Pearls from Proverbs: The Weary Soul

I am weary, O God;  I am weary and worn out, O God.  I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense.  I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.

Who but God goes up to Heaven and comes back down?  Who holds the wind in His fists?  Who wraps up the oceans in His cloak?  Who has created the whole wide world?  What is His name - and His Son's name?  Tell me if you know! Every word of God proves true, He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.

Proverbs 30:1b-5

Have you ever felt so weary, so defeated, so discouraged that you can barely stand it?  When one of my kids does something silly, another one will jokingly say "you fail at life".  It's in good humor, but what about those times that you really feel like you just fail at life?  What can you do when your so deep in failure on every side of your life that you don't even know where to begin to try and fix it?  How do you move past a burden so severe that you feel like you don't even know how to be a person anymore?

You remember how big your God is, that's what you do!  He is the one who holds heaven and earth in His hands.  He created you, He shaped you, He artfully designed every tiny part of your being.  You can't fail at being human, you are perfectly designed by a perfect creator.

This passage tells us that God's word proves true - that's why it's so important that we know what God's word says.  If we never read His love letter to us, we'll get swallowed up in our weariness and discouragement.  Get in the Bible every day.  Let it seep into the deepest corners and crevices of your heart.  There will still be times, a lot of times, when you're weary, but you will have the truth of God's words in your heart to remind you that "this too shall pass" and "joy comes in the morning."

Pearls from Proverbs: Gossip

When I was a teenager, my now father-in-law was my Sunday School teacher.  He was one of the many leaders in my life who taught me the importance of a daily quiet time.  He made sure that every week we shared what we learned from our quiet time that week, teaching us that God can speak to each one of us in a different way, giving us various application from the exact same passages.  During these years of his leadership, I developed a love for the book of Proverbs!  The entire Bible is valuable, relevant, and necessary for my life, but the book of Proverbs is still my favorite.  It is STUFFED FULL of wisdom, instruction, and truth that is very easy to apply to my life.  You can read the book of Proverbs over and over again, every day for the rest of your life and never stop learning vital truths for life.

This post is my first of many "Pearls from Proverbs".  Each "pearls" post will be a compilation of Proverbs that speak  to a specific topic.  The verses in this post speak to the topic of gossip.  Unfortunately, this is an area that is all to prevalent in most peoples life.  If honest, we can all say that we have been guilty of gossip at some point in our life.  While we may act like a little gossip is harmless, it has the power to completely destroy a person's life.   Let's pray for one another as sister's in Christ that we will remember these verses when we are tempted to gossip!

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.

Proverbs 10:18 - Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Proverbs 10:19 - In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 11:9 - The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:13 - A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Proverbs 13:3 - He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 15:2 - The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

Proverbs 15:14 - The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

Proverbs 16:27-28 - An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire.  A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 17:4 - An evildoer gives heed to false lips; a liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

Proverbs 17:9 - He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends. 

Proverbs 18:13 - He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.

Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 20:19 - He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

Proverbs 21:23 - Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 26:17 - He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

Proverbs 26:20-22 - Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.  As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.  The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.