Daily Scripture: Proverbs 3:1 My son, don’t forget my teaching,
keep my commands in your heart;
2 for they will add to you many days,
years of life and peace.
3 Do not let grace and truth leave you —
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and esteem
in the sight of God and of people.
5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart;
do not rely on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him;
then he will level your paths.
7 Don’t be conceited about your own wisdom;
but fear Adonai, and turn from evil.
Reflection Questions:Divine wisdom, pictured as a woman teaching in the public square (cf. Proverbs 1:20-21), spoke in today’s text. She pledged God-given well-being (verse 2—Hebrew shalōm) to those who fully trust God to guide them. “Don’t consider yourself wise” (verse 7) was not about healthy confidence. It challenged self-sufficient pride that saw no need for God’s wisdom in choosing the best course for life.
- Scholar Paul Koptak wrote, “Proverbs 3:5-6 speak more about guidance in ethical behavior than particular choices such as career or mate.” Why do you believe God invites us to partner with him in deciding the specific course of our lives? Wouldn’t it save us a lot of hard thinking about life choices if God simply told us what to do in all cases?
- Some writers suggest that “Trust in the LORD with all your heart” carried a sense like “bet your life” on God’s goodness and wisdom. In what areas do you actively trust that God’s way really is the best way to live? Have you seen evidence of that in your own life or the lives of people close to you? Are there parts of life where you want that trust to grow?
All-wise God, you gave me a brain, and you expect me to use it. But you’ve also promised that your wisdom forms a framework within which I can make the best choices for my life. Keep my mind always attuned to your wisdom. Amen.Insights from Donna Karlen
Donna Karlen serves in Communications at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
In my January insight illustrating how God brings good from bad, I wrote about my daughter feeling the call to go into nursing after her experiences with sick and injured loved ones being cared for in hospitals and nursing homes. As sure of her career path as my daughter is, my son is struggling to find his. He recently graduated from college and is passionate about sports broadcasting – unfortunately, that’s not the name of the degree embossed on his diploma. He is now determined to get into an ultra-competitive field, even though he has very little education or experience related to it.
So I’ve been praying a lot for God to guide and surround my son with people who can help him learn and grow and succeed in every good way – AND keep his great big, awesome, loyal heart. Because even though his career path may be starting out a little rocky, I’m not worried at all about the path for his heart. It’s true that he hasn’t been to church much (except for Christmas and Easter) for most of his college career, but when an uncle was recently diagnosed with cancer, my son got on Facebook to ask for prayers. He will text me the word ‘sunset’ so I don’t miss out on one of God’s Kansas masterpieces. He is fiercely loyal to his family, his friends and (did I mention his passion for sports?) his teams. To paraphrase today’s scripture: love and faithfulness are written all over the tablet of his heart.
As Pastor Adam said in his message this past weekend, each of us will have some dark or confusing chapters while figuring out our life stories, but when we invite God to write those stories with us, we can trust in our co-author with all our heart.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
In my January insight illustrating how God brings good from bad, I wrote about my daughter feeling the call to go into nursing after her experiences with sick and injured loved ones being cared for in hospitals and nursing homes. As sure of her career path as my daughter is, my son is struggling to find his. He recently graduated from college and is passionate about sports broadcasting – unfortunately, that’s not the name of the degree embossed on his diploma. He is now determined to get into an ultra-competitive field, even though he has very little education or experience related to it.
So I’ve been praying a lot for God to guide and surround my son with people who can help him learn and grow and succeed in every good way – AND keep his great big, awesome, loyal heart. Because even though his career path may be starting out a little rocky, I’m not worried at all about the path for his heart. It’s true that he hasn’t been to church much (except for Christmas and Easter) for most of his college career, but when an uncle was recently diagnosed with cancer, my son got on Facebook to ask for prayers. He will text me the word ‘sunset’ so I don’t miss out on one of God’s Kansas masterpieces. He is fiercely loyal to his family, his friends and (did I mention his passion for sports?) his teams. To paraphrase today’s scripture: love and faithfulness are written all over the tablet of his heart.
As Pastor Adam said in his message this past weekend, each of us will have some dark or confusing chapters while figuring out our life stories, but when we invite God to write those stories with us, we can trust in our co-author with all our heart.
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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