Tag Archive | faith

Proverbs 3 – Long and satisfying life

Jul30

Good day everyone and welcome to another day of blogging through the bible

Today we look at Proverbs chapter 3. I am going to focus on verse 1 – 8.

Do you want a long and Satisfying life? If yes, then the key to having one is found in verse 1 & 2 –

“My child, if you truly want a long and satisfying life, never forget the things that I’ve taught you. Follow closely every truth that I’ve given you. Then you will have a full, rewarding life”. (Prov 3: 1-2 TPT)

We need to have Gods word stored within us. And it’s not just enough to have it stored but we need to ensure we allow the word to be what guides and dictates our actions and decisions. This is basically the key to having a full and rewarding life.

Do you want to gain favour with man and God?  Let’s see what verses 3-4 have to say about this.

[3] Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go, and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught. Let your life be shaped by integrity, with truth written upon your heart. [4] That’s how you will find favor and understanding with both God and men— you will gain the reputation of living life well. (Proverbs 3:3-4 TPT)

3Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. [Col 3:9-12] 4So find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. [Luke 2:52] (Prov 3:3-4 AMP)

The Amplified version says let mercy and kindness be qualities that define you, bind them securely around your neck. This again is emphasizing the importance of hiding the word of God in us…being faithful to everything we have been taught. It’s one thing to know what the scriptures says and it’s another thing to actually live by them and obey them. If you want favor, then that’s what we need to do. We need to live by the word of God, it has to shape our lives. The TPT translation similarly advises that one’s life should be characterized by integrity—consistently letting one’s “Yes” mean yes and “No” mean no—thereby upholding the standards set forth in scripture.

Verses 5-8 are my absolutely favorite verses in this chapter. I am going to post the verses in TPT and Message version and let them speak for themselves

5Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. 6Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go. 7Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong. 8Then you will find the healing refreshment your body and spirit long for.  (Prov 3:5-8 TPT)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! (Prov 3:5-8 MSG)

We can’t do this life journey on our own, we need God’s guidance. He is the one who has all power and knowledge and created the whole universe so who better to guide us than him.

If you haven’t given him control to guide you, here’s an invitation to open up your heart to him and let him guide you and lead you along the right path for your life.

Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for today. Pls help us trust You with all our heart; and to not depend on our own understanding. Help us seek Your will in all we do. Thank You Lord. In Jesus Name we prayed . Amen.

James 2 – Faith and Works

Aug4

​Good evening y’all. Today I am blogging on James 2: 14- end.

Be blessed 🙂 

It’s not good enough to say you have faith and then do nothing or say things that are contrary to the Faith you profess. Verse 17-20 and 24 says:

“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone”.(James 2:17‭-‬20‭, ‬24 NLT)

In the verses above, James tells us the importance of following up our faith with good deeds. That is, if I say I have faith in God, then what I say or do must show that indeed I have faith. 

James gave us the example of Abraham and Rahab. Abraham could have easily said ‘God I love you, I believe in you so I don’t need to prove it to you by killing my son‘. Instead when the instruction came to prove his faith in God, he obeyed and God came through for him. Scripture says it’s was counted unto him as righteousness  

“Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God”. (James 2:21‭-‬23 NLT)

I like how the Message version puts this – 

“Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?”(James 2:21‭-‬24 MSG)

Message bible says “Faith expresses itself in works”. That is faith comes alive in the good works you do.
My prayer for us all today is that God will give us the grace to do the right thing by him. That our actions and words will match our faith. 
Prayer: Dear Lord, pls let my actions match the Faith that I profess. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Thanks for joining today. Pls feel free to share your thoughts on the chapter. 

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I’m blogging through the book of James with Good Morning Girls. Check us out at www.goodmorninggirls.org.

Have a blessed evening 🙂