Bound by Cords of Love

Day 7 of the 31 Day Scripture Challenge has surpassed all of my expectations. Proverbs continually convicts, changes, and refreshes me. If you're new to this, click here to read more about this challenge.

Reading through Proverbs 7, the chapter was headlined (in ESV) as a "Warning Against the Adulteress." I sat there and wondered how this could relate to me. What was I going to gain from this? Then I came toward the end to verse 23.

Proverbs 7:23
"...as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life."

I was drawn to that verse. I know it was for the purposes of referencing the man and the adulteress here but I began to visit other verses, other chapters like this that ultimately convicted me. A snare is defined as "a trap for catching birds or animals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord." The cord catches the bird unawares. It comes out of nowhere. Isn't that much like sin and temptation for us?

Proverbs 1:17-18
"For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives."

Proverbs 5:22
"The iniquities [sins] of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin."

When we give in to sin, we fall, we become trapped. Your trap may not be murder or adultery, maybe it's bad thoughts, lying, bitterness, jealousy, feet that are swift to run to evil (Day 6 in Proverbs 6:16-19), and so on. It could be things we do without even knowing it or things that are hidden in our hearts. That's one reason Proverbs has been drilling into our heads to seek after wisdom and discernment so we have the strength and knowledge to steer away from these sins. When we don't, we create a trap for ourselves that can "cost us our lives." I don't want to be caught unaware by things that could've been prevented, hurts that I didn't have to experience, stress I didn't need to go through had I sought for the knowledge of God.

But wait, the best part is that we have a greater alternative from our cords of sin! Hosea 11:4 discusses God's compassion towards Israel and their journey from Egypt. "I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them." Our alternative is God's cords of love!

Even if you know that right now you are bound by sin, don't give up! His cords of love never run out! Here is a quick prayer for temptation that my Youth Pastor gave us awhile back: Jesus, this thought/action didn't come from You. I put it in subjection to You. I put it under Your blood. I turn it over to You. Amen. Whenever you feel that sin begin to entrap you again or that temptation begins to rise up, turn it over to Him!

God's forgiveness is endless. Be bound by His cords of love.


●This post is a link up with Kristin Schmucker for the 31 Day Scripture Challenge.

When My Gaze Falls

Day 4 of the 31 Day Scripture Challenge has given me quite the heart check. If you're new to this, click here to read more about this challenge.

Proverbs 4:25-27
25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.

Verse 25 says "let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee" which basically means set your gaze forward. I'm reminded of the Israelites journeying out of Egypt and into the place God called them to. All he asked was that they loved Him, served Him, followed Him, and set their gaze forward to the land that was more perfect than they could've imagined. He wanted greater things for them!

Why was that so hard for them to do?

The Israelites lost sight of what was ahead of them. All they could see was their surroundings. They complained about having to walk through that wilderness, they complained about a lack of water and manna, they worshiped idols, and the list goes on. It was a never-ending cycle of complaints! When they should've been killed from their sin, unfaithfulness, and no ounce of wisdom in their body, God showed them mercy through the pleas of Moses and His relentless love.

We do the same. We get caught up in our surroundings. We wonder how our provision has become so scarce. We wonder how we went from a beautiful city to wandering through this awful wilderness day after day. We lose sight of our prize and the one who is leading us through those living and dry places in our life.

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 says "You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess." When we follow God and seek wisdom and discernment, we gain a better understanding of situations so it's easier to set our gaze forward, not on what's behind us or what's around us.

This journey through Proverbs has given me a whole new realization on the things I'm missing out on and situations that could've been made easier had I sought after wisdom with an undying desire. Day 3's post on Instagram said these words from Proverbs 3:15, "She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her." Nothing can compare to having wisdom, knowledge from the Lord.

Psalm 119:34 
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Isaiah 26:7 
The way of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous.

Lord, help me to set my gaze on the things of You and your Kingdom. I pray I have more faith than the Israelites when my surroundings are scarce. I don't want to get caught up in the chaos, but allow my gaze to be set on where you've called me. 

It's never too late to receive the consuming forgiveness Jesus gives. He is for us, not against us. He never stops chasing after His children. Repent (sincerely tell Jesus you are sorry for all your sins) and ask for forgiveness, He's always listening.


●This post is a link up with Kristin Schmucker for the 31 Day Scripture Challenge.

Beginning of Knowledge

Day One of the 31 Day Scripture Challenge for me begins in Proverbs. I was hesitant to choose this book at first. I thought, "Is this too easy?" "Are there more in-depth books in the Bible?" "Shouldn't I do something more profound?" I prayed for direction and I kept coming back to Proverbs. I read through a few chapters and realized this would be more for me than anyone else who may join this challenge. Those negative thoughts were a way to rob me of the journey I was about to embark on. 

I've always heard that it's good to read through Proverbs every month, one chapter a day, because it holds such great reminders that seem to fade under our schedules. So for the next 31 days days I will be posting (either on the blog or instagram) scripture that stuck out to me, a lesson learned or re-learned, a highlight in a chapter, etc. Today begins in Proverbs chapter 1.

This verse is the main theme for the book of Proverbs. Fear of the Lord is a loving reverence for God that involves submission to Him and His word. An even simpler version I was taught was just being in awe of Him. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. What we're going to learn throughout Proverbs is that getting wisdom involves a great measure of humility.

On the other hand the scripture describes those who despise wisdom and instruction as fools. Seems kind of harsh when you hear that word but it's pretty accurate: "fools" are those who hate knowledge (v. 22) and correction of any kind, who are fast to argue (20:3) and make no effort to abstain from arguments (29:11) , those who are complacent (v. 32), who trust in themselves (28:26) rather than God.

Lord I desire:

Wisdom for decisions

Wisdom for understanding

Wisdom for discretion

I want to make it my top priority to pray for wisdom on a daily basis. All wisdom and knowledge comes from Him (Ecclesiastes 2:26) and He knows what's best for me. He will not leave me empty-handed for fear of the Lord comes with a great reward! I pray that I always trust in the Lord, never become complacent, abstain from arguments and anger, seek knowledge, and receive instruction and correction with a humble heart.

Proverbs is going to be a wonderful journey! Sometimes it's the easiest things to understand that we have a hard time living and demonstrating with our actions. I crave to not only read these verses but I want to live them and apply them to my life. 

●This post is a link up with Kristin Schmucker for the 31 Day Scripture Challenge. To read more about this challenge, click here.