Purified by Fire

 Scripture:

“The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This passage tells us that the crucible and the furnace refine silver and gold. The author then goes on further to say that the Lord tests our hearts in the same way. The righteous will go through the fire sometimes, but it is not a fire of destruction, it is a fire of purifying. We must be open to God’s purifying fire and His blessing. He gives both.

Application:

There are times when God allows us to go through some very difficult situations. There are times when we are tested and tried by fire. These situations don’t feel good, but they produce faith in greater levels. They produce value and make us better people. When God is testing us, we must hold on, because we will come out more pure than before. We can’t give us when the heat goes up.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are awesome and I love You with all my heart. You are my everything. You are my rock and my fortress. You are my strength and deliverer. Help me to know when I am being tested by You and when let me come out as pure gold. Purify my heart and let it be right before You always. Examine me and cleanse me of anything that You want out of my life. I am Yours and Yours alone.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Guard Your Life

 Scripture:

“The one who guards his words guards his life, but whoever is talkative will come to ruin.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This Proverb is powerful and true. It basically says that when we talk a lot, we will end up in a bad place, but if we guard our words, we guard our lives. Our words will make us or break us.

Application:

Words are super powerful in our lives. We end up becoming what we speak. We must be diligent to guard what comes out of our mouths. I want to know when to talk and when to be quiet. I want to hear the voice of the Spirit telling me when to be quiet and when to speak. I want to be Spirit led and Spirit driven. I want to live by this verse by speaking less, but what I say be more powerful. 

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I love You so much. Thanks for sharing Your word with me today. Help me to guard my mouth. Empower me to say less, but speak more authoritatively and powerfully. I want my words to matter. Help me to uplift You and Your kingdom through my speech. Let my mouth be used for Your glory. Show me when to speak and when to stay silent.

Yours,

Jeff

Anxiety or Joy?

 Scripture:

“Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This proverb is simple, yet powerful. It tells us that anxiety weighs us down, but encouragement brings us joy. Your is true that anxiety has a way of weighing us down and causing us to feel hopeless. They way out of anxiety is into the presence of the Lord. He is not anxious about anything. 

Application:

If anxiety weighs people down, I need to do whatever I can to be an encouragement to those around me. I don’t want to walk around weighed down and I don’t want those around me to live that way either. I want to be an encourager to those around me. I want to lift people up and not weigh them down.

Prayer:

Father, You are incredible and I love serving You. Help me to serve You well in my generation. Help me not to be weighed down with the cares of this life. Teach me to trust You in every area. Let my life bring joy to those around me. Teach me to walk with You in joy and not anxiety. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Wisdom Cries Out

 Scripture:

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭8‬:‭17‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, it is easy to overlook who is speaking. Sometimes verses like this appear to be God speaking to us, and it is, but these are the words of wisdom. This section starts with “wisdom cries out.” Wisdom says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” 

Application:

When we love wisdom, wisdom loves us. God loves us at all times, wisdom doesn’t chase us down. Wisdom loves those who love wisdom and seek it. We are told that those who seek wisdom will find it. We should always ask God for wisdom. He is the source of all wisdom and we need wisdom to guide our lives. When we love and seek wisdom, we will find it and be blessed for it.

Prayer:

Father, let me be wise. Let me make right decisions and be led by Your Spirit. You are the source of all wisdom and knowledge. Teach me to mine for wisdom and to seek it out before I make any decisions in life. Help me to stay on Your course and fulfill Your plans for my life. Let me find wisdom as I follow You.

Yours,

Jeff