Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 3:24, The Secret to a Good Night’s Sleep
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24 NIV I remember the time our children’s school observed that a growing number of students were experiencing symptoms of sleep deprivation. They sent out an email reminding parents of the importance of ensuring our kids got enough sleep—especially those in high school. Today’s world, it would seem, is suffering from a sleep crisis. We are bombarded by the number of supplements and medications promising to help us sleep. Sleepless nights often go hand in hand with...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 10:8, Don’t Forget to Execute
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick “The wise in heart will accept and obey commandments, but the foolish of lips will fall headlong.” Proverbs 10:8 AMPC In the Hebrew language, the words "listen" and "obey" are represented by the word “shema.” This means to hear, pay attention, and act upon what is heard. It embodies the concept that true listening includes obedience. In Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of the Old and New Testaments, there is no distinct word for "obey." Listening and doing are considered two sides of one action. We see this sentiment expressed in James, often called...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 3:13, Wisdom’s Reward
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” Proverbs 3:13 NIV People talk a lot about profitable investments and especially the ROI, or “return on investment.” According to Proverbs, there are very few investments in life as profitable as the gaining of wisdom. Threaded throughout Proverbs are admonitions to seek wisdom. The gain from wisdom is “better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:14,15 ESV). Do you want to be wise?...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:22, Joy is Good for Your Health
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22 Can practicing thankfulness actually improve your health? Some think so. I read about a study in which participants were asked to list the things for which they were thankful. They were instructed to write their gratitude list and sustain this exercise for exactly five minutes. The results of the study showed that those who practiced gratitude for five minutes experienced a sharp rise in their disease fighting antibodies. These antibodies remained elevated for several hours!...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 15:17
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” Proverbs 15:17 Better is dinner with herbs, a meager meal, where there is love, laughter, and joy, than a dinner with feasting and luxurious food where there is hatred. I don’t know about you, but some of my best memories with my family of origin were around the dinner table. My dad, mom, brother, and sister all together sharing memories and conversations. My mom would fix great meals, but it was the laughter and great conversation that have had such an impact on my life. Along with...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:6
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of those in old age. And the glory of children is their fathers. This proverb has two great insights. Let’s take a look at them together. First, grandkids are a crown for faithful parents. Marilynn and I now have 12 grandchildren. Yet we vividly remember the years when we were told by doctors that we would never have children. From a barren womb came three children and now 12 grandchildren. In the midst of our brokenness, God was...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:4
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.” Proverbs 17:4 Evildoers listen to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. I don’t think any healthy individual would desire to be called an evildoer or a liar. Who has wicked lips? I actually think many could fall into this category. Those who seek to slander and essentially kill someone with their words. Those who spread rumors and lies with evil intent. Those who seek to intimidate and bully others. Those who manipulate you for selfish gain. Those who seduce...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:3
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” Proverbs 17:3 Silver is refined in the crucible, as is gold in the furnace. Similarly, our hearts and lives must be tested, purified, and refined by the Lord in whatever ways he sees fit. Titus 2:14 says that Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Jesus sacrificed his life to pave the way for humanity to be reunited with the Father. He died to redeem us and to purify...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:1
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry, crusty morsel of bread in a peaceful home than a house with delicious food and delicacies that is full of strife. Strife. Defined as “conflict or an angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues,” strife ruins relationships. It hinders momentum and stops the Gospel from moving forward. Biblically, in James 3:16, strife is also called “selfish ambition.” If pride is the root of all evil, I would argue strife is one of the most wicked fruits that...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 6:10-11, The Value of Hard Work
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:10-11 NIV I am not a naturally self-disciplined person. But I discovered early on that it was impossible for me to take the kids beyond where I had gone myself. If I was undisciplined, it was hard to discipline the children. If my schedule was inconsistent, it was hard to help them follow a schedule. If I quit before I reached the finish line, it was hard to teach our children to persevere. When an...
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“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right at the moment, but the end result is really destructive. This principle speaks to the blessing of being aware of long-term consequences over short-term urges.
How do you make decisions? Do you surrender to an authority greater than yourself to lead and guide you? Or do you follow whichever whim or fancy you feel? If your answer is the latter, I would urge you to pause today and meditate on this teaching.
There is great danger in relying on feelings. An overemphasis on what seems right, what feels right, and what the world thinks is right can lead to deception. Instant gratification is a dangerous motivation. And so is a life that seeks to gain applause and immediate notoriety.
If something is not God’s will, if it’s not right, if it’s not good for you in the long run, yet you give in to the short-sighted fleshly desires, you will regret it. These are devilish traps that can ruin people’s lives later on. The broad path leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
Dear friends, we must immerse ourselves in God's Word. We must live for the future more than the moment, seeking to do what is right at every moment and always trusting that over time God will work things out for our good and his glory.
As followers of Jesus, we must always live for eternity, not for this temporary world. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Today, my prayer is that each of you will seek after an eternal perspective. Allow that mindset to be your driving force as you await our soon-coming King.