Sunday, April 21, 2019

praying effectively: Forsake Your Folly (Pv.9)

(Proverbs 9:1-18)
 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars;
She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table;
She has sent out her maidens, she calls from the tops of the heights of the city:
Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says,
“Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed.
“Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
13 The woman of folly is boisterous, she is naive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house, on a seat by the high places of the city,
15 Calling to those who pass by, who are making their paths straight:
16 Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” and to him who lacks understanding she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we stop being foolish and become wise (9:4-6)
- that we teach wisdom to those who want to be wise (9:9)
- that we should increase our learning (9:9)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your wisdom.  May I never stop learning.  If I am being foolish in any way, make that obvious to me so that I can change my ways as soon as possible.  Better yet, I prefer that I not even get to any foolish point.  Although we both know that it's totally possible!!!  And yet You still love me.  I am eternally grateful that You are always patient and faithful.  Amen.

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