I have to admit, apart from the odd verse, I’ve never really read the book of Proverbs. It is only through a 31-day challenge I’m doing this month ,that I have been prompted to to read a chapter a day. The organiser of the challenge has brought great mentors and teachers of Kingdom principles to speak each day on a chapter and it is because of this I began to appreciate the heart of God for me.
Using the chapters as the baseline, I have written some prayers to personalise and bring the words to life for me. I have ideas about how to present the concept of wisdom in this space. What a huge and humbling task to try to represent Gods words through Solomon when every word and syllable is pregnant with meaning and directed right to our hearts.
God wants to be known! He wants us to live blessed in His love, so He gives us knowledge and the ability to fully grasp all He has provided for us to reign…to live victoriously in life through the words of Proverbs. We are offered a life of reigning…unafraid and victorious…just as God wants for each of us. He wants our devotion…our obedient and undivided devotion and the words of Proverbs are our roadmap to achieve this.
The word “Proverb” means wisdom. In the pages of Proverbs, the voice of Jesus is personified as a woman. Her words bring life and understanding, are keys to unlock true knowledge to guide us in every aspect of life…in relationships, business, mentorship, leadership, and in restoration to the very heart of God, wisdom in all life’s situations, peace, and confidence in life.
The insight of “Wisdoms words bring success, filling us with grace-filled thoughts and reins to guide our decisions.” Proverbs 1:9
However, its message is divided, with Wisdom words and all they release to us if followed, countered by the warnings of ignoring or dismissing her words.
So the call of Wisdom is to listen, above the din of life…above the worldly definitions of wisdom. She is calling to bring us into a new reality…a new heart wisdom from God’s delight in us. Ignorance and deafness will lead to disaster…our downfall!
I was reading Mark 11 last night…the story of blind Bartimai, a beggar calling out to Jesus when he heard He was close by. He called persistently, asking for mercy and healing. The disciples said to him ,”Have courage! Get up! Jesus is calling for you.”Bartimai’s response….He threw off his beggars cloak, jumped up and made his way to Jesus.
The point of this story? The book of Proverbs is God’s love letter to you. He is calling.
Two trees…. always choice. The God of love and grace wants relationship born out of trust and love. He wants us to choose Him. He loves us that much…not a tyrannical God…. a lover.
So have courage! Get up and explore Proverbs pages. Bartimai threw off his beggars cloak…the thing that identified him with who he was, in anticipation of what was to come…in faith that Jesus’ call meant change, renewal, freedom, healing, from what once was to all that is possible from the God of love.
This is the very heart and soul of Proverbs.
Proverbs1:33 ends this first chapter with an amazing promise.
“But the one who always listens to Me will live undisturbed in heavenly peace. Free from fear, confident and courageous. That one will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.”
That’s a promise worth considering and pursuing! Wisdom is calling!