Devotions: November 9, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 9:3-6
“She (wisdom) has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.”
Wisdom is a person who is always calling out to us! Wisdom is a gift that the Lord has given to all people, but only some people will receive the gift of wisdom. Only some people will inherit the gift of wisdom. Wisdom constantly cries out to people to forsake their simple ways, and she invites them to come eat the food and drink the wine that she has prepared. Wisdom is measured to all people based on how much they listen and implement her advice and direction. Wisdom does not discriminate!
Do not ignore wisdom because wisdom wants to lead you in a way that betters your life and the lives of your family and friends. Wisdom calls out to everyone. Let us listen, implement, and become wise!
Prayer: Lord, wisdom is crying out to me. Open my ears to hear her call. Help me to implement the advice that wisdom shares. Amen!
Devotions: November 8, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 8:10-11
“Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.”
Wisdom is the most precious commodity we can have! Some people think that wealth and riches are the most valuable possessions, but Proverbs 8:10-11 is saying that wisdom should be our most prized possession. Wisdom is what people should seek after first rather than any other commodity. Wisdom should be our currency. Why should wisdom be paramount in our lives? Because wisdom is the principal thing. When people have wisdom, they will attract gold, silver, and rubies. Wisdom will give way to ideas that can and will generate great riches, wealth, gold, silver, rubies, etc. Commodities do not lead to wisdom. Let us see the value in wisdom and pursue her!
Prayer: Lord, wisdom is the principal thing, therefore you have encouraged your people to get wisdom. You also said that I should ask for wisdom. Lord, I desire wisdom in my innermost being. Grant me wisdom that I should live in it all the days of my life. Amen!
Devotions: November 6, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 6:16-19
“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
There are six things that the Lord hates and the seventh is an abomination!
Most teachings about the Lord emphasize His goodness, His mercy, His kindness, His grace, and His salvation. These things are great.
But we rarely hear about a God that hates some things. But in Proverbs 6:16-19, the Lord declares that there are six that He absolutely hates and the seventh is an abomination. God hates:
1. A proud look – pride.
2. A lying tongue – lies generally
3. Hands that shed innocent blood – murder of innocent people
4. A heart that devises wicked plans – plotting against people, places, and things and revenge
5. Feet that are swift in running to evil – always ready to do evil
6. A false witness who speaks lies – lies that are meant to affect and target someone else, and
7. One who sows discord among brethren – a person who breaks the unity among close family and/or friends.
Let us ensure that we are not fulfilling what God hates.
Prayer: Lord, help me to recognize and turn away from anything that You hate especially pride, lies, murder, plotting or revenge, running towards evil, slander and gossip, and sowing disunity among your people. Amen!
Devotions: November 5, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 5:3;7-9
“For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; therefore hear me now, my children, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one.”
Stay far away from the immoral woman! Some of us would prefer to learn by experience rather than listen to those who should give wise counsel. Our life’s experiences trained us to doubt counsel coming from some people. But we should listen to wise counsel! In this Scripture, the Lord is warning us to stay away from the immoral person – it can be a man or a woman. The Scripture is warning: do not go to their intimate spaces because you will not be the only one, and you may likely give your honor and virtue to others. You are warned: not to go to the intimate spaces of the immoral person, because going to that place can cause you to give your years to the cruel one who is influencing the immoral person. Let us take wise counsel from the Scripture!
Prayer: Lord, help me to discern the immoral person, and give me the strength to stay away from their intimate spaces. Teach me to listen to and follow wise counsel. Amen!
Devotions: November 3, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 3:11-12
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”
The Lord corrects those He loves! Correction does not feel good at the time that it is happening. Depending on the posture that we take, we can see correction as a form of humiliation. But correction coming from a pure heart is meant for your benefit. It is meant to grow us. It is meant to help us level up in our thinking and in our actions.
In this Scripture, the Lord is saying that He will correct those that He is pleased with. He will help those that He is pleased with to move into a path that is even more productive for their lives. It is saying that just like our natural parents correct us, God will correct us. Therefore, we must be encouraged that God is so pleased with us that He would take note of us to correct us when we are going off-course. This should make us feel loved by the Lord!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking note of me, and for chastening me when I am going off-course. Help me to open my heart to correction that I may become even more productive for You and Your Kingdom. Amen!
Devotions: November 1, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 1:10-15
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit; we shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil; cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse”— My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path.”
We shouldn’t let others entice us to do evil. We may fall on hard times or we may be poor, but following anyone who leads us to do what is not right should not be allowed. We should develop personal standards and values by which we live. Having our own value system, will help us to say no to anything that would violate our standards and values.
When we do what is right, we are sowing good seeds for our future. When we do what is wrong, we are sowing seeds of destruction for our future. Sowing and reaping are real principles that we will harvest into our lives and into the lives of our future children. We should do the right thing, and the right thing will be done to us.
Prayer: Lord, help me to develop right standards and values to live by so that I will not be enticed to do wrong. Amen!
Devotions: October 31, 2023 by Neibert David
Leviticus 20:2
“Again, you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘Whoever of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who gives any of his descendants to Molech, he shall surely be out to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.”
Halloween is today – October 31st, 2023. Today is the satanic high holy day on the earth. It is a day that the “church” of Satan, witches, warlocks and such like celebrate their activities. It is the culmination of their high holy 40 days of the year.
As such, some Satanists, witches, and warlocks require blood to be offered. These blood sacrifices are also prevalent in some of the world religions. But God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all provide life to people generally and believers specifically. God gives life to everyone at their birth because we all breathe His supply of air. And believers are born again into new life in Jesus Christ, where He says in John 10:10b I come that you may have life, and that more abundantly. The Lord gives life. He does not require the sacrifice of anyone’s or any animal’s blood to receive blessings from Him.
According to Google, the meaning of Molech in English:
“1. an ancient Phoenician and Ammonite god, to whom children were sacrificed by burning. 2. anything demanding terrible sacrifice.”
Israel was influenced by Molech because of their syncretist practices. That is, they incorporated the beliefs and practices of other peoples into the society alongside worship of YHWH. Even though YHWH warned Israel not to follow after other gods.
We must be vigilant and encourage those we know to give up human and animals sacrifices. These acts are profane before the Lord.
Devotions: October 30, 2023 by Neibert David
Leviticus 14:12-20 – What Was Once Sacred is Now Profane!
In Leviticus 14:12-20, the Lord details the actions that the priest must take for the purification of a person who is offering a guilt offering before the Lord. This person would have been guilty of sinning against the Lord (Lev 5:14-26), and to be forgiven for their sins, they would need to offer a guilt offering.
The Lord details the actions that the priest should take using the blood of a sacrificed male lamb and oil. Leviticus 14:14-18 says:
“The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand. Then the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord. And of the rest of the oil in his hand, the priest shall put some on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the blood of the trespass offering. The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed. So the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord.”
When the Lord gave these instructions to Moses, the instructions and the actions were sacred. Dipping his finger in the blood of a sacrificed lamb and in oil, and rubbing it on the different body parts of the guilty person for their atonement was sacred. The blood of animals used in the way that the Lord instructed sufficed as a guilt offering for the person’s sin.
But these practices are now profane in the eyes of God. They are profane because the Lord Jesus Christ – Yeshua Hamashiach, who is called “The Lamb of God” gave His life for all persons because each person was / is guilty of sinning against the Lord. When he died on the cross of Calvary, He paid the price for the guilt offering with His precious blood.
In the Old Testament, God required the blood of the lamb (or dove or pigeon if the person was poor) to atone for the guilty person. But with the finished work of the Lord on the cross of Calvary, Yeshua Hamashiach satisfied the blood requirement as an atonement. Therefore, every requirement for blood in the current era after the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ is profane. Any present requirement for blood is profane because the price for blood has already been paid and satisfied by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, all authority in heaven and on earth has been granted under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Beware of any practices that require the blood of animals to be spilled because those practices are now profane! The blood sacrifice of children has ALWAYS been profane!
Devotions: October 29, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 29:4
“By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.”
Just leaders bring stability to their countries. Leadership matters! Leadership matters in the home. It matters in a company. Leadership matters in a nation. The type of leadership a nation has will determine the balance in that nation. It will determine the equity in the nation. Leadership that practices justice brings stability to a nation. The citizens in a country with just leadership will enjoy a level of predictability that serves as a foundation for their lives.
But leaders who are greedy trouble their countries. Greedy leaders push the country into instability. Greedy leaders do not look out for the best interest of the people of the country, but they look for how they can benefit themselves from the resources of the country. Greedy leaders are interested in giving and receiving brides. Instead of stabilizing the country, greedy leaders tear the country down. Let us be just leaders wherever we go!
Prayer: Lord, we pray that our leaders are men and women of justice. You, Lord, empower just leaders to bring stability to their countries. As leaders may we be led by justice and equity. Amen!
Devotions: October 28, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 28:24
“Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, “It is no transgression,” the same is companion to a destroyer.”
We are to honor our fathers and mothers. When we honor our fathers and mothers, we will not attempt to rob or cheat them in any way. We will look out for their best interest. We will give them good advice, and we will take care of them as much as we can. When we honor our fathers and mothers, we are being obedient to the Word of God. We are being obedient to God’s direction. And the Lord rewards obedience.
But if we rob our parents in any way, we are just like a destroyer. We are ruining our parents, we are ruining our future selves, and we are ruining our relationships. Dishonoring our parents has far reaching consequences in that we are sowing bad seeds in our lives that will be harvested by us or our children in the future.
If our parents have dishonored us, it will be hard to honor them, but this is when we are to trust God and His word. We must get our feelings healed, and place boundaries in the relationships with our parents so that we can honor God by honoring them. We must grow emotionally to be able to put any parental hurt in the right perspective. Let us be wise and honor our parents.
Prayer: Lord, help me to place my relationship with my parents in the correct perspective. Give me the wisdom to always honor them to the best of my abilities. Amen!
Devotions: October 27, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 27:6 – NIV
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
NKJV
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Friends tell each other the truth! When you have true friends, they will tell you the truth. Friends look out for each other. Friends encourage each other to grow as people. They help us to grow into the best version of who we are. True friends are not afraid to challenge us when they see that we are compromising our own values and thoughts. If your friends cannot challenge your positions are they even your friends? Do you consider them your friends? And if you don’t consider them your friends, why do you have them so close?
People who are enemies of your purpose will see you moving in a direction that is not right, and they will still not tell you. They will not help to open your eyes. They will see you walking towards danger, and they will blow kisses at you encouraging you to keep on going. Some “friends” are jealous of who you are. They are jealous of your confidence, your commitment, and your security. They are jealous of your love. Let us be genuine friends to the people around us, and in so doing we will attract genuine friends.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to be a genuine friend and to recognize and accept my genuine friends. Expose any enemies camouflaging as friends, and help me to be gracious to them. Amen!
Devotions: October 26, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 26:28
“A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
People can’t be comfortable with those they lied about! Hurt people, hurt people. Some people are so hurt that they perpetuate that hurt in other people. These people don’t take the time to elevate themselves and their lives to determine why they are hurt. Yet, they consciously or unconsciously try to destroy another person’s life through their lies. And because they refuse to humble themselves, these same people develop a hatred for the people that they hurt.
Yet, people who operate in flattery also cannot be trusted. Instead of speaking the truth, they will speak empty words with the intent of being liked or of impressing the other person. Flattery ruins potential relationships because people realize that the flatterer is probably not sincere. Let us get our feelings healed so that we will not hurt others, and so that we will not feel the need to flatter anyone else.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be so confident of what You have done in me and what are doing through me that I will not lie on others nor will I use flattery to gain people’s attention. Amen!
Devotions: October 25, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 25:21-22
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
People ought to be gracious always! Graciousness is not always easy. In fact, graciousness to some people can be the hardest thing that we do because it will test our faith. It will test our commitment to God. It will test our commitment to the Word of God. Some people have been so vile to us, that it seems hard to turn and be gracious to them.
But these Scriptures are saying that when we are gracious to our enemies, coals of fire will be healed upon their heads. And the Lord will reward our obedience!
Even as you are being gracious to your enemies, make sure that you use wisdom and maintain healthy boundaries with those same enemies. The two tensions must co-exist as we obey Christ. Let us ask God to grant us the wisdom we need to engage and maintain healthy boundaries with our enemies!
Prayer: Lord, help me to recognize those who are enemies to Your purposes in my life. Grant me the wisdom to engage with them when it is needed while simultaneously setting up healthy boundaries. Amen!
Devotions: October 24, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 24:17-18
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.”
People should not rejoice at the calamity of others! The principles of the world are set up to ensure that people reap what they sow. The principles automatically govern the fruit that people will experience from the actions that they have taken and from the roots that they have sown. Therefore, we are not to be monitoring the evil doers’ life, with the the exception that they are being led by the Lord’s direction. Evil doers will be repaid for the evil that they have done.
Yet, when we witness the evil doers being repaid, we must not rejoice at their circumstances. We must not rejoice at their calamity because the Lord may disapprove and turn away His wrath. We must discipline ourselves to not rejoice at someone else’s adversity even though they are reaping what they have sown!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be emotionally mature that I will not rejoice at the disaster of others even when it is a repayment for their own terrible seeds that they have sown. Amen!
Devotions: October 23, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 23:10-11
“Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; He will take up their case against you.”
The fatherless person is never alone. There are certain norms in society that serve as protection for the widows, orphans, and the fatherless. These societal norns and laws generally come out of the Bible. They are meant to protect the poor and underserved from predictors and the greedy.
This Scripture is saying that people should not steal from the fatherless. They should not steal land or any property from the defenseless person because God will take up their case and defend them. God watches over the entire earth to bring about justice for the poor and the fatherless, therefore no one should feel safe if they are taking advantage of the poor or the fatherless. God has promised to take up their cause. God has promised to be a defender of the fatherless. Instead, people should demonstrate the same level of respect and honor to the poor and the fatherless that God does. Let us become defenders of the poor and the fatherless!
Prayer: Lord, help me to respect and honor the fatherless, the poor, and those who are less fortunate than me. May I never take advantage of their and other people’s weaknesses. Amen!
Devotions: October 20, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 20:15
“Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.”
People who speak knowledge are rare jewels. Knowledge helps to guide the choices that we make in life. It leads us into good and right paths for our lives. People who speak knowledge to us can help guide the course of our lives for the better. They can help us avoid mistakes. They can help us get to our paths quicker.
But, this Scripture is saying that there is more gold and rubies available on the earth at any given time than people who speak knowledge. And we all know how rare rubies and gold are! In our lives, this should not be. Let us become the rare jewels that speak knowledge to those around and about us.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be that rare jewel that speaks knowledge. Amen!
Devotions: October 18, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 18:22
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
Marriage is honorable to the Lord. The Lord created marriage, and He is very supportive of the institution of marriage. The marital relationship is the most significant relationship that we will have because it alone can resemble the type of relationship that God wants to have with His crowning creation: people. The Lord wants the closeness, trust, belonging, and vulnerability that can come from a good marriage. When two people allow themselves to be changed by the marital relationship, they can experience great blessings.
A man who is looking for and finds a wife, will be blessed by the Lord. He walks into an unseen supernatural favor that He will not experience otherwise. Why? Because by marrying a wife, he has decided to undertake a process of growth and maturity that will stretch him to be the best version of himself and to resemble Christ. The responsibilities of marriage should cause him to bring out the best of what is already in him.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see marriage as a gift from You and an opportunity for personal growth and maturity. May my marriage receive favor from the Lord. Amen!
Devotions: October 17, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 17:7
“Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince”
Integrity should be the mark of leadership! Fools do not have excellent speech in their mouths. In fact, fools will fight against and ignore wisdom that is being shared with them. When fools reject excellent advice and speech, they will remain fools.
However, a prince denotes a leader in a society or land. Princes should not be flanked by lying lips. This Scripture is saying that if you desire to be a leader, you should not possess lying lips. It is saying if you desire to be a leader you should not be devceptive. Leaders should not lie to the people they are leading. Leaders who lie have broken one of the fundamental tenets of leadership namely: to have high standards of integrity. As such, leadership in any capacity should be marked by integrity!
Prayers: Lord, search my heart and see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. May I be a leader marked by integrity. Amen!
Devotions: October 15, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 15:17
“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
Love is good for our well being! Love is the fuel of the human soul. Without love we can experience emotional starvation and deprivation. Without love, one critical part of us, our emotional self is not properly developed. Riches and great riches can’t buy love and happiness. Love comes from the inside of a person. Love comes from a person who knows that they are loved. Love feeds love! No matter how much you can afford in this life, if your heart is full of hatred, you will reject the pursuing heart of love.
This Scripture is encouraging us to go to places and be with people who love us. The Scripture is leading us to find love and to stay and enjoy where we find love. It is also directing us to become the loving people that others would enjoy eating vegetables with.
Prayer: Lord, help me to receive and give love. May my heart embrace Your love that I may become loving and pour love out to others. Amen!
Devotions: October 14, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 14:9
“Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.”
It is wise to make amends for sin! Pride is one of the character traits that keeps people from making amends for sin. Pride keeps people from humbling themselves even when they know that they are wrong. But this Scripture says that fools mock the fact that they should make amends for their sin. They are called fools because if they make amends, the relationship might be saved, and maybe it can go to a deeper level of connection.
But with the people who are upright, there is goodwill. Goodwill means being: “friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude.” Why is there goodwill among the upright? There is goodwill among the upright because they have no hidden agendas. Let us make amends for our sins. And let us become genuine people removing all hidden agendas from our hearts.
Prayer: Lord, help me to humble myself that I will make amends for my sin! Teach me to be upright that good will may be established in my heart. Amen!
Devotions: October 13, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 13:10
“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
Strife can’t prosper without pride. Strife will ruin potentially great relationships. But the strength of strife is pride. In other words, pride lurks at the foundation of strife! This is when one or more persons in a relationship refuse to humble themselves to help the relationship to be reconciled. It does take great strength of character to work towards reconciliation in a broken relationship. But, most people find it easier to just move on from the relationship.
Yet, this Scripture is saying that instead of pride, wisdom can be found in taking advice. We all have blinders in our lives based on our experiences, therefore we may not be seeing a situation accurately. Taking advice from others can help us to see clearly, and it can help us to understand situations from another person’s point of view.
Even so, strife comes into some relationships because they are meant to end as the people involved are now on different paths.Therefore, let us use discernment to determine whether reconciliation or departure applies when strife comes into a relationship.
Prayer: Lord, increase my discernment so that I can recognize pride when it is operating in my heart. Give me the wisdom that I need to implement sound advice. Amen!
Devotions: October 12, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 12:14
From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.”
Let us speak positively and watch good things come into our lives. Many of us do not know that our words create the world we live in. We speak positively because we think and believe positively. We speak negatively because we think and believe negatively. Therefore, what we think and believe will eventually become our reality. But when we think, believe, and speak good things about our lives, and we add work to see those good things come to pass, we will be rewarded. The principles that govern the earth begin to work in our favor. When we work, we will be rewarded with those good things and with even more good things than we have not asked or imagined!
Prayer: Lord, help me to think and believe rightly so that I may speak rightly. Help me to work to accomplish the good things that I speak of. Amen!
Devotions: October 11, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 11:4
“Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
We will all answer for the way we have chosen to live! The way that we have chosen to live can be good news for some, but it can also be terrible news for others. The Lord Who created all of us has given us free will to choose how we will conduct our lives. But, what we may not know is that we will give an account to the Lord for the choices that we have made in our lifetime. No matter how much wealth and influence we have amassed, they will not be enough to justify an unrighteous life.
Is God against gaining wealth? No! He placed the wealth here on the earth. God has been known to double the wealth of the richest man in the east after that man, Job, gave glory to God in the season when he was most tested.
There is a coming day of wrath, and righteousness or right standing before God will be the only solution to the problem. It will be the only solution that will deliver us from death or eternal separation from God. We can all obtain righteousness by accepting God’s free gift of the finished work of His Only Begotten Son – Yeshua Hamashiach otherwise known as the Lord Jesus Christ! All other righteousness is sinking sand!
Prayer: Lord, let it be said of me: this servant of Mine sought Me will all his / her heart. Let the righteousness of God be my refuge, my strength, and my fortress. Amen!
Devotions: October 10, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 10:5
“He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”
Wise people plan for their future. Summer time is a time for harvest. It is a time when traditionally grains were being harvested in Israel. When it was harvest time, the people would gather the grains to take care of their present needs as well as prepare for their future needs when the winter came. They would prepare for the coming winter during harvest in the summer time.
Yet, during summer time people could choose to enjoy the warmth of the weather. Instead of working to reap the harvest, they could be relaxing or sleeping because of the heat. But being prudent means” “acting with or showing care and thought for the future.” This Scripture advises us to be prudent in the summer time. Therefore, let us move with the seasons of our lives and gather our crops at harvest time!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be prudent in my life. Help me to gather what I need to prepare for my future as I take care of my present. Amen!
Devotions: October 9, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord! God created the world and the universe that we live in. Therefore, to gain wisdom from the principles that govern the earth, people must acknowledge that God knows how the principles work. When you follow God’s guidance through the principles that govern the earth, you are demonstrating reverence and fear for the Lord. When we follow God’s guidance through the principles that govern the earth, we are acknowledging that God’s way is the right way. We are demonstrating His preeminence in our lives.
Additionally, as you seek God, you will learn more about Him because He will reveal Himself to you. He said seek Me while I may be found. As you honor the knowledge about Him that you are receiving, your understanding about how things in the world work opens up. Growing in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding begins with the fear of the Lord, and reverence and respect for the Holy One automatically follows.
Prayer: Lord, help me to grow in the fear of the Lord. Help me to reverence and respect You to the greatest depths that I possibly can. Enlarge my capacity for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Amen!
Devotions: October 8, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 8:8-9
Wisdom says: 8 – “All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.”
People with discernment recognize words that are just, right, and upright! In this Scripture, wisdom is saying that people who have discernment know when things are right. Their sense of perception has heightened, therefore they understand what is right and just in this life. The Scripture is also saying that the person with knowledge will also perceive words that are upright. In other words, discernment and knowledge are needed in people’s lives so that they will recognize wisdom when she leads and speaks. Also, wisdom is never crooked or perverse, therefore anything that is crooked or perverse is not wisdom! Let us decide to grow in wisdom, discernment, and knowledge that we may live just, right, and upright lives!
Prayer: Lord, lead me to grow in wisdom, discernment, and knowledge that I may recognize just, right, and upright words. Teach me to not only recognize these words but to live by them. Amen!
Devotions: October 7, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 7:10-12
“Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)”
Ladies, we must examine our true motives when we desire to meet other people. As women there is a certain level of respect and honor that the Lord has placed on us. Yet, some of us do not live up to the respect and honor God has given us. As women, some of our experiences in life have taught us that we are not valuable, and that our only value is placed in our bodies so we try using our bodies to manipulate and control others to get what we want. Some of us try to use the very bodies that God said was good to consciously try to corrupt other people. Why? Because we don’t know that we are valuable. And we don’t know that we have been influenced by the enemy of our souls. There is a war going on in the invisible realm, and that war is for our souls. And the more we let the enemy use us to manipulate and control other people, is the more access to our lives that we are giving the enemy.
Let us go on a healing journey so that our secret intentions will bless others and not hurt them.
Prayer: Lord, search me and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen!
Devotions: October 6, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 6:9-11
“How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”
Diligence is key to avoiding poverty. We must work at developing the gifts, talents, and abilities that we have been given to produce our own upkeep. We have not been slighted by life. For some of us, the climb or the work will be harder because of our family background. Yet, God has given each of us the resources that we need to develop and take care of ourselves. When we give into the blame game of not having the right opportunities, it kills our creative juices, and it leads us to sleep and slumber. Sleep and slumber will help poverty to visit us, and like an armed bandit scarcity will try to overtake us.
Even so, we must balance any hard work with the proper rest and enjoyment. Rest and joy help to fuel our creativity! And may life never accurately call us sluggards!
Prayer: Lord, help me to move in diligence in my life. May my creativity fuel the possibilities for my life that You always saw for me. Amen!
Devotions: October 5, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 5:20-21
“Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman? For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.”
Adultery and fornication are not pleasing to the Lord! When people are married, they have made a commitment to another person. Until that person is divorced, he or she IS committed to another person. If you embrace a married man or woman, you are embracing the bosom of a wayward person. If two or more people are not married, but are sleeping with each other, you may be guilty of sleeping with someone who will be another man’s wife or another woman’s husband in the future. Why are you being intoxicated with another man’s wife or with another woman’s husband?
Whether you are committing adultery or fornication, all of our ways are in full view of the Lord. We do not get to hide any of our ways from the Lord! Let us walk away from the wayward man or woman!
Prayer: Lord, help me to understand that all of my ways are in Your full view. Help me to walk away of adultery and / or fornication in my body and / or in my mind. Lord, You know the secrets of my heart. Amen!
Devotions: October 4, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 4:14-17
“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.”
We are warned against doing evil and being with evil doers. Evil doers have allowed themselves to be corrupted by the evil in this world. They have allowed themselves to be influenced by the desires of the enemy of their souls. The Lord Who loves all of us will not lead us to do evil to ourselves or to another person. This Scripture is telling us that evil doers cannot rest until they do evil. In other words, they are controlled by the evil that they have allowed into their lives. Let us be warned: we must turn aside from doing any form of evil before we open our lives to be controlled by that same evil. We should also walk away from those who influence us to do evil. Nothing good can come from doing evil!
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to any form of evil that I may be involved with. Help me to turn away from it. Help me to walk away from people who are influencing me to engage in evil. Amen!
Devotions: October 3, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 3:9-10
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
As we honor the Lord with our wealth, He opens the door of blessings for us. Wealth comes from the Lord. Wealth is stored up in the earth for all human beings to access. The Lord has freely stored up wealth in the resources of the earth, yet some of us choose to access this God-given wealth through devious means or through satanic activity. Others of us, do not trust that the Lord will do what He says that He will do.
When we honor the Lord with the first fruits of our wealth, He unlocks the flow of wealth so that it comes to our barns and storehouses otherwise known as our businesses. Let us trust that the Lord will make good on His word as we honor Him with our wealth and with the first fruit of our crops (or increase)!
Prayer: Lord, help me to trust You and Your Word. Help me to honor You with my wealth and with my first fruits. Amen!
Devotions: October 2, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 2:7-8
“He (God) holds success in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
Walking uprightly before God brings His protection and promises of success! This Scripture is promising that when we seek God and follow His paths, God has success stored up for us. It is saying that when we follow God’s directions, God guards our way, and He protects our paths. In other words, when we commit our lives to following God’s guidance, God, Himself, is motivated to be a shield over our path and our way. He is driven by His Word to ensure that we enjoy good success in our lives. Why? Because we have placed our trust in Him; because we have chosen to rely on Him and His directions. In trusting and relying on God, we activate God’s Word and His principles to begin working on our behalf.
Always remember that the Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God’s Word and principles are waiting for us to connect to them through our obedience. Success will follow!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be obedient to Your Word and Your principles. Enable me to be upright, blameless, just, and faithful before You. Amen!
Devotions: September 30, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 30:1b
“I am weary, God, but I can prevail.”
We are to acknowledge the facts of our situations. As we acknowledge the facts, we are not being negative. We are simply acknowledging the reality of the situation. We are acknowledging the facts that we are facing. If we deny the facts, it will not help us to properly evaluate the situation.
Yet, when we cry out to God about our situation, we can be infused with the truth that we can prevail. As we cry out to God, we can be infused with the hope necessary to know that we will make it. That hope lets us know that we will get through the situation. When we cry out to God, we can get His perspective to know that we are winners and that we can and will prevail. Let us cry out to God in every situation that we are facing and receive His perspective, His truth regarding it.
Prayer: Lord, as I cry out to You give me Your perspective and Your truth in every situation that I face. Let me be encouraged with a knowing in my heart that I can and will prevail. Amen!
Devotions: September 28, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 28:19
“He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!”
We have already been given all that we need to have plenty. It is our responsibility to develop the gifts, talents, and abilities that we were given by God so that we will have plenty of bread. When we have plenty of bread, we can take care of ourselves, our families, and share with or sell to others. The excess of what we have is what we use to sell to others. But many people use what they have frivolously meaning that they do not have serious plans for taking care of themselves and building in the future. They waste what they have with frivolous spending and it leads to poverty. Not developing your God-given gifts, talents, and abilities and frivolous spending both lead to poverty! Let us develop our own gifts, talents, and abilities, and become more responsible in our lives.
Prayer: Lord, show me how to develop the gifts, talents, and abilities that You gave to me so that I will have plenty of bread for myself, my family, and others. Amen!
Devotions: September 27, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
As friends, we are called to encourage each other unto good works! When we care about people we will help them in whatever way that we can to be better versions of themselves. We can’t be considered a friend to others if we refuse to show them how and when they are wrong. People have different experiences in life. Therefore they have different perspectives. Our perspective is valuable and should be tactfully shared with our friends. It is now up to them to consider our point of view as they make their decisions. If we share wise counsel, it is up to them to incorporate that wise counsel into their lives. It is not our responsibility to make them listen. Listening is solely up to them!
Prayer: Lord, help me to care about other people not just myself. Teach me to tactfully share my thoughts with them to see them grow. Amen!
Devotions: September 26, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 26:13
“The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!””
People justify laziness with all kinds of excuses! The lazy person will convince themselves that anything is a viable excuse for not doing what they need to do. The lazy person has most likely not evaluated his / her life to note what needs to be done today in order that his / her life would move forward. The lazy person probably does not have goals for his / her life that will demand that he / she sustains a good work ethic in order to accomplish those goals. No goals, no motivation!
Let us evaluate our lives to locate excuses we have made for not getting tasks done. Let us make goals for ourselves under the leading of Holy Spirit. Let us work to accomplish these goals by breaking down the goals into mini tasks that we complete daily. Let us ask Holy Spirit for help in accomplishing our goals, and let us eliminate excuses from our lives as we move forward!
Pray: Lord, I confess that I have allowed laziness to become part of my life. Please forgive me. Give me the grace to shift to accomplish the goals that I have set with You. Amen!
Devotions: September 25 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 25:8-10
“Do not go hastily to court; for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor has put you to shame? Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another; lest he who hears it expose your shame, and your reputation be ruined.”
It is wise to work out issues with people before they escalate. We must not escalate issues with people before trying to work them out between the parties. Everyone has a different perspective in life based on our experiences. No two people have had the exact experiences in life – unless there is something quite unhealthy going on. Therefore, understanding someone else’s perspective may help in solving problems easier and quicker. But, it will take humility to resolve issues with another person because we must be willing to admit that we can be wrong.
When we come to an agreement with our neighbors, we should maintain their confidence and not gossip about the matter. Or we risk the gossip getting back to our neighbors and them telling the whole story and ruining our reputation!
Seek reconciliation before escalation!
Prayer: Lord, help me as to desire peace and confluence in my relationships. Shape me that I will seek reconciliation before escalation.
Devotions: September 20, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 20:7
“The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.”
We are sowing seeds that will reap a harvest in the future. As we live, it is important for us to remember that our decisions are seeds that we are sowing. These seeds will eventually bring a harvest in our lives and the lives of our children. When we live and operate in integrity, we are sowing seeds of blessings into the future of our children. Likewise, if we are not walking and living in integrity we can be sowing seeds of corruption into the future of our children. The decisions we make today have future consequences in our lives and in the lives of our children.
We don’t only live for the present. As we live now we are also sowing seeds that will be harvested in the future. Let us examine the decisions that we are making today to help safeguard our future and the future of our children and our unborn children.
Prayer, Lord, help me to understand that my decisions today will affect the future of my children and my unborn children. Amen!
Devotions: September 19, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 19:5
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.”
He who lies will be exposed and punished! There are built in consequences or results for every decision that we make. We may enjoy the results but loathe the consequences of our decisions. But we should be very careful to recognize that every action has a corresponding reaction. Therefore, if or when we lie or give false witness, we will be found out. God in this Scripture says we will not escape, and we will not go unpunished. By the way, bearing false witness is also lying.
We should not be deceived; God cannot and will not be mocked!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be a truth-teller in every situation. Give me the correct perspective to know that You cannot and will not be mocked. Amen!
Devotions: September 18, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 18:5
“It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.”
As we interact with people, we must maintain our integrity! We must retain the perspective that one day we will give an account for our lives and decisions. Therefore, our integrity should be most important to us. As a result, we should not show partiality to the wicked, but we should give the wicked what they deserve. We must know that the wicked may offer bribes to try to influence our decisions. They may be our friends, or our family, yet we must retain the knowledge of God in our thoughts and not give into the pressure of showing partiality to the wicked even if they are rich.
We should also rightly judge the righteous by giving them what they are due. We should not cheat the righteous in any way even if the rich or the wicked is coming up against them. We must not allow anything or anyone to influence us against judging the righteous fairly. We must judge rightly by giving every person what is rightfully theirs, or what is truly owed to them. God is watching, and we will give an account.
Prayer: Lord, strengthen my inner man that I will maintain my integrity even in the face of compromising situations. Help me to retain the perspective that one day I will give an account for my choices in this life. Amen!
Devotions: September 7, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 7:1-5
“My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words.”
The Lord’s words and commandments keep us from all manner of immorality! In this Scripture a father is teaching his son to listen and implement the commandments and law of life that will ultimately benefit the son’s life.
This is also the end goal of the Bible: God is using His Word to teach people how to have a productive life here on earth. God’s Word is available to all who will listen and implement His teaching and principles. God is not selective about who can listen, follow, and implement His Word.
There is a built in protection associated with the laws and commands of God. God’s promise to us is if we follow His Word and His directions, it will keep us from all manner of immorality including a seductive woman or man. God’s Word will be a guard rail for our lives. God’s Word, directions, and His principles will keep us, especially men, from falling into the flattering words of the seductress. Following God’s Word, directions, and principles will guard you against all forms of immorality. Let’s be wise: follow and implement the Lord’s Word, directions, and principles and safeguard our lives against all manner of immorality.
Prayer: Lord as I follow and implement Your Word, I thank you that it is a safeguard for me against all manner of immorality. Amen!
Devotions: September 6, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 6:1-5
“My son, if you become surety (or security) for your friend, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, you are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; for you have come into the hand of your friend: go and humble yourself; plead with your friend. Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”
We must honor the commitments of our mouths! We must think about and count the cost before we make commitments to other people. When we sign as a guarantor, a surety, or a security for someone else, we have yoked ourselves to that person’s decision as it relates to our agreement. If afterwards you evaluate your commitment and you realize that you cannot honor your vow, the Bible says that you should give no sleep to your eyes. You should humbly go to the person, take responsibility and to let them know that you can’t keep your commitment. With your mouth you have gotten yourself into a trap when you committed beyond your capacity to deliver. Now use that same mouth to get up from under that yoke you created for yourself. Tell the truth – that you are not able to fulfill your commitment and ask to be released from your commitment. Free yourself! Otherwise, you are obligated to honor and fulfill the commitment of your mouth!
Prayer: Lord, teach me to count the cost before I make a commitment. Strengthen me to take the courage that I need to humble myself and free myself from any commitments that I can’t carry out. Amen!
Devotions: September 5, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 5:15; 18-19
“Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love.”
Rejoice with the wife of your youth all the days of your life. As Mr and Mrs KevonStage says: “marriage be hard!” Therefore, every married couple will experience challenges in their relationship. Marriage is one institution that subconsciously demands that the individuals in the relationship grow up and mature to the point that they can live peacefully with another person. As such, at times the marriage relationship will feel like the most challenging relationship there is. And it is the most challenging as it is demanding that you grow, mature, and become unselfish in your ways, your actions, and in your thoughts.
It is at this time of friction that spouses can give into wandering eyes. They can give into the thought that the grass is greener on the other side without considering the tender care that the grass needs.
God, through this Scripture, is saying to men that you should find ways to rejoice in the wife of your youth, and in so doing let your fountains be blessed. God is giving you the blue print on how to keep focusing on your wife when He says “let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love.” In other words, do not give into the mid-life crisis itch that says someone else is better for me, or I should start over with someone else. But you should be willing to focus on your wife and grow, mature, give up any childish ways, and level up in every area of your life. Marriage is a great test that helps us to become all that God sees we can be. Let us submit to the growth process of marriage and be blessed with our spouses!
Prayer: Lord, teach me to see marriage from your point of view. May I grow, mature, and level up in my thinking and actions that I may have a successful marriage relationship where we are inspiring each other to be the best versions of ourselves. Amen!
Devotions: September 4, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 4:10-12
“Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.”
Parents have been gifted to be sources of guidance and protection for children! God is the ultimate parent, and therefore when you become a parent you are almost in the place of God in the child’s life. God is the ultimate provider for everyone on this earth, and you, as a parent, become the provider for your child or children.
God provides us with good advice and good directions, therefore He is expecting parents to be like Him and provide good advice and directions to their children. When you provide good advice and directions to your children their steps in life will not be hindered and they will not stumble. How many children do you know right now whose steps are being hindered and who are stumbling through life because they do not and did not receive good advice and directions from their parents?
Every parent will give an account to God as to how he or she was as a parent. There will be no excuses. If your parents did not treat you right, that will not be an excuse to treat your children poorly. In fact, it will be all the more reason to treat your children right. If your spouse or significant other did not or do not treat you correctly, that will be no excuse to mistreat your children. Children are vulnerable, and God will take up their cause, and you as a parent will be held responsible for how you treated your children. Parents have been given the gift of leading and protecting your children well.
If you have been mistreated by your parents, admit the truth about the situation, come to terms with it, grieve it well, then forgive your parents. It is only when you have been freed from the mistreatment of your parents that you are free to love, guide, and protect your children as God expects.
Prayer: Lord, help me to heal and forgive my parents so that I will be free to provide good guidance and protection for my children. Amen!
Devotions: September 3, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 3:7-8
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”
God promises health and strength when we fear the Lord and depart from evil. Fearing the Lord and departing from evil involves following the directions of God.
Sometimes we believe that we are right in our thinking and our actions because of our experiences. The experiences that we have had have shaped the way that we think and how we interact with the world around us. Yet, some of our ways are different from how God would lead us. Some of the things that we do do not represent the counsel we receive from God and His Word.
In these cases, God is saying do not be wise in your own eyes. In other words, be willing to admit that your way is not right, and be willing to change your perspective to embrace God’s leading. The Lord will always lead us into paths that will ultimately produce good in our lives. The key is these good things will always remind hidden from us except we follow the Lord’s direction. We cannot be wise in our own eyes and expect to inherit the promises of God!
Prayer: Lord, I desire to follow You with my whole heart. Please help me to come into agreement with Your leading and Your direction so that I will inherit all that You have promised me. Amen!
Devotions: September 2, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 2:10-12
“When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things.”
Wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding will keep you from doing evil. As we grow and mature it is essential to grow in wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding because life was meant for us to level up to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be.
God gave us all gifts that we were meant to use and multiple to do good for His Kingdom, ourselves, and for others. God is looking for a return on the investment He made in our lives.
And because we, in this world, are influenced by the negative invisible spiritual world, the only safeguard for us to do good is to grow in wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding. In other words, we will not be drawn into evil and perverse things when we implement wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding into our lives. To have good success we are to listen to the Lord’s direction to gain wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and understanding.
Prayer: Lord, help me to grow in wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding that I may be faithful and use the gifts that You have given me for the betterment of Your Kingdom, myself, and others.
Devotions: September 1, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 1:8-9
“My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.”
Listening to our father and mother is ancient wisdom! Generally, our fathers and mothers are wiser than we are especially when we are young because they would have experienced more of life than we have at that stage of our lives. Therefore, listening to their directions can be beneficial for us.
In this scriptural direction, God is coming from the point of view that our parents mean us well. God is the ultimate parent and He means us well, therefore God can use our parents to give us good advice. When we implement the good advice from our fathers and mothers, they will enhance who we are as people like ornaments and fine jewelry enhance our outward appearances.
Based on how they treated us, it may be hard to hear anything that our parents have to say. But, let us heal and mature to the point where we heed the wise instructions from our fathers and mothers.
Prayer: Lord, heal my hurt emotions that I may grow and mature enough to heed the wise instructions from my father and mother. Amen!
Devotions: August 31, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 31:8-9
“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
We must look out for those who are less fortunate. As believers in a righteous God, we must care for others. We must care for the plight of others who can’t defend themselves. We must care for the poor and needy.
God is expecting us and He is directing His children to be mouth pieces for righteous causes that affect people who have no one to stand up for their rights. We must care for people who can’t care for themselves. We can care for the less fortunate by visiting them in prison or in the hospital, by teaching them life skills, by speaking up for them, by going on missions to reach the lost, or by speaking encouraging words to our neighbors.
When we take care of the poor and needy, the Lord says that we are doing it to Him. Matthew 25:36 – NKJV – “I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” Let us ask Holy Spirit for opportunities to honor Him by speaking for those in need!
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to those around me that I can help and defend. Teach me to be Your hands and feet extended to them. Amen!
Devotions: August 30, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 30:11-12
“There is a generation that curses its father, and does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness.”
Life goes better for us when we honor our fathers and mothers! The commandment in Exodus 20:12 says honor your father and your mother that your days would be long on the land. Why would God say that we are to honor our parents knowing that they may have hurt us? God says to honor them because they, as well as we, are humans. He knows that we all will make mistakes. He knows that we will intentionally do things now that we will regret later as did they.
God also knows that there is a negative invisible spiritual world that influences our parents as well as us to act in a way that may be unkind to each other. God also knows that if we were to learn to honor our parents that we would also learn to honor Him when we don’t understand how things are going in our lives. Because God is the ultimate parent!
If we want to inherit all of God’s blessings, we are to get our feelings healed, come to grips and acceptance with how we were treated by our parents, forgive them, and begin to honor them. We must not be “pure in its own eyes, yet (are) not washed from (our) filthiness.”
Prayer: Lord, help me to grow and mature to the point where I can truly honor my father and mother as I also honor You. Amen!!
Devotions: August 29, 2023 by Neibert David
Wait for The Lord’s Direction
Genesis 8:15-16, NKJV: “15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and
your sons’ wives with you.”
In Genesis 8:15-16, God gives Noah specific directions to leave the ark at the end of a process
that He took Noah through. God sent a flood on the earth because in Genesis 6:5 “the Lord saw
how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and every inclination of
the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” But God wanted to preserve the
life of Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives because the Lord Jesus Christ, the
promised Messiah, would come through them.
God gave Noah precise dimensions and specifications to build an ark. God wanted His purpose
carried out in His way. Noah obeyed the Lord (Gen 6:22), and God began to fulfill His promise to
send a flood on the earth. It rained for forty days and forty nights.
One hundred and fifty days after the rain stopped, Noah tested to see if the waters had fully
receded from the earth. Noah was convinced that the earth was completely dry when the dove
did not return. Yet, Noah waited on the word of the Lord to proceed out of the ark.
Sometimes, God wants to lead us with specific instructions in our lives, which includes dating.
But when all seems clear, we take matters into our own hands and move ahead without God’s
direction. We may be dating a godly man or woman, but we do not wait for God’s next steps to
proceed with the relationship, and we end up making a wrong choice or timing.
Noah was commended as obedient because he built the ark according to God’s specifications,
and Noah waited on God’s direction to enter and leave the ark. Noah was dependent on God.
Prayer: Father, help me to learn from and incorporate the obedience, patience, submission, faith, and
tenacity that Noah demonstrated in obeying Your direction. May I always be dependent on You
and Your will for my life. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
Devotions: August 28, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 28:5
“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all.”
The Lord helps us to understand justice! The Lord is a God of justice. The Lord cares about justice for all people. Isaiah 9:7 says that David’s throne will be established in justice and righteousness. Therefore, people who are seeking God will also care about justice for all people. God’s nature is to care for His creation, and part of His care is bringing forth justice for all people.
In Proverbs 28:5, the Lord is saying that if you seek Him you will understand justice. He also says that evil men do not understand justice. In other words, if you do not understand justice, and if you do not care about justice then the Lord considers you an evil person.
God is saying if you claim to seek Him you will understand justice. Otherwise, you are evil. God equates not seeking justice to being evil. Let us seek God and justice!
Prayer: Lord, help me to understand Your heart of justice for all people. Show me how to implement justice in my life. Amen!
Devotions: August 27, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 27:7
“A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”
It is hard to deceive someone who is satisfied! The honeycomb is the most nutritious part of the honey, but it is also the most raw part of honey. Although it is the most nutritious, it is the most unrefined part of the honey, which makes it the most bitter part. Therefore, when someone is satisfied, the honeycomb would be the last option for them to eat.
But when a person is hungry or when a person is needy, even bitter things taste sweet to them. The hungry person has a legitimate need that is unmet, therefore there is a danger that this unmet need can be filled illegitimately. As we examine our own lives, the question is this: what legitimate need do you have that is being filled illegitimately?
Prayer: Lord, help me to access my unmet needs that I will only fill them legitimately and with Your blessings. Amen!
Devotions: August 26, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 26:4-5:
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.”
You can’t win with a fool! No matter how much wisdom you share, fools will not understand because they have chosen not to listen. Fools are people who so believe in their own way of thinking that they will not be convinced of anything else. Fools are married to their own ideas, thoughts, and actions. It does not matter how great your reasoning is, a fool will not heed your wise words.
The Lord, in His Word, often admonishes people against being fools. He encourages all of us to humble ourselves, listen, and learn from those around us. To have peace of mind, we are to leave fools to their own devices. May we never be considered fools.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be wise. Teach us in any areas that we may be foolish. Amen!
Devotions: August 25, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 25:14
“Whoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and wind without rain.”
False boasting is unless! Giving is one of the acts that most resembles the actions and character of God. Giving can change the life of the person who is the recipient of the gift. Acts of giving are selfless!
Yet, some people can choose to be so devious, that they would knowingly boast about giving that they have not done. They would knowingly deceive someone else into thinking that they are sincere about giving to them. These people do not value their own words, and they cannot be trusted.
Unlike clouds and wind that bring refreshing rain, people who falsely boast of giving do not refresh others. They only spin a web of lies that they will eventually get caught up in. Let us be people who maintain our personal integrity and speak truth even in the face of adversity.
Prayer: Lord, help me to seek and maintain integrity as a core value for my life. May I be truthful at all times. Amen!
Devotions: August 24, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 24:10
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”
As people, we were meant to continuously grow! Life is not easy! Life was never meant to be easy. Life was meant for people to continuously grow, learn, unlearn, relearn, and mature. Because at some point we have stopped growing physically, we think that we can stop growing spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. But, not so! As long as we live, we will have opportunities to keep on growing, and we should take those opportunities to grow. We should have a mindset that until we die we will keep on growing and helping others to grow.
Adversity is one of the ways that is used to help us to continuously grow. Adversity is meant to sharpen us, chisel unprofitable habits and mindsets from us, and strengthen us for the next level of growth and life. Yet, some of us faint when adversity presents itself to us. If you faint when adversity comes your way, you are weak – that is, your strength is small!
Prayer: Lord, help me to use adversity as a tool for my growth and maturity. Please use adversity to strengthen me in any area that I may be weak. Amen!
Devotions: August 23, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 23:6-8
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies; The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, and waste your pleasant words.”
The heart of the man reflects the man! When people show us who they are the first time, believe them! When people reveal that their hearts toward us are not good, believe them and let them go. People who are misers are not happy with giving, yet they may fake it with a smile. Let them go. God will add to our lives; He will not leave us alone.
To truly understand a person, we must get to know the hidden person of the heart because the hidden person of the heart is the one that we are truly in relationship with. May our hidden person of the heart be revealed to us.
Prayer: Lord, teach me the hidden person of my own heart that I may know myself. As I sincerely know myself, may I attract others who are also sincere. Amen!
Devotions: August 22, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 22:4
“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.”
Humility and the fear of the Lord promotes life! The Lord made the earth, and He made the godly governing systems of the earth. Other systems that now govern the earth were introduced when Adam and Eve sinned. Yet, these other systems cannot negate God’s original systems and principles. God’s original systems and principles produce permanence when they are implemented. Every other system is temporary.
To gain riches, honor, and life, one of God’s systems and principles is humility and the fear of the Lord. That is, people who conduct themselves in humility and the fear of the Lord will attract riches, honor, and life. Selah!
Prayer: Lord, teach me to incorporate Your godly systems and principles of humility and the fear of the Lord, and by so doing I position myself to inherit riches, honor, and life. Amen!
Devotions: August 21, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 21:2
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.”
We must be sober about our own actions and motives. The things that we do are second nature to us. The way that we think has become second nature to us. We have been trained, fashioned, and taught to think the way we do. And, it all seems right in our own eyes. It seems right to us because mostly the people we respect and the ones who have been given charge over us also do what we do. And if it were right for them, it is right for us.
Yet, the Lord evaluates the hearts, motives, and actions of everyone. The Lord’s examination is against His Word and His direction that He has provided for all human beings. We can get our hearts and motives right when we submit them under God’s direction, care, and His renewing and purifying power.
Prayer: Lord, purify my heart so that the secret longings and motivations of my heart would bring You glory. Amen!
Devotions: August 14, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 14:4
“Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox.”
The strength of an ox brings much progress! Where there is no ox, there is no friction. Where there is no ox, there is no messy place to clean. But the increase comes from the strength of the oxen. Much increase comes through friction and messy situations.
Relationships are like the strength of an ox. The ebbs and flow of relationships with other people should cause us to grow. The messiness of some relationships will help us to grow out of our comfort zone. They help us to increase and be strengthen in our character. Relationships help us to increase discernment, and we learn who we can trust and who we can’t. Increased discernment will serve to benefit us in our future decisions.
Some relationships are meant to be seasonal, and we grow through interaction with them in the right season. Other relationships are meant to be long term, and we grow with them and are loved and supported by them. Let us be people who grow from the love, support, friction, and / or messiness of relationships.
Prayer: Lord, teach me how to grow through any relationship. Teach me to see the benefits to my character that You are bringing my way through relationships including the messy ones. Amen!
Devotions: August 13, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 13:4
“The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.”
Wealth comes to those who are diligent! The lazy person desires to have, but they enjoy nothing because they are not diligent at work. Lazy people are waiting for someone else to give to them or to do for them. Yet, the power is in their hands to affect their destiny because God has given all people what they need to have a successful life. Lazy people do not know that they need a shift in mindset to embrace diligence as part of their core values and character.
Meanwhile, the diligent person will be made rich because they have accepted diligence as a personal trait and characteristic that they use to govern their lives. And wealth follows the diligent person.
The universal principle that applies to every person in every society in the world is this: the diligent soul shall be made rich!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be diligent in my work to develop the resources that You have given to me, and You said the riches will follow. Amen!
Devotions: August 12, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 12:4
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.”
An excellent wife brings a crown to her husband. Women are pretty powerful people. We have in the course of our hands the power to make or break the people closest to us: our husbands and our children. Our husbands and children look to us for approval, appreciation, and words of encouragement to keep on fighting, to keep on living.
Women have a great responsibility to help their husbands and children to fulfill their purpose and their destinies. Why would God give us such a tremendous responsibility? Because God has gifted us as natural nurturers, as natural encouragers!
Because women have been so marginalized, disrespected, and hurt, we have shied away from some aspects of our womanhood. As a woman, if you are not a nurturer, you may need to get your emotions healed. Healed emotions will help us to embrace all of our womanhood.
A wife who brings shame to her husband is sucking the life out of him. She is bringing decay to his bones, his dreams, his ideas, and his heart. Let us look to God for healing, and embrace all of our womanhood!
Prayer: Lord, I offer my heart to You to receive Your healing that I may fulfill my purpose as the woman You made me. Amen!
Devotions: August 11, 2023, by Neibert David
Proverbs 11:3
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.”
An excellent wife brings a crown to her husband. Women are pretty powerful people. We have in the course of our hands the power to make or break the people closest to us: our husbands and our children. Our husbands and children look to us for approval, appreciation, and words of encouragement to keep on fighting, to keep on living.
Women have a great responsibility to help their husbands and children to fulfill their purpose and their destinies. Why would God give us such a tremendous responsibility? Because God has gifted us as natural nurturers, as natural encouragers!
Because women have been so marginalized, disrespected, and hurt, we have shied away from some aspects of our womanhood. As a woman, if you are not a nurturer, you may need to get your emotions healed. Healed emotions will help us to embrace all of our womanhood.
A wife who brings shame to her husband is sucking the life out of him. She is bringing decay to his bones, his dreams, his ideas, and his heart. Let us look to God for healing, and embrace all of our womanhood!
Prayer: Lord, I offer my heart to You to receive Your healing that I may fulfill my purpose as the woman You made me. Amen!
Devotions: August 10, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 10:22
“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
A life lived with God benefits us! God is for people! God supports people. God loves people. God is rooting for everyone to win in life. God has provided all that we need to be successful in our lives. The natural resources of this earth, the air, our natural gifts, and our identity, which is rooted in God, are all blessings from God. These blessings are meant to strengthen us in confidence and stability so that we can fulfill our God-given purpose in life.
When God blesses us, He adds no sorrow to His blessings. His blessings make us rich; rich in joy, purpose, grace, humility, destiny, relationships, etc. When He blesses us, He is not testing to see how well we do. He blesses us for us to enjoy our lives, each other, and Him.
Prayer: Lord, open our eyes and heart so that we may see and perceive how much You have blessed us. May we be secure in Your blessings and live to Your glory. Amen!
Devotions: August 9th, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 9:8b-9
“Rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”
Wise people look for ways to grow! When the wise person hears a rebuke, they will grow from it. When a wise person hears a rebuke, they don’t take it personally even if it were meant to be personal. They evaluate the claim for any truth that could be found in it, and they learn from it.
Wise and righteous people seek ways to increase their learning and grow from any teachable moments that appear in their lives. Wise people appreciate and love those who are their teachers. Let us be people who love those sent to bring us a rebuke.
Prayer: Lord, help me to learn from rebukes that I receive. Teach me to be a wise and righteous person. Amen!
Devotions: August 8th, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 8:4-5
“To you, O men, I (wisdom) call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart.”
Wisdom is trying to get our attention! Wisdom continues to call us out of our simplicity. Wisdom is calling us to grow and mature as adults in the different stages of our lives. We are being called to our individual levels of greatness as we, like the Apostle Paul says, put away childish things.
We are being encouraged to govern ourselves with prudence and caution in making decisions for our lives. That is: wait on the Lord for His direction.
As part of coming out of our individual simplicity, we are being persuaded to embrace an understanding heart. Understanding is a foundational principle of wisdom. Let us heed wisdom’s call and seek an understanding heart!
Prayer: Lord, help me to listen to and heed wisdom’s call that I may be prudent in my decisions. Give me an understanding heart to sense and know Your direction that I may follow You all the days of my life. Amen!
Devotions: August 7th, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 7:21-23
“With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life.”
Be careful what and how you hear! Men and women can be enticed by skillful speech, therefore, be careful who you are listening to and what they are saying. Some people are looking for ways to gain for themselves, and they are not looking to benefit or help you in any regard. These people will use seduction to get their way.
Additionally, we are living in a world that is influenced by the invisible evil world, and this invisible world would like to suck the life out of you. Therefore, it will influence people to entice you out of your purpose and out of being productive. We must be aware that what we hear and how we hear can literally cost us our lives and purpose.
Prayer: Lord, teach us to hear with discerning ears that we would be shielded from the enticement of seductive words that would lead to our physical death or the death of our purpose. Amen!
Devotions: August 6th, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 6:30-31
“People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.”
Stealing will cause you to give up the wealth of your own house. God is compassionate, and He considers people’s motives for doing what they do. In this Scripture, God considers the fact that this person is starving. This person could be starving because he fell on hard times, or because he was too lazy to cultivate what is in his hands. Either way, this person stole out of desperation, yet his actions have severe consequences.
No matter the reason for people stealing, if they are caught (and most likely they will be) they will have to repay sevenfold what they stole even if it cost them all the wealth of their home. When we steal, it brings temporary relief, yet in the long run we are giving up more of our treasures than we anticipate. Let us work the gifts that are in our hands so that we do not fall on desperate times.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to value the gifts that are in my hands so that I may be faithful to bring out the intrinsic value in them. May I never be given over to desperation. Amen!
Devotions: August 5th, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 5:15-16
“Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets?”
Take care of yourself from what you have prepared for yourself. God has given you gifts, talents, and abilities with which you can take care of yourself and others. He has given you gifts, talents, and abilities so that you can build a life for yourself and your family. God is calling each of us to take responsibility for our own lives. He is calling us to build and not waste our precious resources and relationships in the streets.
God has already provided what we need, yet we need to search and find it. Then when we find it, we should be accountable to honor our gifts. Let us be satisfied with the water from our own cisterns and the running water from our own wells!
Prayer: Lord, help me to understand the gifts, talents, and abilities that you have given to me so that I can put them to work to take care of myself and others. May I be accountable for them and develop them to the best of my abilities. Amen!
Devotions: August 4th, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 4:7-8
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her.”
Wisdom will exalt the person who depends on her! Wisdom is most important for a life well lived. God says when you embrace wisdom, she will naturally promote you; she will bring you honor. Many people want promotion and honor, but they will cheat, steal, rob, slander, control, manipulate, and connive to get them. Yet, God has already provided the path to promotion and honor that will not dishonor another human being. That path is: stay in your lane and get wisdom!
Additionally, the Scripture is saying if you don’t get wisdom, the least you should do is get understanding. Understanding refers to comprehending how things operate. Understanding refers to connecting the what of a situation to why that particular situation exists. Still, God counsels that we should get wisdom.
When wisdom is our principal thing, wisdom will ensure that promotion and honor will naturally flow into our lives in the right season!
Prayer: Lord, I ask for Your wisdom. Bestow Your wisdom upon me that I may live an excellent life. Amen.
Devotions: August 3rd, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
The Lord is trustworthy! Sometimes the experiences of this life cause people not to trust other people, but God is trustworthy. Sometimes the way that other people disappoint us causes us to develop a mindset that we can only trust ourselves and our own understanding. It drives us to believe that we must protect ourselves by not trusting others. And we also develop an attitude of self-protection against God where we do not trust Him either.
But God is not like human beings, He is trustworthy! He can be trusted with everything and in every situation. He says we should acknowledge Him by asking for His help at all times. When we ask for God’s help, He promises to direct our paths.
God’s direction will not always be easy, but it will always be for our benefit. God’s leading will always be what is best for us to grow, be productive, and to fulfill the purpose for why He created us. Let us trust God because He is trustworthy!
Prayer: Lord, teach me to trust You so that I may willingly acknowledge You in all of my ways and follow your paths for me. Amen!
Devotions: August 2nd, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 2:6
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Wisdom for the ages comes from the Lord! The Lord gives wisdom to anyone who asks and to anyone who seeks wisdom. God created the world and the principles that govern the earth, therefore the Lord knows the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that are needed to live successfully here on the earth.
Also, the Lord can teach us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding through observing other people and their experiences. But we must be keen to be students of and for life.
Let us make this a prayer point daily:
Prayer: Lord, please teach me the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that comes from Your mouth even when it comes through observing the experiences of others, Amen!
Devotions: August 1st, 2023 by Neibert David
Proverbs 1:5-6
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.”
Wise people will hear and increase their learning. Wise people do not have to go through every experience for themselves to learn from them. Wise people will learn from the experiences of others. Wise people will learn when they extract lessons by observing the experiences of others.
The discerning person will gain understanding and guidance from the proverbs, parables, and the riddles of the wise. God hides wisdom in the experiences and the stories that we hear, and it is the discerning person who will draw the wisdom out of them.
Prayer: Lord, help me to hear and increase my learning. Grant me discernment that I may understand proverbs, parables, and the sayings of the wise. Amen!