Proverbs 1:1-8 ~ obtain guidance

We are looking forward in expectation for God's face to smile upon us.

How will we find God's help us make good choices and wise decisions?    

Proverbs 1:1-8

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,




32 For the simple are killed by their turning away 

Acts 1 - Judas tended to his own interests.




We ask to stay on Father God's good plan and path. Pleasing God. And in pleasing God having the fruit of His Holy Spirit.


God blessed Abraham, to be a blessing to millenniums. Hezekiah was blessed to be an archaeological and Word of God treasure to understand the how high, deep and wide looking for God's blessing can be to all of us.


God is Pro Instruction and Anti-Condemnation. Hence the Words of the New Testament - no condemnation in Jesus Christ. Romans 8. We do not do away with the Law, but realize Jesus fulfills our gaps and encourages weak knees and drooping hands not to flag. God wants our determination and faith. This passage is giving us the challenge to be in His Grace.


God starts with His 10 Laws. The Law is orderly. And gives us His Son who says worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus fulfills the Law.


So Decision Making.

We run to the new library - Google. Instead, we need to carefully consider the source.

We want our source to be genuine and good and loving.So the equation equals = God. We need resources from God. God does not remain in hiding. God tells us His nature.




HOWEVER, what God wants is you. Be yourself. He is passionate for you, as Your Father. He wants your thoughts, not repeating old phrases like a heathen to Him. God has created gifts and talents in you.  God expects we will need and call to Him as we go forth. God knows we will have difficulties.


God has no care for mindless servitude and platitude. Conversation where you tell Him what He said and He gets to have that conversation with your real self. That is what God wants - you to be the best you He created.  God sees Good. You are His Creation.

Zeal!

We want God to be zealous about us. 

And He gave us brains to discern what He is telling us. We want to be able to face decisions in action, path and words.  His Love to our soul. James says we are invited to ask God His Wisdom. God is encouraging us to rely on Him.


We want God to be zealous about us.

I have a friend who is a retired doctor and to watch him in Decision Making is important. It's a display of wisdom. This is how he faces our new clients with his decision making ability from Medical School and in emergency situations.

1. He applies himself to the decision in attention and will not be rushed. Decision Mode.
2. He discerns the situation carefully by listening.
3. He always repeats the facts.
4. And then he applies the facts. Not in panic, in logic, in prayer, in goodness. He is a godly doctor trained in decision making.
5. He treats others as part of the team. See one, teach one, watch the next person do one.

He is orderly. Making a logical set of directions.

We want the Wind of the Holy Spirit to direct us and not just circle. We set up a framework for decision goals. God wants us to want His Help

Our first step is to decide how we will make decisions - logic, self, impulse, flowchart, prayer, asking advice, from whom, journal facts, rethink old stories and events???

Wisdom  Goal.

Jesus did this. Jesus every day was looking for the direction of God.

Discern Blessings in Decisions

1. God 

Matthew 23:37
How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Father God, I will be willing! To be gathered by You. In Your Direction. I know You are God and Your Blessings are abundant - I ask Your Help.

2. Love yourself.

Do this in good health and truth. Apply Joy and Self-Control. Often be a place to refresh God's Deep Love in who you really, really are.

2 Timothy 1:16-27

16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!

Father God, I will be willing! To be refreshing to God. See His Great Love for you.

3. Love others.

Guard your heart. Our Love comes from God and then is put forth again. Love is not following the world. Wisdom is the passage Jesus tells us about Creation - the work of God. The starting out - is Wisdom. Jesus did not run to the Temple to display being the Glorious Resurrected Messiah.  Use humor in life. Have Joy. Often. Jesus did. God comes first.

Show Mercy. Love the People God Puts In Your Life. Especially the ones who show mercy.

God intends our Good Works to lead to more Good works. A life continuing.

See good in people God places around you.

Hebrews 6:7

For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

Father God, I will be willing! As far as it depends on me, I will live at peace with everyone. Refreshing You!

"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night!!!"


God tells us life Will Test our metal. 

 Jesus told us there would be days like this. 

In John 16:33 Jesus says: "In This World You Will Have Trouble. And Jesus overcomes the World."

Who ya gonna believe? The toothpaste casino adds? God was right. Our decisions will be tested and all shook up. Jesus said the house would have the winds assail the house. The house that stands believes in Him. 

Like Hezekiah. Hezekiah had the whole Assyrian Empire about to knock down all his life, efforts and history. His earthly father had established an 'out' to tear the Temple apart and give up the gold by convincing the people to worship away from the Temple. Hezekiah believed God instead of his earthly kingly father and had the most successful kingdom apart from David himself.


See with Your Eyes of Faith.
Building a House is building a name. Having a name that means reliable, kind, dependable actually gets us respect often unreported to the individual with the good name. We fail to feel the Love God is giving us for our diligent care. We have to see with our eyes of faith - Love and Care will continue to be appreciated by God and streams forth like light from the clouds unannounced.

God tells us the Heavens proclaim the Glory of God. 
Usually no noise is heard.

God notices when we bring Heaven to earth.

Father God, I will be willing! To see with eyes of Faith.







 

When you know that the Season is Changing. And the Wind of the Holy Spirit is needed. Or you are just hopeful to have change.

Pray. Earnestly tell God the reasons. Stay in truth and in gratitude for Jesus - within the Law of the Spirit.

When Trouble threatens to swamp your lifeboat. Look for truth. We are told in Romans we know Truth. Lean upon God. Great struggles in the Bible tell us to look at the One who is Good. When truth is running off, ask God in. God will help.

Sometimes we have to remember where to look for real goodness - God.

Pray for the Holy Spirit who is Jesus Christ the Lord!

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Jan Karon's famous Mitford books tell us about Father Tim praying the prayer that is Always Successful - Thy Will BE Done.

Father God, I am willing! I will cast my cares upon You. You Love me. I will strengthen and rest in You.

The Noah Step. The difficult one.

Are you doing your life right? Did you mess up God's purpose for your life? Is your life meaningful?

Guess. What. Moses could have asked this question. Many times, even as he went up Mount Nebo to see the Children of God go forth into the Promised Land.

Gratitude.
Our honest prayer for honest situations. 

We are not large enough to be perpetually punished. Jesus took our sins. We might face overcoming poor decisions. It's when we give up in the gloom of unworthiness, then we have stepped out of the Light of His Love.

We might foolishly try to put our selfishness first again and again - but we cannot blame God for that. God did put us here to grow up to go Home to Him. Even the Prodigal Son had to grow up some. To find some humility.

It's a Promise. The Word of God is Fulfilled. God's purpose for our lives will be good.

Do we Really believe God has good purpose for us?  Similarly, the demons  shrieked at Jesus had a continual shriek "What purpose do you have for me God? What will You do to me?"

Would God call us not to be us?  No. Does He love us as we are and give us Gifts and Talents to fit in to His Plan. Yes.

Jeremiah stood fast.

 




Jeremiah saw terrible, terrible times. Being a prophet - he said, he didn't really want the job. God surely did not smite Jeremiah in vengeance for wanting better. Peter wanted away from what he grasped was very large and Good.

Jeremiah looked on the purpose God had for him and chose to believe God is Good. And His Word to me is for a Hope and a Future. In the midst of despair, Jeremiah bought an Estate. And you bet your boots after the third round up to enslavement in the Babylonian Empire - Jeremiah remained. And after the war was basically done - more foolish people tried to escape to Egypt.

 Did Jeremiah? No. Because the Lord knew that His plans for Jeremiah were for Good. God would fulfill His promises to Jeremiah.

God created us to be us. 
How radical if God said to me - you are not someone else? 
To find our highest purpose is to be in grace of His plan.
The plans of God are done by God. 
Moses didn't bring forth the Exodus - this required generations. 

When Moses finished, God provided Joshua. God helped Joshua. God helps those who loved the Lord and work according to His Purposes.




 
Remind yourself.
We want to live well doing our part. Especially  text gratitude of the good things. Good News.

God is God.  Look up. The One who Loves you is Good. Alleluia!!!





Father God, I am willing!- I will look to You in the expectation of the adventure Life has for me. 

You are Abundant Life. I will drink deeply of Living Water and see Love.

In Jesus I ask Your Blessings on us and look for the Victory. In Your Righteous, I ask for every good thing to do Your will for those I love and You have given me. Thank You my ears are a little quieter and for allergy season to go easily. Cover us all with Your Goodness in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †