Today’s Reading: Proverbs 1

Today’s focal verse/passage:
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair (NLT).

This week’s memory verse: Proverbs 2:7-8 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to Him (NLT).

Today’s focus: Discipline

If you read my last post, you know I plan to read through Proverbs, focusing on one application each day. I know I won’t do this perfectly, and I’m sure come March, I’ll have forgotten quite a bit of my well-intentioned efforts. And yet, even so, I believe I’ll experience growth and hopefully, the habit of daily seeking to align my will, my thoughts, and my actions with God.

The Bible tells us, if we’re believers, we have been given the mind of Christ. Stop and think about that for a moment. We have been given the mind of the Creator, with access to His wisdom and guidance. Whatever problem we’ll face, He already knows the answer. And more than anything, He longs to guide us into peaceful, joyful, and wise thinking.

But to get there, I believe we’ll need to develop a bit of discipline, and, according to Proverbs 1:1-3, studying Proverbs will help us in that regard.

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair (NLT).

Do you wish you had more discipline? That you could make a goal, determine steps for reaching that goal, and actually carry out those steps. Consistently?

I hope this passage provides encouragement, then, because it implies that discipline can be taught. And if it can be taught, it can be learned.

They say it takes 30 days of consistency to develop a habit. What spiritual habit would you like to develop this month and what steps are you going to take to make that happen?

My goal is to memorize one verse or passage each week. This week I’m working on Proverbs 2:7-8 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to Him (NLT).

In order to memorize this verse, I will:

*Repeat it out loud five times a day
*Pray it, asking God to help me memorize it and to live it out.
*Write it at least once a day

Would you like to join me? If not with this passage, perhaps another one God has laid on your heart?

I’ve found I do better when I enlist others to help me–to hold me accountable. Because of this, I’ve started a yahoo Bible study and verse memorization group where we can discuss passages we’ve read, encourage each other to consistently work towards Scripture memorization, and talk about how God is using the verse or passage in our lives.

We’d love to have you join us!

Click to join ProverbsStudy

A few questions to ponder and discuss:

1. Often, our mindset determines our success. Meaning, if we continually tell ourselves we hate exercise, we likely will struggle sticking with a work-out program. To grow spiritually, I believe we need discipline. When you think of the word discipline, what normally comes to mind? Does the thought of developing spiritual discipline excite or intimidate you? If it intimidates you, how might you start to change your way of thinking?

2. I find it interesting “disciplined” and “successful lives” are linked together in verse 3. In what ways does living a disciplined life increase a person’s chance for success? When have you found this to be true? Meaning, when have you been disciplined in something and what was the result?

3. I believe routines increase a person’s chance for goal-reaching success. For example, often, I’ll recite Scripture while walking on the treadmill. Because this has become a regular activity, (when I walk, that is. 😉 ), now, my mind associates the walking with Scripture reading, so, when I begin to walk, it is almost automatic for me to begin to think of the things of God. (I also keep verses and my prayer list on a note card on the treadmill.) Another routine I established when my daughter was young was to read my Bible first thing, while she was still asleep. (There were many times this required setting my alarm. 🙂 ) Now, I’ve come to associate my morning coffee with my morning Bible reading time. What routine can you establish today in order to reach a spiritual goal?

4. What verse/verses stuck out to you as you read through Proverbs 1? How do you plan to live that out today?

5. As a mom, I’m always conscious of how my actions affect my daughter. I’m painfully aware that everything I do creates habits–for her–either positive or negative. How can we, as parents, help our children develop disciplined lives?

Happy New Year, and may you grow ever closer to the God of all wisdom today as you seek to live a life that pleases Him.

Come back tomorrow for another passage, devo, and application.