31 Days in Proverbs {Take One, Two, & Three}

Since I have been so slacking on actually writing about my progress on this beautiful journey of wisdom and discernment I am taking through Proverbs this month... I will simply post tonight about the verse or verses that have really stood out to me and why in these first 3 chapters I have read so far.

Chapter 1: 8-19 

⁸ Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction 
   and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 
⁹ They are a garland to grace your head 
   and a chain to adorn your neck.

 ¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice you,
   do not give in to them. ¹¹ If they say, “Come along with us;
   let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
   let’s ambush some harmless soul; ¹² let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
   and whole, like those who go down to the pit; ¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things
   and fill our houses with plunder; ¹⁴ cast lots with us;
   we will all share the loot”— ¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
   do not set foot on their paths; ¹⁶ for their feet rush into evil,
   they are swift to shed blood. ¹⁷ How useless to spread a net
   where every bird can see it! ¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood;
   they ambush only themselves! ¹⁹ Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
   it takes away the life of those who get it.

It was the section of these verses that really stood out to me. There were entitled "Warning Against Enticement". This is a big one for me. Not because I am enticed easily but because I do not want to be enticed easily or ever really if it is for selfish gain. Over the last year we have purposefully tried to live only as God wants us to. We have not taken any steps or moves unless he has said so. Coincidentally he has only had one word for us this last year...

WAIT

That's it. Still... quiet... yet very prevalent. There were times though that throughout the year we thought we were supposed to take a step only to be showed that we were being "enticed" to look where HE was not wanting us to. So this year I am working on not allowing that "enticement" to take place again. I {we} only want to follow God's will for us. Do and step in the direction that He has paved for us. Not walk along one that we pave ourselves.

Chapter 2: 1-5

 ¹ My son, if you accept my words 
   and store up my commands within you, 
² turning your ear to wisdom 
   and applying your heart to understanding— 
³ indeed, if you call out for insight 
   and cry aloud for understanding, 
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver 
   and search for it as for hidden treasure, 
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD 
   and find the knowledge of God.

I want this so bad. I want to seek, call, cry, and understand. I want to find that knowledge and hold it close so that way I can have "wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard me." {Proverbs 2:10-11}

I want to be well equipped... More than ever. This is one of my cries!


Chapter 3: 3

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 
   bind them around your neck, 
   write them on the tablet of your heart.

I think these words alone are self explanatory, but they are ones that seemed to bold themselves before tonight as I read. I don't want these traits to leave me. I want to live them daily.

as well as Chapter 3:21-23 which says

²¹ My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, 
   do not let them out of your sight; 
²² they will be life for you, 
   an ornament to grace your neck. 
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety, 
   and your foot will not stumble;

I want to walk strong. Stay strong and not stumble as often as I have in the past. See I know stumbling is apart of the path we all take. We are human after all, but my hearts cry is to walk a little straighter this year and here on out. To walk in safety and courage... faith... in the light.

I look forward to where that path leads me in 2011. I really do.

And I look forward to Chapter 4 tomorrow.