the instant gratification of the moment to override our understanding of the consequences.

Wisdom and understanding allow us to see the big picture of God's plan for our lives. As we envision what He has for us, and the greatness of his plans for our lives, we will not want to forfeit it for anything, including cheap sex.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 65

if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, ³ then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! (Proverbs 6:2-3)

Our words can get us into trouble. When this happens, we need to do our part in making things right. Do you have any relationships that are strained or broken due to your ill-chosen words? If so, take steps today to make it right. You'll be blessed for doing so!

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 64

Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, (Proverbs 5:8)

The context of this verse is the temptation and consequences of adultery. The principle here can and should be applied to every type of sexual sin. The only way to avoid falling into sexual sin is to stay as far away from the temptation as possible.

Solomon is warning his son, "Don't walk past her house! Stay off her street!" Every day we need to guard our lives in this area. We need to guard our tv and internet time. Even so-called "soft-porn" will become a crack in the door of your heart. Guard your conversations at work, the gym, and even at church.

Commit the following Scripture to memory:

I will lead a life of integrity
in my own home.
³ I will refuse to look at
anything vile and vulgar.
I hate all who deal crookedly;
I will have nothing to do with them.
⁴ I will reject perverse ideas
and stay away from every evil. (Psalm 101:2-4, NLT)

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 63

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. ²¹ Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; ²² for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. (Proverbs 4:20-22)

Listening, learning and applying God's Word produces wisdom. Wisdom, in turn, produces many benefits. Two of those benefits are given to us in verse 22.

The first is life. Many people are merely existing on this planet. Their lives are void of any depth or substance. They have no real joy in their relationships or careers. Sadly, they look for life in all the wrong places and end up with nothing but regrets. God's desire is that we have life... that our time on this planet is an adventure with living as we impact those around us.

The second benefit mentioned is health. Here's how health works: good choices produce health... bad choices bring sickness and premature aging. Wisdom is a like a coin. On one side, you have wisdom on the other you find discipline. You don't get one without the other. Health is the result of the discipline of consistent good decisions. When we think of health, we think about diet and exercise. Both of these are important. There is another factor though that wisdom helps us handle: stress. When we walk in wisdom, God leads us down the proper paths and we have an assurance that He is with us. The result is that we don't have to carry the load of stress that many of our fellow humans are dealing with.

Seek wisdom... you'll live a healthier life!

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 62

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. ¹² For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT)

None of us are perfect. We all get out of line from time to time. It is our nature to fall away and find ourselves on the wrong path. When this happens, the Lord moves to correct us and get us back on track. The more sensitive we are to His voice, the easier His correction.

God uses His word to correct us. When we spend time in His word, it becomes a shining light into the dark places of our lives. He also uses others. When the Sunday message at church seems to be aimed right at you... it's not that your pastor has a crystal ball and knows what you've been up to... it's the Holy Spirit taking it and applying it to your life. God also uses circumstances to correct us. When things are going wrong at home or at work, or when there are relational breakdowns in your life, this can be the hand of the Lord moving in to bring discipline into your life.

During these times our best response is to pull aside and ask God to search us and show us what it is that we need to deal with. Is there a temptation to which we are yielding? Is there a grudge we might be harboring? Have we become selfish and greedy? As we seek the Lord, He will show us so that we can repent and turn back to Him, find forgiveness and move forward.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 61

He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. (Proverbs 2:7-8)

A generation ago people left the doors of their homes unlocked, even when they went to work or on vacation. That's unheard of in our day and time. Today, we keep our doors both locked and dead-bolted... and just to be on the safe side we install alarm systems all because we want to be protected.

Guarding our families, homes, well-being, and possessions is important. What's more important is guarding our spirit. As we walk with God and grow in wisdom, which is His ways--His ways of thinking and His ways of behaving--He promises to be our protection.

Every day, when you spend time in God's Word and spend time with Him in prayer, you are strengthening yourself on the inside and at the same time God is guiding your steps through life.

Most of us would not leave home without locking the door and setting the alarm. Let's give our inner man the same diligence.

90 Days of Wisdom: Day 60

OK... here we go... third time around the track... final lap with Proverbs:

but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. (Proverbs 1:33)

In the context of chapter one, wisdom is speaking. We are reminded here that as we seek wisdom and listen to the wise counsel of God's Word and God's people, we will be led in the direction of safety.

Life is filled with uncertainties. Each day we make decisions and each decision has consequences. It's impossible to know how everything is going to turn out in life. Because of this, many are paralyzed. They don't know what to do... which way to turn. Many make bad decisions and live with the regrets of short-sighted thinking.

Wisdom is built day-by-day. As we spend time in God's Word and with godly people, we grow in wisdom. The result is less stress and an assurance that when decision time is upon us, we will make the right choice.