A Proverb Challenge

Looking back over my journals throughout the last few years.....

Can we say  VERBAL PROCESSOR?

I have been going back and reading old journals this week, seeking inspiration for my book.  This picture only shows journals from the last few years.  One entry I read today inspired me to challenge you. 

One thing I decided I wanted to work on after my divorce in 2011 was flushing the foolishness from my heart.  I was done with choosing folly and feeling the unnecessary pain from those choices.  I made the decision and I have never looked back.  (I still find foolishness in my heart, but the good news is that because of my wisdom quest, God shows it to me pretty fast) 

In my quest, the very first step I took was to meditate every day of the month in the book of Proverbs.  I practiced this daily (still do) and each month I start over.  So on the 3rd day of the month,  I always read Proverbs chapter 3.  I underline, write, date what I underline and make a note in the margin, and then journal about what it speaks to me.  Pretty much, these are my journals about wisdom and how I can and wish to apply to my life.  They also contain my prayers, conversations and whines, and lots of gratitudes.   Every month, I get a new take-away.  I mean it is the book of wisdom, right?  

The fun thing is looking back in my actual Bible at the dates and underlines to see what was going on.  My plan (shhhhhhhh.... its a secret) is to give my daughter my Bible when she graduates high school and she will get a small picture of her mother's life in these margins.

As I look back over my journal entries, I realize that while I have grown by leaps and bounds, foolishness still can be very sneaky.  I can become very prideful about being wise.  The enemy will do anything to keep us stuck and its very easy to get tripped up again and get lost in folly.  I found these notes from an entry on October 7, 2014...  Pretty simple stuff.  

Oct. 9, 2014:

If you want wisdom, all you have to do is ask.  But never ever think you have arrived.  For that is a dangerously foolish thought.  A thought that has taken me down and out many many times.   

Wisdom vs. Foolishness...

Wisdom has a teachable heart, is prudent, knows when to keep one's mouth shut, and wants more insight to increase life.  

Foolishness on the other hand is easily led astray, loud and noisy, simple and open to all forms of evil, reckless and willful, and is ignorant of the eternal value of anything.

A foolish person:

Proverbs 
1:7        Hates Godly wisdom and instruction
9:6        Is simple-minded
10:23    Lacks sense
11:2      Swells with pride
            Says ME first in everything
14:6     Has an attitude that blinds and deafens to wisdom
14:7     Flies off the handle
19:3     Subverts his own way, then is resentful and frets against God
21:20   Is wasteful
14:8     Is deceptive and self-confident 
14:33   Makes known their inward parts and BLABS everything about everything to   
           everyone.
21:11   Scoffs at others
23:9     Despises wisdom
28:26   leans on and trusts in and is confidant of his own mind and heart
29:9    Rages and laughs against wisdom

Ecc 4:13   no longer knows how to receive counsel (friendly reproofs or warnings)
      7:25   His madness leads to wickedness

Duet 32:6        Is senseless
1 Sam 13:13    Doesn't keep commandments
Job 5:2           Is full of vexation, rage and indignation

Ps 73:22   Is stupid
    75:18   Is impious
    74:22   Scoffs and reproaches

BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT 

(and oftentimes find myself in some of these scenarios all over again)

But the good news is that we can just ask God and He gives it!
Wisdom, with its teachable heart can get me back in the game when I practice and love it

A wise person:

Proverbs

1:2    discerns and comprehends words of understanding and insight
1:7    has a reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord
2:4    wisdom is a hidden treasure, skillful,  and Godly
2:10  is pleasant
3:13  Happy and blessed, fortunate and enviable 
         (proverbs 31 woman was envied by   Jewish women)
3:15   is precious
4:6     is protected 
4:8     brings honor
8:20   walks morally in every area of life 
9:4    Will have understanding and insight
9:11   God will multiplies my days
11:2   obtains humility and soundness
14:33  rests...SILENTLY (OR in ones verbal processing journals..) 
          SLOW to speak 
18:4  Words of wise are a gushing stream, sparkly fresh, pure and Life Giving  
        (women, this is our namesake.... EVE means "life bringer")
19:8   we will love our own life, prosper, find good
21:11  continue to learn lessons by instruction (teachable heart)
24:3   Build a life, home, and family
24:14  has a future, a reward, hope and expectation, and is not cut off.
28:26  Will be delivered from harm
31:26  Is kind

I know there is so much more in scriptures about wisdom.  This is just from my journal entry.  This day I decided I was going to take wisdom serious and I asked God to give me more.  In that, he has delivered me from so many potentially harmful situations, allowed me to learn from other situations where I didn't listen to wisdom, restored me, and continued to teach me more.  Wisdom is always there.  All we have to do is ask.  

Isn't living a life to be wise so much more peaceful and happy than living foolishly?   Think of of the pain and trouble we avoid when we seek wisdom.  

I encourage every reader to start the daily proverb reading and just SEE what will happen!