If you've missed a day or two already, DON'T WORRY! Just pick it right back up and keep pressing on. The danger can be that we feel like God is waiting for us to mess up and when we do, it's almost like God is going to smite us with a lightning bolt or something. This can manifest itself in the guilt we feel and then our desire just to shrug it off and stop doing it. I believe that God cares more about our perseverance in pursuing Him than each act of reading the Bible and/or praying by itself. Keep going! You gotz this.
From the fruit of his words a man eats good things ~ Proverbs 13:2
This verse perplexed me at first read since it's kinda confusing. With some more reflection, I had to break it down into parts and figure out what exactly I don't understand about it. What does "fruit of his words" mean and how is it a good thing that a man eats it? Well, "fruit of his words" implies that the man's words bore fruit. I've seen this when other people have taught, encouraged, or affirmed me and as a result I was uplifted - able to grow in my faith and love other people better. My response to these people's words were fruit. So in keeping with this analogy, the people who loved me by their words were able to see the fruit in my life and as a result they were uplifted as well. That is a good thing indeed.
He who guards his mouth protects his life;
to open wide one's lips brings downfall ~ Proverbs 13:3
Sometimes it's not helpful to just say whatever's on your mind. I've been hurt and I've hurt people because I opened wide my lips and didn't consider how my words would affect others around me. I said it just to say it in order to make myself feel better.
The soul of the sluggard craves in vain,
but the diligent soul is amply satisfied ~ Proverbs 13:4
The "craves in vain" part sticks out to me here. A "sluggard" is someone who is lazy and doesn't give their due diligence. As a result, they desire a lot of things, but it is often in vain, because they never get it. It is interesting that this Proverb is saying that diligence satisfies the soul. I always have to remember that when I want God to work and be present in my life, I can't just sit around waiting for a voice to come out of the clouds. Part of the satisfaction of the soul is to be able to partner with God - ie. we have to work too. Let's not be that partner in the group project that does nothing, but expects to get an A. We all know how annoying that is =P.
Wealth quickly gotten dwindles away,
but amassed little by little, it grows ~ Proverbs 13:11
This, to me, is sound financial advice, particularly by observation and experience. In terms of material wealth, lots of us have wished to win the lottery. However, there are lots of case studies that follow lottery winners and they end up even worse off. This author of this Proverb also seems to have a good understanding of the power of compound interest. To me, this also makes sense spiritually since we often want to give God everything (to gain the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven) and so at retreats or something we write Him a check for a million dollars, but then on the way home, our check bounces. True wealth - spiritual wealth - is also amassed by gaining it little by little. One way to do that, is this little commitment here ;).
A wicked messenger brings on disaster,
but a trustworthy envoy is a healing remedy ~ Proverbs 13:17
This verse also strikes me as similar to verse 3. It seems hard to relate to at first because when I think of messengers and envoys, I think about the ancient times when to communicate with people, you would send messengers ahead of you. This doesn't seem to have an immediate parallel in modern times, but thinking more about it, I often am a messenger when I choose to share or speak something into someone else's life. Whether it's to let them know that their words/actions hurt me or even to let them know that the things they are doing could be harmful, it's very clear that I could either be a wicked messenger bringing on disaster or a healing, trustworthy envoy. Do I speak out in a way that's filled with impatience, judgment, or vengeance? Or am I trustworthy with their feelings and speak out of introspection and love to bring healing?
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