Love Lord or Love Death

[CanuckLynn]

Love Lord or Love Death

Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD; But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:32-36 NKJV

Those who listen, keep and hear God’s instructions will find the Lord, find life, obtain favor and will be blessed. Sounds like a great deal to me. While the opposite is to sin against the Lord, which wrongs our own soul, causes us to hate the Lord and love death instead!

Now, why would we purposely choose to wrong our own soul or cause us to hate the Lord and love death? Perhaps this devotion may help us identify areas we do exactly this without realizing it.

Let’s begin.

Who do I listen to? Many of us may say we listen to God, but do we really? Maybe you’re like me in that sometimes I find myself listening to my emotions, my unmet needs, my desires, or my wants. Others may listen to the old negative thoughts or lies that hold us back from all God wants to give us. Still others may be stuck listening to people’s advice rather than the Lords. Perhaps you listen to people’s complaints. But God says listen to Me.

Who’s ways do I keep? Who’s boundaries do we really follow? Maybe we don’t have boundaries at all. Perhaps we keep the ways to please those around us. Doing or not doing things to avoid “rocking the boat” is the way people pleasing. Maybe we keep whatever ways that met our expectations. But God says keep My ways.

Do I hear instruction? Is my heart and mind open to His instruction? If not, why? Have I departed from His word? Do we really follow His instruction? When He tells us not to steal, are we stealing? When He tells us to love our neighbor as our self are we? To hear instruction means we are willing to put into practice. In doing so, we demonstrate the hearing of instruction.

How did you do on the pop quiz? Did you discover areas you need to work on? That’s great, for now you know how to pray and seek God’s wisdom and power to change those areas to be pleasing to God.

Precious Father, Your word says those who seek You diligently will find Uou. Lord we long for You, we want more of You. Help us not to be frustrated by our lack of obedience but to be compelled to live for You. Father we need Your help to become the person You want us to be. We know You are with us and provide us everything we need to live a godly life until You return. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

[debomama52]

Awesome lesson Georgie!  I know that I sometimes find it hard to distinguish God's voice from my own thoughts.  When I am having this problem, I really have to meditate on the Lord so I can tell the difference!  Thank you Georgie!   

[tervana1]

Amen ladies. I do too Deb, I think the easiest way, for me anyway, to know that I have truly heard God's Words, is peace in my spirit. If I'm feeling confused I can pretty much figure either I'm commiting some sort of sin that is causing static in my receptor lol, or what I'm hearing isn't from God but from my own emotions.

thanks for the lesson sis,
love
terri

[Buf1923]

AMEN,  I DO THE SAME DEB,  AT TIMES I HAVE TO ADMIT ITS HARD, AND I KNOW THAT I CAN SECOND DOUBT MYSELF.  I CAN BE MY OWN WORSE ENEMY.  BUT I READ THE WORD WHEN I GET ABREAK WHILE DRIVING CAB,  AND ITS SO WONDERFUL HOW THE LORD MINISTER TO ME THEN.  I GUESS I NEED TO MAKE MORE TIME LIKE THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS AND LESSONS. 

SOMETIMES ITS HARD TO PUT IN TO DIFFERENT WORDS WHAT EACH OF THESE LESSON MEAN TO ME AND HOW THEY MINISTER TO ME.  BUT THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY OTHER LESSONS THAT I HAVEN'T COMMENTED ON BUT I AM TRULY BLESSED FOR BEING IN CIP AND READING SUCH WONDERFUL LESSONS AND TO KEEP THEM WITH THE WORD OF GOD.  BETWEEN THE TWO ITS LIKE MY CHURCH.  SINCE I CAN'T GO SINCE I WORK.  ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE NUDGE TO KEEP MY LIFE FOR THE LORD AND TO CONTINUE TO GROWN IN THE LORD. 

LOVE JACKIE