The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (85 page)

November 19

Internal Rebellion

     
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

          
but a man [or woman] of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

As we watch world events in the news, it’s easy to see how unstable a country becomes when there is rebellion against the loving, righteous ways of God. There are wars and factions because there’s no true moral, ethical, or spiritual base. There is chaos. The country and the people of that country get torn apart. It’s important to know that this is true not only within a nation, but within our own personal lives and within our homes.

We as women have a great position of influence for good or for bad. We are keepers of the home. It’s been said, “As goes the woman, so goes the home; as goes the home, so goes the nation.” Maybe you’ve been living with split priorities and a divided heart. Maybe you have been wondering why your world and your home and your inner life is filled with chaos and rebellion.

So, may I say to you, there is no greater decision that you can make for your life than to decide to order each day starting with time in God’s Word and with prayer. It will change the tone of your entire day to begin by visualizing God on the throne. He alone is the true and best ruler, not just in heaven, but here on earth over you, in your heart, and over your day.

Will you stop right now and ask him to take his rightful place in your life and bring order?

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

We may think we’ve surrendered and yet still have a stubborn streak of rebellion. We can be deeply immersed in Christian service, Bible study, and prayer meetings, and yet a corner of our hearts is very far away. How can that be? Unfortunately, we cubicle our lives. Some parts belong to God; some parts are entirely ours. We hold the reins. It can be very subtle. Let me name one classic culprit: bitterness. Frankly, harboring unforgiveness is in direct violation of a very core issue with God. He is dead set against it. Today, right now, will you open the access to your heart and let him rein that in and put it to death? He is waiting to help.

One Year Bible Reading

Ezekiel 39:1–40:27; James 2:18–3:18; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 28:2

November 20

Pecking Order

     
A poor man who oppresses the poor

     
Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

What warning do we see as women? The picture is given of a driving rain, one that just pounds the earth leaving no good result. When does that happen? It happens when someone who is poor pushes down someone else who is already poor. The definition of
poor
in this case is “one lacking strength, power, stamina, or resilience.”

Mothers, can you see that sometimes when a mom is at her lowest and weakest, she sometimes takes it out on her kids? A mom who takes out her frustration on her kids is like a cold, harsh, driving rain right in her own home. Children have no way of knowing why all of sudden a harsh word or punishment is thrown their way.

Moms, I know life can sometimes feel overwhelming. Are you a single mom or a mom with an unsupportive husband? Do you feel there’s too much to do; you can’t keep up? Are you feeling weak, weary, hopeless? Let me tell you, there is hope and help, even if you’ve failed.

Will you kneel down right now, if you can, and go to your Father in heaven? Go to him asking for mercy and grace for yourself. Ask him to help you to bestow mercy and grace on your children. He wants to. He can, and he will.

“[Cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7,
NKJV
).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

In the barnyard, chickens have a pecking order. There is usually one hen that is bossy, pecking and pulling out the tail feathers of those she dominates. She actually doesn’t have to be the biggest, just the meanest. Knowing this, when I raised baby chicks, I kept them in an isolated pen until they were big enough to hold their own in “big-chicken world.” The playground at school, team sports, the office, and even church can have a pecking order. First lesson: don’t be a bossy hen. Second lesson: don’t peck back. Third lesson: don’t let it get to you. Talk it out and pray it through when it happens to you or your kids. Then stay clear of the bossy hens.

One Year Bible Reading

Ezekiel 40:28–41:26; James 4:1-17; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 28:3-5

November 21

Honest and True

     
Better to be poor and honest

          
than to be dishonest and rich.

On one side we see someone who is poor but has a true and honest character, contrasted with one who is rich and yet not true and not honest. First of all, let’s make sure we notice this is not telling us that just because you’re poor, you’re good, or just because you’re rich, you’re bad.

So let’s look at what God is saying. Who is rich? When we think of rich or poor, we often think in terms of money. But think about how, as women, we can be rich or poor in lots of other material, physical, and even immaterial things like beauty or circumstances or health.

Maybe you’ve seen a beautiful, rich, popular woman, but she’s mean. She’s sneaky. She doesn’t even want to be honest or fair or right or kind. God is saying to us that all these rich things that the world says are better don’t make you better. On the other hand, hopefully we’ve noticed a woman who has a handicap, is not pretty, or has hard life circumstances that many would consider poor, and yet she has an inner beauty, integrity, and honesty. You can trust her. You like her. You want to be around her.

God is saying she is better off, really, and we are better off to know and be such women.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Dishonesty is a dangerous thing, for it twists your ability to think and function. Are you living a double standard? That is spiritual dishonesty. Right now, there is an epidemic of Internet affairs. Women—even married women—are cruising the Internet, reconnecting with old boyfriends, sharing personal struggles with men they meet in chat rooms. It often begins because of loneliness, the emotional void that develops in an unhappy marriage. But the secret fulfillment of the affair is like a drug. It becomes addicting. Just like a drug, every taste leaves you wanting more. Oh, dear girl, this lie is leading to trouble and danger and darkness in your soul. Come to the light. Cut the ties. Let truth and right and good overrule and overcome.

One Year Bible Reading

Ezekiel 42:1–43:27; James 5:1-20; Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 28:6-7

November 22

The Privilege of Prayer

     
God detests the prayers

          
of a person who ignores the law.

How can it be that the word
detest
could ever be connected to prayer? It’s a warning! Those who willfully disobey, who ignore God’s Word—their prayers are hindered, ignored, and even despised. Prayer is a gift. Never forget that. It is a gift and a privilege. Prayer is an amazing thing. It’s a wonder that we, mere humans, are not just able but invited to have direct communication with the God of the universe. We could never imagine having the president of the United States’ personal cell phone number. But in a real sense, we have God’s. Prayer gives us close, intimate, personal access and communication with the Lord any time of the day and night.

Martin Luther once said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”

But sin causes static on the phone lines with God. As John Bunyan stated, “Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”

So if you are feeling distant from God, like your prayers are hitting a block wall in the sky,
maybe they are
. Is there a commandment, instruction, or warning in God’s Word you are ignoring? Sin opens our thoughts to the voice of the enemy of our souls. The enemy delights in building a wall between you and God, because then he has you all to himself. But the good news is, God is bidding you to come back. Confess your sin. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9,
NKJV
).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Not only personally, but as a nation, sin can separate us from God. On the 2011 National Day of Prayer, Joni Eareckson Tada lifted up desperate words. Let’s join in her prayer:

One Year Bible Reading

Ezekiel 44:1–45:12; 1 Peter 1:1-12; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 28:8-10