Today is the beginning of another month with 31 days which is a perfect opportunity to read through the book of Proverbs. I promise – you can read this book countless times and still not discover every gem hidden within its pages.

Something that stood out to me today as I read Proverbs 1 for May 1 – the benefits of studying Scripture are for the simple (verse 4) and the wise (verse 5.)

If you feel like you don’t know enough to study Scripture – like it’s beyond your ability to comprehend – you’re wrong.

If you feel like you’ve read it multiple times, been in a church pew your whole life and you already know it all – you’re wrong.

In the chapter, Solomon says, “Let the simple come and gain knowledge. Let the wise come and increase their knowledge.” These pages are for everyone. God has a word for you.

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Worldly wisdom is an oxymoron. How many times do we hear the message, “Just follow your heart”?

God says, “Your heart is deceitful ABOVE ALL THINGS and is DESPERATELY sick.” Why would we be so determined to follow something that is sick and deceitful? Because the enemy is craftier than any other created being and he tells us what our flesh wants to hear.

How many bad decisions have been made, marriages wrecked, and lives ruined because someone “followed their heart”? It sounds romantic in a Hallmark movie but it can be devastating in real life.

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Everyone loves the 23rd psalm. So much so that we can easily skim over it without letting it sink into our hearts. Several days ago, something stood out to me.

He leads me beside still waters.

He leads me in paths of righteousness.

I couldn’t help but think of times when the water around me was anything but still and the path I was tempted to choose certainly didn’t lead to righteousness.

Then, I read this verse in Elisabeth Elliot’s book on suffering. “The Lamb will lead them to living fountains of water.” Jesus is always leading us to life. To peace. To righteousness. He never hands us a compass and wishes us luck. He will lead us.

Which made me think, if he’s doing the leading, I must do the following. And I thought of (what I consider to be) a gem of a verse hidden in 2 Chronicles 20:12.

When faced with a situation that felt scary and out of their control, the people cried, “We are powerless. We don’t know what to do.” Can anyone relate? 🙋‍♀️”But,” they continue, “our eyes are on you.”

👉Prayer: I feel powerless, Lord. I don’t know what to do. But, my eyes are on you and I’m following where you’re going because I know you will lead me to peace, righteousness, and life.

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I’ve been studying 1 Peter and have been struck by how much he emphasizes having the right mindset.

Prepare your minds for action. Be sober minded. Mindful of God. Unity of mind. A humble mind. A good conscience. Think like Christ. Be sober minded. Be sober minded.

Peter mentions the mind in every single chapter. Why was this so important to him?

And then it dawned on me what Jesus had personally said to Peter.

“You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:23

However well intentioned we are – however seemingly pure our motives – if our minds are not set on the things of God, we will be a hindrance to Kingdom work.

Also, after receiving such a strong rebuke from Christ, Peter was compelled to share the lesson with others.

Where are our minds focused today? Are we helping or hindering the work of Christ?

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