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Proverbs 5:6 (NLT)“For she does not care about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t even realize where it leads.” The Sedation of Sin Solomon warns us here of the “immoral woman”—the voice that leads us away from Wisdom. At first, her words are honey-sweet and appealing, but the end…
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Proverbs 3:4 (NLT)“Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation.” The Gravity of Character At the end of the day, whose approval are you truly seeking? When you assess the sum total of your efforts, your spending, and your service, is the goal to please God…
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Proverbs 2:6 (NLT)“For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” The Myth of the Self-Made Mind Let’s settle this once and for all: Wisdom is not gained if it is not granted. You can seek after knowledge and research information until you are exhausted, but it is all for nothing if…
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Proverbs 1:5-6 (NLT)“Let those who are wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. And let those who understand receive guidance by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles.” Don’t Stay Small In times past, “prudence” was an encouragement to grow, yet today we often settle for being…
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Proverbs 31:4-6 (NLT)“And it is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave liquor. For if they drink, they may forget their duties and be unable to give justice to those who are oppressed.” The Danger of Distraction In vino veritas—in wine there is truth—but in indulgence there is often a…
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Proverbs 30:5 (NLT)“Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection.” The Safest Place on Earth The safest place in the whole world is in the center of the will of God! We know God through His flawless Word. Man can only truly know God because He has chosen…
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Proverbs 29:4 (NLT)“A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it.” Stability vs. Strife The book of Proverbs is loaded with sharp contrasts that help us navigate our choices. Here, Solomon shows us that Justice is the bedrock of a people. It produces stability, fosters joy, and brings a…
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Proverbs 28:5 (NLT)“Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the LORD understand completely.” The Fog of Justification There is a direct connection between your behavior and your discernment. Those who willingly choose to walk outside of God’s will eventually find it impossible to understand Justice. Why? Because when you make a disobedient or…
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Proverbs 26:3 (NLT)“Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!” Stop Wasting Your Pearls Are you tired? Are you physically and spiritually drained because you’ve been trying to “reason” with a fool? We waste a significant amount of energy trying to convince people…
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Proverbs 27:6 (NLT)“Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” The Motive Behind the Mark An enemy can easily masquerade as a friend through a thousand “kisses” of flattery, while a true friend might look like an enemy because of the wounds or criticisms they inflict. Ironically, the rebuke—the “cut”—is often…