How brutal, how crude and barbaric is the practice of murdering infants in the womb. The Lord foresaw the abortion movement we now see in our country, little ones “drawn to death … ready to be slain.” [Pr. 24:11]

His challenge is to godly saints to speak up and rescue them. Your first step can be a prayer. It’s what I did in 1988. His leading galvanized my position of protecting the unborn.

PRAYER: Father of mercy, Giver and Author of life, show me what I CAN DO about the travesty of abortion.

READING: Pr. 22-24

It’s natural to get bent out of shape when someone does you wrong. It’s not godly, though.

A key proverb is to pass over another’s insulting behavior . “A person with good sense is patient, and it is to his credit that he overlooks an offense.” [Pr. 19:11]

Be the godly one and rise above carnal reaction.

PRAYER: Father, give me the grace to be a forgiving, persevering individual. I want to honor You in my conduct, especially when my pride is tested.

READING: Pr. 19-21

What makes hair turn gray as a person ages? Why didn’t God just keep it black, or brown, or blond, or red?

Although many hide it, gray hair speaks of a stage in life that deserves respect and admiration … if it be found in the way or righteousness. [Pr. 16:21] In Biblical culture, it has value. The law of Moses states that those with white hair are to be honored. [Lev.  19:22]  Why hide it?

PRAYER: Lord, You are wise above us. Instill in us the respect and honor due to aged saints. Let us clearly see their value.

READING: Pr. 16-18

Parents that truly love their children will discipline them. When a parent does not discipline their children, they love them self more than the child … they don’t want to go to the bother of taking the time to bring appropriate correction. Undisciplined children can bring great grief to their parents.

The process of correction and discipline, although time and energy consuming, will produce results that last a lifetime.

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” [Heb. 12:6]

PRAYER: Father, You give us the example of discipline and correction in Your Word. Grace parents to devote the necessary time to bringing loving correction to their children. Your ways are above our ways.

READING: Pr. 13-15

Uprightness and stability are characteristics of the Godly, rather than stumbling and falling. Those who love God and His Word demonstrate an ability to stand through challenging circumstance when others fall all around. Jesus said it was like a man who built his house upon a rock. Paul likened this man to a soldier who had put on God’s armor and stands his ground when the day of evil comesr. .

The posture of the Christian is to stand when all others fall.

PRAYER: Lord, because You stand victorious, we too can stand. You have given us victory over death, hell and the grave. We trust in Your righteousness, not our own. You are the Rock upon which we stand.

READING: Pr. 10-12

Proverbs 8 so clearly identifies God’s Son as His wisdom to us. Of whom else could it be said, “I was there when He set the Heavens in place … I was constantly at His side … those who find me find life.”

Paul echos this same truth when he says, “Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God.”

Matthew 5-7 is the greatest concentration of God’s wisdom ever put into words. We should read it often.

PRAYER: Father, You have graced us with Your wisdom through Jesus Christ, our Saviour. We want to daily live with the teachings of Christ as our pattern.

READING: Pr. 7-9

Because of my recent knee replacement and the numbing neuropathy I contend with in my feet, stumbling is one of my greatest fears. I take great care on steps and challenging terrain. I don’t dare fall.

The writer of Proverbs 4 makes several references to the prevention of figurative stumbling. The key: walk in the way of wisdom. Wise teachers such as Godly parents, trusted spiritual mentors, and high-character coaches are influences God places in the lives of youth to prevent the besetting impact of resisting wisdom.

PRAYER: Father, by Your Spirit stir up leaders to take an even stronger stance against besetting sin. Help us raise a generation of children that truly “Walk in the Light.”

READING: Pr. 4-6

God dispenses wisdom through His Word and by the voice of His Spirit. Having a tuned ear to both of these trusted sources will reap untold blessing and favor in the life we live here on earth.

Each time we obey wisdom’s voice, it gets louder. Refusing it diminishes the volume. Without it, life gets harder and more painful. With it, life takes on greater meaning and fruitfulness.

Jesus is God’s wisdom to us.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for the voice of wisdom available to us. Forgive our foolish pride that tells us we know better than You. Lead us into the Land of Uprightness.

READING: Proverbs 1-3

When listening to Ps. 145-150, I was freshly impressed with the character attributes ascribed to the Lord by the Psalmist. For instance, God is described as gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, rich in love, good to all, trustworthy, faithful, upholding those who fall … I’m thinking, that is what I want to be like.

One of the greatest impacts scripture can have on us is establishing character ideals worth emulating. Reading scripture is loftier than watching “The Walking Dead.”

PRAYER: Father, You have made available to us the riches of Your character through Your Word and Your Spirit. Your Son, Jesus, is our character ideal. We want to walk through this life displaying the character of Christ.

READING: Ps. 145-150

No author in the entire Bible had as much comment about their enemies like David. He seemed to be very sensitive to any resistance to his leadership. Remember Goliath?

In the New Testament we are instructed to stay away from carnal devices of engagement … “the weapons of our warfare are NOT CARNAL, but they are mighty THROUGH GOD.” He alone has the right and opportunity to engage our enemies. Only He sees the entire picture.  (We might actually be more at fault than we realize.)

PRAYER: Lord, forgive us for the way we get worked up when offended. Like the disciples, we can say “We have not yet striven unto blood.” Grace us to pray for our enemies as Jesus instructed.

READING: Ps. 141-144