but in the end it leads to death.

—Proverbs 16:25

Life App

There is the path that we would choose and the path that God has laid out for us. So how do we know which one to choose?

Food for Thought

Jesus not only came to die for the sins of many; he also came to model how we should live. Jesus did not do anything his Father didn’t tell him to do. Jesus didn’t say anything his Father didn’t tell him to say. That’s, in my opinion, maximum obedience. That’s what I’m shooting for in my own life. I hope the same can be said for you.

Next Steps

Father, forgive me. I’m stubborn, self-willed, and way too much “flesh” instead of spirit. I’m sorry, Father. Help me to be more like Jesus every day. Help me to always know the sound of your voice, the sound of your direction, and understand your words with zero distortion. May I walk and speak only as you would have me to. Amen.

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

—Proverbs 16:24

Life App

“If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.”

—Mom

Food for Thought

You know you’ve been there: someone asks, “But what do you really think?” So you tell them. The words that come out of your mouth are harsh, abrasive, judgmental. You’re “telling it like it is.” You’re “speaking truth.” Oops.

Strive to model this proverb in your life: speak words that are a honeycomb—sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. May it never be said that you spoke a harsh word to anyone. Work every day toward building people up, accentuating the positive instead of the negative. Leave the harsh words for someone else to voice.

Next Steps

Pop quiz: For the next 24 hours don’t say anything negative. Try not to even think anything negative. Pray that God will give you a heart that desires to build people up rather than tear them down. Pray that God will give you a heart that will allow him to build you up and that your thoughts won’t tear you down.

and his lips promote instruction.

—Proverbs 16:23

Life App

So what do you spend your time thinking about? Beware: if it’s in your heart, it will eventually come out of your mouth.

Food for Thought

Jesus said it this way:

What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him “unclean,” but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him “unclean”…. Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man “unclean.” For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man “unclean”; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him “unclean.”

Guard what comes in and you’ll effectively guard what comes out. It’s not my promise; it’s a promise directly from God through his Son.

Next Steps

Lord Jesus, forgive me for what I’ve let come into my heart. Forgive me for what I’ve allowed into my head and spent way too much time thinking about. This morning, I forsake all these things. Instead, let me fill my heart and my head up with you—how you walked on this earth, how you interacted and loved others, how you lived for others. Let this affect my heart and my thinking. May only your words come out of my mouth from now on. Amen.

—Proverbs 16:22

Life App

How do you go through life? Are you merely surviving day to day or are you working through each day, preparing your life for an eternity with God?

Food for Thought

Peter’s second letter is very sobering. In this letter, he encourages each of us to grow in Christ. He explains that through being constantly reminded of what Christ did for us and reminded of the precious promises of God found in Christ’s sacrifice, we are to change our lives:

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We can’t simply make life changes and hope for the best. We have to work at improving with eternity in mind:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

We must live our lives focused on an eternity with God. This is what we were made for—a relationship with the Creator of the universe, in this life and the next. This is the only “true understanding.”

Next Steps

What are you doing in preparation for eternity? Ask the Lord to help you increase your preparations today!

—Proverbs 16:21

Business App

So, are you head wise or heart wise?

Food for Thought

There is the wisdom of this world: Do this, don’t do this, and you’ll prosper. There is the wisdom of the spiritual realm: Understand God’s divine power and will that every person may be saved—and do something to help him accomplish his goals. Where you cultivate wisdom will determine where you receive your ultimate reward—this life or the next. A suggestion from a friend: Invest as heavily into developing the wisdom of the heart as you do developing the wisdom of the head and you’ll appreciate blessings in both this life and the next.

Next Steps

Pray today for God to reveal your real investments in wisdom. If you find yourself lacking in the development of wisdom of the heart, ask the Father to help you catch up. He wants you to catch up!

—Proverbs 16:19

Business App

To whom do you attribute your success?

Food for Thought

It seems that humility is a theme this year… and it should be. Humility grants us an audience with our Creator. Humility allows us to grasp true power. Humility opens our eyes to our own irrelevance. Humility opens us up to appreciate the joy of everyday living. Humility takes all the pressure of performance away. Humility is our most effective weapon against the Evil One.

Next Steps

Pray daily for humility—God’s version of humility. Study the Scriptures daily to be reminded of God’s amazing love for each and every one of us.

—Proverbs 16:18

Business App

As a leader, give credit unto whom credit is due. Chances are, that’s not you.

Food for Thought

Earlier in the book of Proverbs and repeated later in the book of James is this simple but profound statement:

God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.

Why can’t we get this? Is it so hard to remember that God is God and we are not? Before God, what of man’s accomplishments could you hold up like a trophy and honestly exclaim, “Look what I’ve done!”?

Next Steps

Humility is really simple to acquire: Read daily about what Jesus Christ said and did while on earth and for what reason. Do this on a regular basis and there’s very little chance that you will regard anything you do as worthy of pride.

—Proverbs 16:17

Life App

Are you living in a way that other men will be pleased with you? If you are, you’re not on target. Live in a way that pleases the Lord and you’ll accomplish both.

Food for Thought

“It matters not if the world has heard

Or approves or understands ….

The only applause we’re meant to seek

Is that of nail-scarred hands.”

Next Steps

The applause of Christ should be our one and only goal. Whose applause do you seek?

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,700 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

—Proverbs 16:15

Leadership App

When God elevates you into a position of leadership, you’re there to do good. When you interact with those you lead, would today’s proverb describe that interaction?

Food for Thought

Man’s first job from God was two-fold: dominion over the world—the flora and the fauna; and the caretaking of the world—the flora and the fauna. Unfortunately, sin got in the way introducing death and we’ve been wresting with our instincts to lead and nourish versus our desire for survival ever since. We strive to have dominion over our fellow man rather than rule over the earth and all that is in it. And why not? It’s easier to bend the will of another man than it is to bend the will of a river, an oak, or a wildcat.

That’s why God gave us love as the foremost command in our relationships. To love god wholly and heartily puts him above our own desires and necessities. To love our neighbor as ourselves—to consider others more highly than we consider ourselves—staves off the desire to dominate.

Consider carefully all that you do as a leader. Do you lead for your own benefit or do you lead for the benefit and well being of others?

Next Steps

To lead is a gift from God. It is not a privilege to be taken lightly. Thank God for his gift of leadership and prayerfully ask that he convert you into the type of leader he desires.