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Proverbs Devotional 2.12.20

By February 12, 2020Daily Devotional

I. Prayer to enter the Lord’s presence:

Be still for a moment. “Lord, I give the day that is now past to you.  It is yours.  I give the day that is to come to you; help me to see where you are working and to join you there.  Speak to me during these moments.  I commit them and myself to you.”

 II. Prayer of Confession:

“Lord, you are faithful to forgive me and cleanse me of my sin when I confess it to you.  I confess my sin(s) of ______________.  Thank you for forgiveness.” (1 John 1:9)

III. Prayer of Thanksgiving:

Choose to be thankful, speak out loud of what God has done.
“Thank you, Father, for _________________.  Fill my heart and my mouth with gratitude throughout this day.”

IV. Scripture Reflection

Read: Proverbs Chapter 12

Reflect:

Proverbs 12:3

No one can be made secure by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous is immovable. 

I recently helped my friend get rid of some shrubs that were planted in his front yard some 25 years ago. The plants were huge! The roots had grown deep down into the soil; they were well-established. We knew it was going to be some work to get them out. We first tried to pull the shrubs out, but that didn’t work. The roots were just too deep. Next, we decided it would be best to dig them out. We quickly realized how futile that idea was. You see, the roots had multiplied and spread over such a large area, it would be impossible to dig them out. Finally, after lots of hard work and the assistance of a Sawzall, we were able to cut most of the roots out and remove the shrubs. 

I couldn’t help but think back to this experience when I read, “The root of the righteous is immovable.” There’s a contrast between the wicked’s shallow roots and the righteous’ immovable roots. The implication is clear – there is no security in shallow roots! Our security comes from God, from rooting our lives deeply in Him alone. This is what our lives are supposed to be like—we’re to be rooted and established in Christ. Immovable. It’s a theme you find all through the scriptures. Here are just a few verses that capture this idea:

The person who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.
He will be like a tree planted by water:
it sends its roots out toward a stream,
it doesn’t fear when heat comes,
and its foliage remains green.
It will not worry in a year of drought
or cease producing fruit. (Jer. 17:7-8)

He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prosper. (Psalm 1:3)

…being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. (Col. 2:7)

This kind of rootedness only comes by being established in righteousness—a righteousness that is only found in Christ. Everything else falls short. 

You may be thinking, “That all sounds good, but how do we live this out? What can we do to establish our roots in righteousness?” 

It starts with a determined resolve to live for God’s glory and not your own. We settle the issue of who we’re going to live for. We choose to reject the security offered by fools—which is really no security at all—and walk in the ways of God. That’s where real security is found. We determine to walk in righteousness, hate what is false, commit all that we do to the Lord. We use our words wisely, we are even-tempered, we love wisdom and understanding, we walk in humility and the fear of the Lord, and we live with a willingness to confess and renounce sin. 

Respond: 

Decide who and what you are going to live for. Determine today not to fall for the trappings of this world; they only lead shallow roots that are easily uprooted like a tree torn up by the roots. Don’t be a fool, but choose to walk in righteousness—God’s way!

V. Prayer for others:

Pray specifically for the concerns of your life and the lives of others. 

VI. Prayer of commitment:

Lord God, I commit to love you with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind and to love my neighbor as myself.  Empower me today to love you and others with everything that I am.”  (Luke 10:27)

This Week’s Scripture Memory:

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

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