Daily Devotionals for March 10, 2024
Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living
Devotional Scripture:
Proverbs 11:7-9(KJV): 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. 9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. Proverbs 11:7-9(Amplified): 7 When the wicked dies, his hope (for the future) perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing. 8 The(uncompromisingly) righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead. 9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge and superior discernment shall the righteous be delivered.
Thought for the Day
Verses 7-8 - Wicked men may make great plans for the future, but these plans will not materialize when their lives are cut short. A great portion of Scripture to strengthen our faith is a personal favorite of mine: Psalm 91. It contains wonderful promises of protection for those who remain close to God. There is no trouble that is too great for Him. The enemy is not able to withstand His power! I pray these scriptures over my life and my family daily.
Verse 9 - Gossips are hypocrites. They criticize others, yet they are guilty of great evil, destroying a person's reputation by repeating things that may or may not be true. Even truthful things become distorted by repetition. When I was young, we used to play a game called "Gossip." Someone whispered something to the person seated next to them, who in turn told what they had heard to the next person, and so on. The last person in the circle related what they had heard aloud. Everyone would laugh, since what was said was usually very different from what was originally whispered. This truly illustrates what happens when people gossip. Things become distorted and perverted, the more they are repeated.
People love gossip. They buy tabloids that print disgraceful things about well-known people. This is displeasing to God, who tells us in Psalm 34:13-14, "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it" and in 1 Peter 3:10-11, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.” Proverbs 15:1-4 says, "A soft answer turned away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poured out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit."
The knowledge of the Lord can deliver us from every troublesome situation, even destructive gossip. We have an advantage over others because we are God's children, and can receive His instruction in harmful situations. By following His advice, we can overcome anything that the enemy would try to do to hurt us. We can walk in victory at all times because the Holy Spirit lives within us.
Prayer Devotional for the Day
Dear Father, thank you for this day. I find that many of my days are challenging in dealing with certain people in my life. Help me always to be kind and gentle, and not respond in the wrong way to people who say things that bother me. Help me to have Your compassion for them and pray for them instead of criticizing them. Also, Lord, I often try to justify my position in situations that would be better if I just let You defend me. Help me guard my tongue. Use my words to be a blessing to others. Help me overcome all temptation to speak evil of anyone. It especially helps me to be kind to those in my family and workplace so that we may all work in peace and harmony. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. From: Steven P. Miller @ParkermillerQ, gatekeeperwatchman.org Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups, Sunday, March 10, 2024, Jacksonville, Florida., USA. X ... @ParkermillerQ #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981 Founder on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA