Meditation Journey Day 14

Hi Friend,

I trust you have noticed each of the verbs of Proverbs 2:1-5 intensify as we move through the passage. “Receive … store/hide … incline/turn… apply … call out … cry aloud … seek/look for … search” are all verbs that build a tribute to wisdom and understanding’s importance. Remember “Wisdom is the insight and knowledge of the true nature of life and things. It is the theory and ability to view life from God’s perspective. Understanding is the doing of that wisdom.”

Do you wonder why God instructs us so intensely to seek Wisdom and Understanding? The answer is important for us to press on, but first please read the passage.

My son, if you receive my words and store up my commands within you, inclining your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for wisdom (insight) and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then (and only then) you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

My Child, if you will receive … store/hide … incline/turn… apply … call out … cry aloud … seek/look for … search for wisdom and understanding,

The short answer for the intense verbs is: It is harder than we think to gain wisdom and understanding.

In Isaiah 55 God tells us something about ourselves that we must daily embrace to walk in continual humility, “…my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” This is important information because it reminds us we cannot live the Christian life without Him. (John 15:5) We cannot not be fruitful and glorify our Father without His Spirit freely flowing through us. Our hearts are naturally hard toward God and more obtuse to Him than we can imagine. The Holy Spirit uses these verb “tools” to soften our hearts and break up the hard soil so His Word can grow fruit in us. This empowers us to walk in the Spirit and follow Jesus.

Many Christians begin following Christ by the Holy Spirit’s power, but they stop focusing on Jesus through His word. (Galatians 3:3) They stop gaining wisdom and understanding from the Spirit and the Word and begin to follow the religious rules of the people or organization around them.

These verbs: receive … store/hide … incline/turn… apply … call out … cry aloud … seek/look for … search for are tools that the Spirit with the Word uses to open our hearts to fellowship in the Presence of God. Remember the goal and purpose of our journey is not just to gain spiritual knowledge or principles or even have an experience with God. The goal of following Jesus is to be with Him, to know Him, to become like Him and share the communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Apostle John captures this sweetly in the opening to his first letter: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life– the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us– that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.  And we are writing these things so that your joy may be complete.”

Friend, I am writing this to you because I so desire you to share the joy of The Lord. My joy in Jesus grows daily as I walk His ways and think His thoughts meditating on the beauty of the Lord. His Presence is too sweet to hoard!

Observation: We will gain Wisdom and Understanding by using the verbs tools: receive … store/hide … incline/turn… apply … call out … cry aloud … seek/look for … search to open our earthly hearts to His Spirit and Word. (Please note there are many other verb “tools” that the Spirit will also use! These are just the ones in Proverbs 2:1-5)

Interpretation: The goal of this process and using these tools is to share the Eternal Life of God; to grow in our likeness to The Son and to glorify the Father. The joy that results from this fellowship with God will empower us to impact others with the love of Jesus too!

Application Prayer: Father, thank you for Your Word and the verb “tools” the Holy Spirit uses in our hearts to open the Word to us. Help us, Lord God, to diligently walk in Your ways, to receive Your thoughts and enter more fully into Your fellowship. In Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

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Thanks for listening. I trust you remember that our daily meditative journey is a process of how to grow deeper in Christ. Later on you will be meditating on passages chosen by God and using these principles to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart.

I hope you will pray for me and all the others that are on this journey. You may also want to send me comments, suggestions or questions. I promise I will respond to each inquiry.

Hi Friend,

How do we apply our heart to understanding? Remember we are call to “…apply your heart to understanding.” Knowing what “understanding” means helps us gain a handle on this process. In yesterday’s devotion we learned that “Understanding is the practical application of the wisdom or insight of God.” Now we need to define “heart”. In the Bible the word “heart” is the core of our being. It includes our mind, emotions, feelings, and will. It envelops our soul and spirit. It is the central command center through which the issues of life flow. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

What our heart focuses on determines our direction and destiny! The passage tells us we need to take that focus/core of our lives and apply it to understanding. Ok, so how do we do that?

First the passage…

My son, if you receive (accept/take) my words and store up (hide) my commands within you, turning (inclining) your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for wisdom (insight) and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then (and only then) you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

My Child, if you …turn (incline) your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,

The key to applying our hearts to understanding is the word “applying”. The word “applying” means to spread or stretch out something over a surface. Now reflect on the word order of the verse: “applying your heart to understanding” not applying understanding to your heart!

That means we are called to stretch out our hearts (our thinking, feelings, and choices) to embrace and live out God’s wisdom.  We are the one to be changed, not God’s word or wisdom. As we walk in God’s word and wisdom we begin to gain understanding. To live and do God’s word will stretch us. Stretching or being spread out can be painful. Following Christ is often resisted because it requires us to alter our thinking. Repentance (the changing of our minds to God’s direction) is a common experience for someone who is applying their heart to understanding.

So how is your direction today? Are stretching out your heart to embrace and live out God’s wisdom.  Are you applying your heart to understanding?

Observation: Key words: “Understanding is the practical application of the wisdom or insight of God.” “Heart” is the core of our being. “Applying” means to spread or stretch out something over a surface. “Repentance” is the changing of our minds to follow God’s direction.

Interpretation: Repentance will be a continual component of following on this Journey into the Word. Our ways are not His ways. Remember we are being made into the Image of His Dear Son (Romans 8:29). That will require the enlarging and stretching of our hearts to become more like Jesus.

Application Prayer: Lord, help us to allow the Spirit and Word to work in us so we will have grace to be stretched and molded to become more Christ-like. Thank you for choosing us and taking time with us to be fit for heaven.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks for listening. I trust you remember that our daily meditative journey is a process of how to grow deeper in Christ. Later on you will be meditating on passages chosen by God and using these principles to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart.

I hope you will pray for me and all the others that are on this journey. You may also want to send me comments, suggestions or questions. I promise I will respond to each inquiry.

Meditation Journey Day 10

As I promised, today we will begin to unpack verse 2 ‘… turning (inclining) your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,…” Our focus will be on our ears. The ear as referred to in this verse is not just the outer extension of flesh that sits on both sides of our heads. Our ears, designed and created by God, have the physical and mental capacity to received sounds and process information carried by the words we receive. Jesus often told His listeners, In Proverbs 2 God is telling us we need hearing ears to get the message from Him. His word is transforming but only as we receive it, store it and do it.

I love what Gods says about His word. It is God’s word from His mouth that makes the difference in our lives.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11”

To hear His word, we have to be intentional listeners that want to be close to Him. Are you ready to reflect on turning/inclining your ears to Him?

First the passage… (I hope you read this!)

My son, if you receive (accept/take) my words and store up (hide) my commands within you, turning (inclining) your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for wisdom (insight) and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then (and only then) you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

My Child, if you …turn (incline) your ear to wisdom…

On first look this appears to be just an exercise of tilting the head towards the scripture. But God wants way more than a head nod from us. A deeper observation tells us there is much more being said. God is asking us to lean into Him and listen with our minds and hearts in order to hear His words, His tone and Wisdom. He is calling us closer to Him. Remember all scripture is God-breathe. To receive what He wants to give us requires us to be so close we can feel His breath. A beautiful picture is the image of God breathing into Adam the breath of life. (Genesis 2)  Another is the image of a Mother so close to her baby that the child’s cheek is warmed by her breath. When God says incline your ear unto My Wisdom He is calling you close to Him. Give me all your attention. Love me with all your heart, mind, soul and body.

Obviously the command to turn/incline our ear to wisdom means that our hearts are not fully bowed to Him. It reveals our need to continually recognize His absolute complete sovereignty and wisdom. We always have a choice to follow Jesus or not, but do not think following is a casual activity. It is an intentional hearing, listening and doing of God’s will.

Observation: Inclining our ears to wisdom and apply our hearts to understanding is a continuation of receiving and storing His Word within us.

Interpretation: The Father is now expanding on what receiving and hiding His word will look like in our lives. If we want the fullness of His Spirit and the grace for transformation we will turn our full attention to His Voice and His Word.

Application Prayer: Father God, give us ears to hear. Forgive us for our lack of attentiveness to your Word and Spirit. Help us to enter the Joy of Your Presence as we yield to your Sovereign Wisdom. Thank you for calling us closer to You through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Teach us what it means to listen to Your Word and to hear Your Voice.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks for listening. I hope you will pray for me and all the others that are on this journey. You may also want to send me comments, suggestions or questions. I promise I will respond to each inquiry.