Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+016

 

Proverbs 16 (ESV)

¹ The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
³ Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established…

⁹ The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps…

³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.

 

REFLECTION:

“The answer of the tongue is from the Lord,” which means man proposes but God disposes, and the final result of our plan is in the hands of God. But with that said, why should we plan? In fact, when doing God’s will, we must match our efforts with God’s management. He wants us to think for ourselves, seek the opinions of others, and make plans. Of course, the result is all in Him, and the plan is just to help us act in God’s way. Since you live for God, you should ask Him to show you how to plan, and then rely on Him to do what you planned. Some people did not really entrust what they did to God, but temporarily handed over their own affairs to God to manage them. When the situation was different from what they expected, they took over it; some people did not work hard at all. They used “commit to God” as an excuse for laziness and questioned why they were not successful. We must maintain a wise balance between “trusting God and relying on Him in everything” and “working hard and doing our part in everything”. Think about the hard work you are doing now. Have you fully entrusted it to God?

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to guide your steps so that you can be led by Him in everything; ask God to give you wisdom so that you can maintain a good balance between “working hard” and “committing to God”. You can do your best, and at the same time you can entrust the results to God, without worrying or thinking you are always right, knowing that everything has God’s good will.

 

HYMN:

In Christ Alone – www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWiFYJMGas0

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+015

 

Proverbs 15 (ESV)

¹ A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

 

REFLECTION:

Have you ever tried to argue with people softly? In a conflict, if you insist on responding with a gentle attitude, others will not easily quarrel with you irrationally. On the other hand, perverse and violent words often arouse the other side’s bad words, and can also break the hearts of both parties in the quarrel. If you want to eliminate anger and seek peace, you must have a wise heart and use gentle words to edify people. Sometimes God seems to allow evil to run rampant in this world, and we may even wonder whether God notices these things, but God clearly sees everything that happens in the world, including man’s evil deeds and the most secret motives that contribute to it. God is not an indifferent bystander, He not only cares for us, but also works justice in this world. God has His own time, and sometimes we may not see Him at work, but we should never lose heart. One day, God will eliminate evil and punish the wicked; He will also demonstrate justice and reward those who do His will.

 

PRAYER:

Pray for God to give you wisdom and peace of mind, and a gentle tongue, so that what you say can edify people. Pray for God to strengthen your faith, so that you can understand that the righteous God looks at everything that happens in the world. He even knows the most secret motive in everyone’s heart. All people are naked and exposed to the eyes of God, with nowhere to hide. God’s justice will be manifested, the wicked will be punished, and the righteous will be rewarded by Him.

 

HYMN:

All Creatures of Our God and King – www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUZD0hgtSgE

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+014

 

Proverbs 14 (ESV)

¹⁷ A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated…

²⁹ Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
³⁰ A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.

 

REFLECTION:

Some people are born with impatience. This is not a bad thing. God made each of us different from others in order to show his special grace in each of us. The Apostle John was called the “Son of Thunder”. He was a man with strong personality and short temper, but he was edified by the Lord to become a humble and gentle disciple who spread the love of the Lord and pleased the Lord throughout his life. However, we should understand that whether we are born with strong tempers or soft tempers, we should not get angry easily, anger will destroy the relationship between people, and it will make us take actions beyond repentance, causing harm, bitterness, and sin. However, anger itself is not always wrong. It is a reasonable response to be angry at seeing injustice and sin. The Lord Jesus was also angry when He saw the temple as a place for business. When you want to get angry, first find out the reason for your anger. Are you angry because of seeing evil and injustice, or are you angry because of selfishness? You should ask God to help you control your irritable temperament, manage your emotions with wisdom, and overcome selfish anger with humility and repentance.

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to enlighten you so that you can understand how serious the damage caused by selfish anger is. Ask God to give you wisdom, whether you are born with a quick temper or slow temper, you can manage your emotions well in all daily affairs; treat others with integrity and humility, neither arrogant nor cowardly.

 

HYMN:

Jesus, Your Mercy – www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOCOxuO5D34

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+013

 

Proverbs 13 (ESV)

⁴ The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied…

¹¹ Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it…

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
²³ The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
²⁴ Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
²⁵ The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

 

REFLECTION:

1. This passage again admonishes the great difference between laziness and hard work, sinners and righteous people. Lazy sinners try to get something for nothing, and the wealth they have obtained by fraud will eventually be completely wiped out under God’s righteous judgment. Only by diligence and integrity, and obeying God’s words, can we be prosperous in the long run. Not only will we accumulate treasures in heaven, God will also provide abundant supplies for everything needed on earth. In this world full of sin and injustice, the poor and the righteous are often hurt by the sinners and the wicked. As children of God, we should be hardworking and upright, and we should also bravely oppose all injustice. Our struggle may not help for the time being, but God is pleased with us to do this, and God’s justice will eventually prevail, and God will redress for all those who are oppressed.
2. It is not easy for parents who love their children to discipline their children, but it is indispensable. The greatest responsibility God has given to parents is to nurture and guide their children. Parents who lack discipline for their children will also have their love greatly compromised because they do not pay attention to the cultivation of their children’s virtues. Disciplining children can protect them from disasters in the future. Children who lack discipline can’t tell right from wrong when they grow up, and don’t know what to do with their own life direction. This passage reminds us not to be afraid to discipline your children. This is an act of love. But remember, your punishment is not to make your children obey your authority, but to lead them to fear God and seek God’s wisdom.

 

PRAYER:

Pray for God to give you a hardworking, upright, and courageous heart. You can work diligently on everything you do with your hands; when experiencing injustice, you will not fear the power and redress the injustice for the oppressed and the poor, and seek God’s justice; ask God to make you wise to not spoil your children while loving them, and understand that disciplining your children and making them obey God’s words is the best love for them.

 

HYMN:

Turn Your Eyes – www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2tKVqZZiI4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+012

 

Proverbs 12 (ESV)

¹ Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
² A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
³ No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
⁴ An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

 

REFLECTION:

1. If you refuse to study, even if you have been in school for a few years, you will learn very little; however, if you are willing to be taught, you will be successful in your studies. The same is true when we accept God’s discipline. If we are humble and gentle, we can receive heavenly wisdom. On the contrary, if we are proud and hardened and ignore God’s discipline, we will make the same mistakes repeatedly and even worsen fall in the same place many times. Reflect if you have made the same mistakes repeatedly in some things?
2. “Established” (v3) means to get the help of God and achieve long-term success. Only those with integrity have real success. Their success pleases God and can stand the test of time. The wicked may achieve temporary “success” by trickery, but their lives and careers will eventually decay like duckweed without roots. Relying on cheating may be sufficient to pass the exam, relying on tax evasion may be sufficient to get away from paying a large amount of tax, relying on the harsh exploitation of subordinates may be sufficient to win a temporary victory in the commercial competition. In fact, these so-called “successes” are only temporary opportunistic tricks, and they are temporary benefits at the expense of one’s integrity. In the long run, this is not only not a success, but an ignorant act that harmed one’s life. Those who deceive will become more and more dishonest, those who hurt people will become more ruthless and cruel, and evil behaviour will only make people do more evil, and eventually become as stupid and deceitful as beasts. God is pleased with us to achieve true success, which is achieved for a long time with integrity and honesty in the grace of God.

 

PRAYER:

Pray for God to give you a heart that is willing to be taught, to receive God’s grace in your weaknesses and transgressions, and never to fall in the same place. Pray for God to establish you so that you can maintain integrity and honesty in all things. Everything you think and do can withstand God’s examination and can please God.

 

HYMN:

Come Thou Fount – www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylNnG5bxnsE

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+011

 

Proverbs 11 (ESV)

¹ A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is his delight.
² When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
⁴ Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

 

REFLECTION:

This passage continues from the previous chapter and continues to make a strong contrast between the actions and endings of the upright and the treacherous. “The day of wrath” refers to the day when people complete their journeys in the world and give accounts to God. On that Day of Judgment, everyone must face God individually and declare everything we have done. At that time, no wealth or “achievement” in the world can make us reconcile with God. Only by loving God and obeying God, without deceit in our hearts, and with integrity in our words and deeds, can we be pleased with God. However, this is not to say that God has no mercy on human weakness. God’s people walk on the path of righteousness, not without suffering and struggle, nor without the temptation of the world and falling. But whether in adversity or after a fall, as long as you act in accordance with God’s wisdom, look to God and repent wholeheartedly. God will have mercy and forgiveness and save His children from suffering and temptation. The wicked think they are wise and don’t know how to rely on God, and their end is to perish in their sins. Is there no deceit in your heart, words and deeds? Have you forgotten God’s promise in the midst of adversity or temptation?
 
PRAYER:

Come to God humbly, ask God to cleanse your life, make your heart upright, your tongue not deceitful, and your behaviour be pleasing to Him. Ask God to save you from adversity and temptation and to give you peace to live a sanctified life. If you are weak and fall, ask God to give you the faith and courage to confess your sins and repent, and stand up and continue to run. Don’t forget that God always holds your hand and leads your life.

 

HYMN:

He Will Hold Me Fast – www.youtube.com/watch?v=unLKmJJPExk

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+010

 

Proverbs 10 (ESV)

¹ The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
² Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
but righteousness delivers from death.
³ The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
⁴ A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵ He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
⁶ Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
⁷ The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
⁸ The wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
⁹ Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
¹⁰ Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

 

REFLECTION:

This passage is full of strong contrasts between the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the fool, the diligent and the lazy. The righteous (including the wise and diligent) will be blessed by God, and the wicked (including the ignorant and lazy) will be punished by God. At the same time, we should also understand that when we live in the world, blessings such as prosperity and stability do not necessarily come to the righteous. In fact, many righteous people will also go hungry and cold, and encounter life’s suffering and injustice. But God’s blessings are not only these external and worldly blessings. He has far more precious blessings to bestow to those who do His will. It is the integrity and abundance of our lives and our eternity. The joy and glory of being with Him. Even if the wicked can get a moment’s pride and comfort in the world, the righteous will end up better than the wicked in the end, because the righteous will have happiness, and the wicked will be ruined. There are only two roads before us, the road to blessings and the road to disaster, and there is no third road for us to choose. Think about whether you are walking on the blessed road now. Ask God to increase your faith and strength so that you can continue to work hard on this path.

 

PRAYER:

Pray for God to give you wisdom, so that you can understand that life is either on the road to life or on the road to destruction. Pray for God to make you understand that the road to life may be a difficult and tortuous path to the world. You will lose a lot of the so-called “blessings” of the world. May God be with you, keep walking on this narrow road and see the wicked temporarily proud and don’t feel uneasy, because the blessings you are about to get are much more precious than what you have before, even more than what you want or think.

 

HYMN:

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me – www.youtube.com/watch?v=zundjUFazfg

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+009

 

Proverbs 9 (ESV)

⁷ Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
⁸ Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
¹¹ For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

 

REFLECTION:

This passage teaches us how to deal with other people’s reprimands in our lives, and how to teach and instruct others with the wisdom given by God. From your reaction to other people’s criticism, you can tell whether you are a foolish person or a wise person. When we are being reprimanded, we should not immediately sneer or fight back with clever words, but we should listen to what is said. We must be good at learning from others’ criticisms and even unreasonable accusations, because this is the way to gain wisdom. When we teach or admonish others, we should also rely on wisdom to distinguish whether the other party can accept it, and we should speak with humility and gentleness. We should not treat others with arrogance, let alone vent anger and dispel hatred. More importantly, we must understand that knowing God is the beginning of all wisdom in life. He enables us to understand the true meaning of life, penetrates all things in life, and enables us to see through the devil’s tricks and save us from the temptations and snares of the devil. To know God is not only to know some knowledge about Him, but more importantly, to worship Him with spirit and truth. Establish a close relationship with God, and walk with Him throughout your life. Only in this way can you gain more wisdom from God.

 

PRAYER:

Pray for God to give you a heart of reverence, heavenly wisdom, and a humble and gentle heart, so that you can deal with it objectively and calmly when you encounter reproaches or conflicts with others. Don’t get angry, and don’t give place to the devil. Ask God to strengthen your faith and allow you to take every conflict with others as an opportunity to be nurtured by God, and strive to demonstrate Christ’s spirit of reconciliation, sow love where there is hatred, and preach peace where there is conflict.

 

HYMN:

My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness – www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qntf2Y_VNok

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+008

 

Proverbs 8 (ESV)

²² “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
²³ Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
²⁴ When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
²⁵ Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
²⁶ before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
²⁷ When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
³⁰ then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
³¹ rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.

 

REFLECTION:
Chapter 8 is the call of wisdom, which forms a sharp contrast with Chapter 7 of the seduction of the adulteress. In this chapter, the author portrays wisdom as a maid sent by God to guide us. She makes us prosper and is more valuable than all the treasures of our lives. Wisdom existed before God created all things, and worked with the Creator to create the beautiful and orderly world, and also to create our precious lives in the image of God to manifest the glory of God. God will bless all those who obey the advice of wisdom, and those who hate wisdom will inevitably perish. Since our lives were created in God’s wisdom, our life will also be affected by God’s wisdom from the beginning to the end. Our responsibility lies in opening up our hearts and letting God’s wisdom guide the path of our life. If we are hard-headed and stubborn, we will damage our lives and even die in the bondage of sin.

 

PRAYER:

Come to God humbly and ask God to make you understand that His wisdom is of infinite precious value. From the beginning to the end, your life will be deeply affected by God’s wisdom; ask God to remove the rigidity and foolishness in your heart. Be able to trust God’s wisdom and obey God’s guidance when you have no answers to some important things in life, so that you can experience God’s wisdom and grace in patience and hope.

 

HYMN:

Perfect Wisdom of Our God – www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSnzYnOe6kI

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+007

 

Proverbs 7 (ESV)

¹ My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
² keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
³ bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
⁵ to keep you from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words.

 

REFLECTION:

This passage tells us the two best ways to stay away from temptation and fornication: First, you should treat God’s commandments as treasures, cherish them like your own eyes, and engrave them on the tablet of your heart, read the Bible daily and never forget. We should understand that the best way to prevent a good field from the spread of weeds is to plant the field with lush grains or beautiful flowers. God’s laws and regulations, His words and precepts should also be like the lush grains and beautiful flowers filling our hearts. Secondly, we must have a wise vision to see through the devil’s tricks to tempt us. We should stay away from the environment and friends that easily induce us to commit sins, and we should understand that the short-lived indulgence before us will often cause the destruction of tomorrow and bring extremely serious consequences. Think about whether you are now in a dangerous situation where you are easily tempted. If so, ask God to give you strength so that you don’t indulge in any sinful pleasures and stay away from any dangerous place.

 

PRAYER:

Pray for God to give you firm trust and be willing to obey God all your life and lead a holy life according to God’s commands; pray for God to make you diligent and persevering, read the Bible every day, and learn from God’s words to resist the temptation of the devil; pray that God will engrave His Words on the tablet of your heart so that you will never forget it, and it will give you the wisdom to see through the devil’s tricks in your life, and save you from all evil and dangerous places.

 

HYMN:

Trust and Obey – www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB4KcleYiWM