WSDnM

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD” Isaiah 54:17, Berean Study Bible.

“Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire” Hebrews 12:28-29, Berean Study Bible.

You may feel that you’ve allowed the words of others to put out your fire. You may fear you’ve lost your glow and can’t get it back. What you don’t know is their words are only a small wind but God’s presence within you, is a fiery blaze. He is an all-consuming fire, and no words are powerful enough to put out His Light. He has been faithfully protecting the treasure He placed within you all this time, and He will continue to allow nothing to reach that place where His Spirit lives. You are covered by the Almighty. His love surrounds you. His gentle but strong hands are shielding and protecting the fire He’s put in you. Now, let His words of life heal the wounds caused by their words.

Prayer: Father, thank You for speaking directly to the core of my being. You are my Light, You are my Fire, and nothing and no one can put You out. I rebuke the winds of words spoken against me and declare Your fire will grow, and I will glow with Your love. Thank You for covering me. Thank You for surrounding me. Heal every wound people’s words caused and continue to remind me of who You are within me. You are greater than anything in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Fear of the LORD,” the psalmist wrote, “is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom” (Psalm 111:10).

God has given us clear instructions for our life in His Word. When we fear God and are willing to accept His instructions as the basis for all of our decisions, we have a good starting point.

Jesus said, “Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on bedrock” (Matthew 7:24-25).

Listening to what the Bible says is the next step toward walking in wisdom. Filling our mind with God’s instructions will help lead us to follow them. This will also help us turn away from the things forbidden by God. The book of Job tells us, “The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding” (Job 28:28).

Turning our life over to God is a wise move! Like most aspects of recovery, walking in wisdom is a process that we grow into. These three elements are the groundwork: reverence for God, listening to his instructions, and following them.

Temptations seldom appear as ugly or dangerous as they really are.Think of it from a fish’s perspective, or from that of a mouse approaching a trap. They bite the worm and pounce on the cheese that seem so good and harmless—until they have done their damage. People do the same.

This is the tragic story of David and Bathsheba. David sees her (the “bait”), makes a choice, and he’s “hooked.” The results are devastating to David, to Bathsheba, to Uriah, and to the nation.
This story also teaches the futility of trying to cover up a sin; the importance of correcting a friend; and the best way to respond when you get caught.

As David looked from the roof of the palace, he saw a beautiful woman bathing (2 Samuel 11:2-4). He didn’t see a dangerous situation that could damage the rest of his life. As his heart filled with lust, he pushed aside the cautions that must have filled his head and asked about Bathsheba. David should have left the roof and fled the temptation; instead, he entertained it. As a result, David succumbed to temptation and committed adultery and murder.

To escape temptation, (1) ask God to help you stay away from people, places, and situations that may strongly tempt you. (2) Memorize and meditate on portions of Scripture that combat your specific weaknesses. At the root of most temptation is a real need or desire that God can fill, but we must trust in his timing. (3) Find another believer with whom you can openly share your struggles, and call this person for help when temptation strikes.

When tempted, move away from the temptation and toward a good place or safe activity. Fight the temptation; don’t just stay there and look into the possibilities.

*Read Joshua 6:1-5*
There’s something beautiful about a well-executed military strategy. Think of the Trojan Horse or Operation Desert Storm. The operation totally surprises the enemy and leaves hardly any casualties on your side. The victory is swift and sure. Generals who design these plans earn the reputation as geniuses because clean victories are so difficult to achieve.

It’s good that the Israelites had God as their general because this passage is one long string of military engagements. The people find out who the real genius is. Fortunately, Joshua goes along with God’s program too.

In this passage, we also learn about the possible negative effects of sin and about the responsibilities of family members.

Why did God give Joshua so many complicated instructions for the battle (Joshua 6:3-5)? First, God was making it clear that the battle would depend on him and not on Israel’s weapons and expertise. This is why priests, not soldiers, carrying the Ark led the Israelites into battle. Second, God’s method of taking the city accentuated the terror already felt in Jericho. Finally, this strange military maneuver was a test of the Israelites’ faith and their willingness to follow God completely.

It must have seemed strange to the Israelites that, instead of going directly to battle, they would march around the city for a week. But that was God’s plan, and the Israelites had a guaranteed victory if they would follow it. As strange as the plan sounded, it worked.

God’s instructions may require you to take actions that don’t make sense at first. Even as you follow him, you may wonder how things can possibly work out. Like the Israelites, take one day at a time and follow step-by-step. You may not see the logic of God’s plan until after you have obeyed.