Monday Meditations...

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God..." When was the last time you were still, waiting on the Lord?

Every morning before I head out of my bedroom to the mad race of getting the kids fed, backpacks loaded, and lunches grabbed before leaving for school, I have set aside some time to spend with my Heavenly Father. It's almost guaranteed that if I don't spend time with God before the day begins, the rest of the day is completely out of sync.

This last week I've taken a break from my original Bible reading plan and began reading Francie Taylor's new devotional Ponder the Paths...

This is a 31-day devotional book covering the book of Proverbs. You may follow or once followed a Bible reading plan that includes reading a chapter of Proverbs that corresponds with the date. So when it's the first, you read Proverbs chapter one. The second, you read Proverbs two...and so on until the month is complete.

In this case I didn't wait until the beginning of the month to start. I dove right in and am now seven days into it. So very grateful!

Here's the basic set-up:

Each day starts with a key word and a verse from that chapter in Proverbs. I personally read Proverbs first and then read the devotion for the day. This allows for a broader perspective of that particular reading.

These excerpts are not very long but a way of focusing your mind on the concept of the devotion. There's even a place for notes...

I'm going to be honest with you: I don't know how many times I've read through the book of Proverbs over the years, and have had a verse jump out here and there. But adding this book has really made me take a step back, and get a "whole chapter" kind of perspective.

Like Day 7's reading. If you're familiar with Proverbs 7 you'll know that the reading will be about the "strange woman." It's amazing what flattery can do and we see a prime example here.

But the focus is lasered in on the first part of the chapter. The admonishment is for God's words and commandments to be written upon the tables of our hearts. This enables stability when we face temptations...like the temptation the young man later faced in the same chapter with the "strange woman." It comes down to memorizing and hiding God's word in our heart, and then using it as our guide when temptations rear their ugly head.

Another note: It's amazing the patterns that you see develop when you step back for a broader look. Good and Biblical choices lead to blessed outcomes. Bad choices lead to a miserable existence...as found in chapter four: "The way of the wicked is as darkness, they know not at what they stumble." Here it is again in chapter five: "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray."

Not super comforting there. Better reason to "Avoid it [the path of the wicked], pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."

Just some thoughts to ponder this Monday morning as you go about your day. This is a book I would highly recommend! If you are interested in getting your own copy, drop me a line using the e-mail address under the "Contact Me" tab at the top of the page and I'll be sure to get one in your hands (or mail!).

Simply Self-Examining,
Kari