Father Knows Best

OK, so how weird is this?

I woke up this morning and had something on my heart to share. I am joining in with Sherri from Matter of Fact with her Proverbs 31 Day Challenge. It's an encouragement to everyone to read one chapter each day during the 31 days of January to glean from the wisdom of King Solomon and apply it to our everyday lives. Proverbs speaks to every area of life we will ever encounter.

So all weekend, I have been reading my daily chapter and realized that many of the principles that are being taught, are the very same ones that Josh and I have been trying to teach my children, especially my older two boys who are 16 and 18. Of course, all these truths are what I need to learn and apply to my life as well. Anyway....the title Father Knows Best came to mind and when I went to type it in, I noticed that I had a draft post (blank body) already titled Father Knows Best.....from Jan 09, 2009. I just thought that was pretty wild that I must have had something along the same lines to write about last year at this same time.....and also find it very likely with my ADD that I lost the thought, therefor finding it blank.

So today, I will type before I forget.......

Is it just me or are any of you just blown away but the powerful, yet so simple, teachings that are found in Proverbs? I love it because Solomon writes almost as if he's talking one-on-one with a young person (so that would be God talking to me, a child..... in my way of thinking...no age jokes please....thankyouverymuch).

He warns about being undisciplined, or the dangers of hanging around with the wrong crowd. He encourages this us to have great respect for God and to pay careful attention to good, Godly advice. He wants us to avoid the consequences of making bad choices and the destruction that will surely follow. I mean....I am only up to the 4th chapter, but had I taken even a tenth of this wisdom in my earlier days, I would not have ended up in trainwreck after trainwreck. I guess that is why I am so determined to expose my children to these great words of Truth and pray that it sinks in with them.

OK, so I have read Proverbs before, but I just love how we can read the same thing in the Bible over and over and have it shed more Light or have it apply directly to something you might be going through at that time.

Something is just stirring up in me with these teachings. It's like I want to shout from the rooftops......"Come on people! We don't have to live with sadness and defeat! We don't need to have sleepless nights that are filled with worry or regret. We don't need to be consumed with ill thoughts or anger. There is such FREEDOM just in these few short chapters. Just take the time and Listen to this Advice!!!!!!!"

Of course I need to take my own advice....I need to listen to Our Father!

I want the peace that this wisdom will bring. I need to remember to "trust in the Lord with all my heart".......I need to remember that "I cannot lean on my own understanding" when events happen in my life that disappoint me. (Prov. 3:5)

I want to always give glory and credit to God (Proverbs 3:6).....I know that everything good comes from Above. Each and every blessing in my life.....is a gift from Him. He orchestrates it all.

I want to remember that when I trust in Him (not myself), seek His wisdom (not my own..which is pretty slim pickings as it is) and acknowledge Him....I will see clearly the path God wants me to travel.

I want my children to possess the discernment that only God's wisdom will bring about. They will live a full and healthy life just by following these teachings. Their whole life will be affected by it. Proverbs 4:10-13 is such an awesome example of "staying on the Path".

I pray that they learn how Proverbs will enable them to have God's insight on how to live. This wisdom will help them have peace, which will bring success. It will help them avoid the regrettable pitfalls that can bring difficulties in their life. The only issue is whether they (we) will consider its ways and follow its advice.

I could go on and on with each individual Scripture and explain how every word can be applied.....but I probably will start rambling and babbling and going completely off tangent. So instead, I encourage *you* to take The Proverbs 31 Day Challenge yourself! We are only on Day 4 so you can catch up! Let's start 2010 wiser!

Peace and love~
*~Michelle~*