Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 20:18

By

Proverbs 20:18    "Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war."

"Every purpose is established by counsel." We have a lot of intentions, but are they good or bad? I don't mean are they intended to be disobedient unto the Lord; rather, are my intentions aimed at accomplishing something good. Do I give thought into the process of trying to put my intentions into action? Solomon tells us that our intentions are made to be good actions when they are "established by counsel."  How often do I seek advice before I attempt to do something? Do I start on a whim and then hope that something good will come of it? It seems I have a lot of questions this morning, but doesn't good counsel come as a result of asking questions?

How do I go about receiving that counsel? Where do we go? I come back to the thought of how necessary it is to practice the art of listening. I don't want to ask someone to do something for me if they aren't even listening to me. I also want to make sure that I seek counsel (advice and instruction) from someone who has knowledge of the task that is before me. Our purposes (thoughts, intentions) are established (settled, grounded) by seeking the help of others.  "With good advice make war." Yes, that can mean going to battle, but it also carries the idea of setting about to complete a task. It means putting forth the effort to complete a task. With good advice, we count the cost. With good advice, we make a commitment and stay with it. With good advice, we are victorious - even when our intention doesn't come to its intended conclusion.

There is One who we can go to and find everything we need for each day. He is the "Wonderful Counsellor." (Isaiah 9:6) He has "the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." (Isaiah 50:4) We can go to Him for the instruction, direction, and wisdom to complete any and every task that is given to us. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)

Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

By
One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...
Read more

Daily Devotion: Psalm 100:4-5 - Thanksgiving

By
Psalm 100:4-5     "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Many songs have been written about these verses and with these words included. What do they mean? Today, we celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. I've listened to many people speak about their family traditions and most of them include family, food, and football. These are wonderful and fun things that enrich the day, but is it the true meaning that was intended when the day was established?  The Psalmist instructed us to include a special action with our words of thankfulness.  We are to "enter into HIS gates." The heartfelt words of thanksgiving allow us to enter the gates of the Lord, but there is a much deeper place into which we can go. Not only are we to enter into HIS gates, but He invites us to come much closer to H...
Read more

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 11:19-20

By
Proverbs 11:19-20    "As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.  (20)  They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight." We notice in these two verses that righteousness and uprightness are bookends that stand out. Sandwiched between these are evil and "a froward heart".  The Lord goes on to tell us, "Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." (Proverbs 11:21) We understand that the total being of God is so much greater than our minds are able to comprehend; yet, He opens windows for us to look into a portion of His character.  He loves that which is right and He hates that which is wrong. He rewards the upright, or those who walk in a way that is right according to His standard. Remember yesterday we saw that "A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weigh...
Read more