Scripture Passage

Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?

Big Idea

The Creator of the universe, Who tells every lightening bolt where to go, loves me infinitely. His ways may be beyond my comprehension, but if I know Him, I will trust Him with every detail of my life.

Devotional Reading

Have you ever been mad at God? Doubted His goodness or wisdom? Sometimes I ask people these questions and their jaw falls open. They exclaim, ‘I would NEVER get mad at God or doubt Him.’

I’ve been mad at God or doubted Him many times. If we’re honest with ourselves and others, we’ll admit we doubt or get angry with Him sometimes. Whenever we sin, we doubt God, His goodness, His wisdom, His ability to provide and care for us. Perhaps you don’t get mad at Him for small things, like not getting the job you want, or a good grade on a test. But what if your two-year-old daughter dies, your spouse has an affair, you get cancer? You may think, ‘God, I attend church, obey You, study Your Word, serve others. Why did You allow this to happen?’

I’ve learned, through time, experience, and many heartbreaking trials, not to get mad at God or doubt Him. Whenever I’m tempted to get angry with God or doubt Him, I study His attributes. Who is He? What’s He like? What’s His character? Why can I trust Him? Sometimes it seems as if what He allows in my life is contrary to His character. When I study His attributes, I remember it only SEEMS that way.

In Proverbs 30:4, the author, Agur, reflects on man’s inability to comprehend our infinite God, to understand His nature, His ways, His character. Agur wrote that he was the most ignorant of men, who arrogantly claimed wisdom, but was dumb as an animal. He had less than human intelligence when it came to knowing God. He can’t begin to fathom our God who established the ends of the earth.

In the book of Job, Job tells God he’s righteous, faithful, obedient, innocent. He argues he doesn’t deserve what’s happened to him. God let Job state his case. Then in Job 38-41, God says, ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Have you ever commanded the morning? Did you enclose the sea with doors? Have you entered the storehouses of the snow?’ Job humbled himself before God, repenting of his pride and rebellion.

Some people think God will strike them dead with a lightning bolt if they get mad at Him. If that was true, He would’ve zapped me long ago! He did not strike Job dead for questioning Him. I think when I doubt Him, when I’m mad at Him, He understands. He wants me to humbly come before Him, to recognize that He’s God, that He’s more wise than I can comprehend. Instead of getting mad at God or doubting Him, my heart often cries out ‘why’? I think God is honored by this plea. He may not answer my prayer the way I want or fix my problem, but He lovingly reveals Himself to me. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds me that His thoughts are not my thoughts, His ways are not my ways. As high as the heavens are higher than the earth, so His ways are higher than my ways, His thoughts higher than my thoughts. If I know Him, I don’t need to know why He does what He does or allows. He always does what’s best for me.

Questions for Reflection

1. Has there ever been a time or instance when you were mad at God or doubted Him? What circumstances/events led to that?
2. List some of God’s attributes, study them, meditate on them.
3. Memorize five verses that will help you remember why you can trust God.

Scripture Passage

Proverbs 29:1–27 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

Big Idea

Throughout Proverbs 29 is the comparison of a righteous king to a foolish king. When a righteous king rules, people everywhere rejoice, because the way this king rules is the way the Lord intended.

Devotional Reading

Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has reigned forever and will continue to reign forever. However, on earth He has set up a justice system that we are to keep. “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan.”

When a good, wise king who fears the Lord is ruling a nation, the people feel secure, safe, and at peace. When a ruler pursues God, people rejoice because they are living in the freedom found in Christ. The good, wise king gives stability to the land by administering justice. He makes sure all is right and is concerned with the rights of the poor. He cares for the least of these. He thinks before he speaks and has a humble nature. However, when a wicked man rules a nation, people groan in misery.

People need the vision and guidance of a man who walks with the Lord and preaches God’s word. Without guidance, it is so easy for a nation to fall into chaos. Today, in the world we live in, it is so easy to get lost and scared. It is very rare that a man rules today the way the Lord intended. Governments turn their backs on the Lord every day.

How can we find safety and stability in a world that is so volatile and acts as if it will crumble at the drop of a pin? It is easy to lose sight of the One who is truly in charge. Proverbs 29:25 tells us not to fear man, but that he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. The Lord has total control and we can always find safety in Him. Justice comes from the Lord, and He promises to ensure justice.

I find comfort in Proverbs 29:16, which says, “When the wicked increase, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall.” When the wicked have the power in a nation, sin greatly increases, but no matter how widespread evil may be, the righteous will someday see its destruction. The righteous will look on the downfall of the wicked triumphantly. The righteous will prevail, and the wicked will fail, eventually. There is no situation in which the Lord does not get the final say-so. Our job is to continue fighting for what is right. We need to pursue justice and righteousness and not take a passive position. Seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. God is the ultimate authority and completely worthy of our trust. Trust in Him — a God who loves unconditionally, forgives unconditionally, and has final control.

Questions for Reflection

1. What does 1 Timothy 2:1–2 say we can do for government leaders?
2. How can we be salt and light in our nation?
3. How does Daniel 2:34, 44–45, encourage believers today?

Scripture Passage

Proverbs 28:19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

Big Idea

Are you working hard or hardly working? Hard work isn’t a curse from God.

Devotional Reading

I’m not a farmer. If you’ve ever looked at plants or vegetables I’ve killed, that would be clear. But this proverb intrigues me and even has something to say to those of us who lack a green thumb.

I work with computers every day to build websites, write computer programs, and generally try to solve problems for others. But as a good friend and mentor once taught me, we are just like farmers. We work hard developing business relationships, writing programs that we believe others will find useful, and building websites to help other businesses. We’re planting crops.

And then, like farmers, we wait for God to bless our efforts. It doesn’t always rain and nourish our crops. Just ask any farmer or rancher about that this last summer. Sometimes God has something to teach us, so He brings a drought. Hebrews teaches that God is training us to develop our character and prepare us for heaven. We must trust Him, and we often can’t see these benefits in the midst of the drought.

That’s when the fantasies and frivolity look appealing. If my hard work doesn’t pay off, why continue? Maybe I have the wrong strategy. Surely God doesn’t want me to work this hard, right?

Every day I receive emails about ways to make more money with less effort and time. They tell me I can even sit by the pool in the back yard of my mansion as I reap the rewards! It looks so appealing. But it’s a pipe dream, and chasing it leads to the opposite…poverty and disillusionment.

So I have a choice to make every day. Will I apply myself where I think God is leading, trusting Him to provide and teach me what I need to learn and to persevere? Or will I lose heart and chase a dream? One leads to God’s provision and a more mature character; the other leads to poverty. I don’t always make the right choice, but I’m thankful for a God who is faithful. And because of His grace, I can look back and see how He has rewarded me in times I’ve chosen to trust Him and persevere.

Questions for Reflection

1. How are you encouraging the next generation (our children and teenagers, those in our Bible Fellowships and K-groups, others in our family) to work hard?
2. In what ways are you tempted to chase after fantasies instead of trusting God to provide?
3. How would you benefit from persevering with God and seeing Him provide?

Scripture Passage

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Big Idea

Today is everything.

Devotional Reading

From my experience and short time on this earth, the Lord has really magnified the importance of “right now”, “this very moment”, “today”. How critical it is for me to make it through the moments of now, most of all to make those moments count, and glorify Him in “all things”, not just what I feel like or choose. Today really is everything, because with Him, it frees me of the heavy burdens from all of my “yesterdays”, from my dreadful past. And it has been with Him, and through the promises He has given me, that I have hope and reassurance for the future and all of my “tomorrows”. Through time and growth, I have learned these lessons through the school of faith, discipline, obedience, trust, and patience. I have learned this through many tears, sorrow, and much grief, but also with much joy, comfort, and peace. I know this moment will eventually take me to those monumental moments I long for. They will all be with purpose, for His plan and for His glory.

I have learned to trust, not through any formulas, nor any set of rules. Rather it has been the beautiful, yet painful process of waking up each morning, as if the day before had never happened. Waking up and trusting the Lord with my circumstances, and thanking Him for His continuous mercy and grace. I am thankful I turned my eyes to Him and started being intentional in my relationship with Him. I had a serious lack of a relationship with the Lord in January, 2010. I thought I was doing “good” and going to church. My external looked pretty good, or so I thought, but my test and real lesson, internally, would follow that next April.

April 20, 2010, was the first time I ever purchased a day planner. I was so excited to write down my schedule, excited at the motivation I had to attempt to become organized. The very first thing I wrote down was, “Meet Eileen @ 8:30 – Hastings” on April 20, 2010. I continued writing out my schedule for the rest of the week. I made it to Hastings for coffee with Eileen that evening, but I never made it to the rest of my scheduled week. The Lord had other plans. My plans were abruptly changed that evening. My life, and the lives of many other people, were forever changed, all within moments.

I left Hastings in the back of an ambulance with two gunshot wounds, with memories that haunt and sadden me to this day. I am learning what it looks like to trust the Lord with my circumstances, whether good or bad, big or small. I’m learning what it looks like to trust in Him right now, today, in this moment. He said in His Word that I would have trouble, but He also said I should take heart, and be encouraged, because He has already overcome it all. I must continue to trust in Him and His promises, seek Him TODAY, while I can still call it today, and trust Him in all things and all ways. Every single moment counts. We have the choice to make it worthwhile or worthless. I’ve had more worthless days than worthwhile days, but thankfully, He doesn’t keep any record. Thankfully, He loves me regardless. Such mercy and grace is a beautiful and unexplainable thing. There have also been many days in which I did not understand my circumstances, but I know when my understanding fails, trust will always endure. The task before me certainly is all unclear. I have no idea what tomorrow may bring. But I do know whatever it may be, I will be okay. He has overcome it all and He is what I will continue to boast about, even when the pain of this life may seem too much at times. I know He will always be more. I am so thankful for this life, and for the gift I have of today.

Questions for Reflection

1. What things in your past need to be left behind so you can be hopeful for today?
2. How do you balance making plans for the future with allowing for the Lord’s intervention that may disrupt your plans?
3. What will you “reach” for today, this week, this year, in anticipation of how the Lord is working in your life?