Category Archives: Proverbs

Daily Bible Reading “Guard Your Heart” (Proverbs 4:20-27)

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Guard Your Heart

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 4:20-27. Solomon says to his son, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the middle of your heart.”

These words are life to those who find them, and healing to their body. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it is the source of life.

Put a deceitful mouth, and perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look right on, and your eyelids look straight in front of you.

Consider the pathway that your feet trod, and be sure all your ways are reputable. Don’t turn to the right or to the left: keep your feet from evil.

The heart is an organ in the center of the circulation system in our bodies and is regarded as the center of all physical and spiritual life.

Solomon warns his son to guard his heart. We have to be careful what we allow into our bodies through our eyes and our ears. These are gateways to our heart. What goes in our bodies will come out of our bodies eventually in one form or another.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 tells us, “ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Have you ever noticed what comes out of your mouth when you stump your toe? How about when someone pulls out in front of you in traffic? Are they blessings or cursing? Usually the worst will come out of us when we least expect it or put our guard down.

In Matthew 15:18-20a Jesus says, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.”

Guard your heart. Be careful what you watch on TV or read in books. Be careful what you listen to. Be careful who you hang around with. You may think these things don’t affect you, but what we let into our lives, both the good and bad resides in our heart, the center or our being.

Solomon not only says to guard your heart he also says to guard your mouth. Be careful about the language you use when speaking to yourself, about yourself, to others, or about others. Speak the truth in love. Don’t let perverse words flow from your mouth.

Solomon says to guard your steps, as well. Don’t turn to the right or left but keep on the straight and narrow path that leads to life everlasting. Stay away from evil or the appearance of evil.

By guarding our hearts, our mouths, and our steps we can keep our bodies pure and away from evil.

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 4:20-27

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

 

Things to think about:

  • What is the importance of guarding our hearts?
  • Why should we guard our mouth?
  • In what ways should we guard our steps?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this Scripture in the book of Proverbs. Solomon warns his son to guard his heart, his mouth, and his steps. Help us to guard our hearts, our mouth, and our steps as well. Help us to stay away from evil and keep our hearts, mouth and the path of our lives pure. Keep us on the straight and narrow path to righteousness. Protect us from evil. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Bible Verse for Journaling and Memorization:

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. – Proverbs 4:23

 

 

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haggai(1)-25The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Haggai by Deborah H. Bateman. It is the twenty-fifth book in the Daily Bible Reading Series by the author. Haggai was one of the prophets from the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the book of Haggai, the LORD reveals a message to Haggai for the people asking them to consider your ways. The LORD also reminded the people through Haggai that He was with them, among other things. These are lessons that we can still use today in our lives.

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways contains four Daily Bible Reading lessons consisting of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions to consider called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer of the day. It is a great Bible study for individual or group study.

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Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Let Your Light Shine in the Darkness” (Proverbs 4:14-19)

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 Let Your Light Shine in the Darkness

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 4:14-19. Solomon warns his son saying, “Don’t enter into the path of the wicked, and don’t go in the way of evil men. Avoid it, don’t pass by it, turn from it, and pass away.”

The wicked don’t sleep, until they have gotten into some kind of mischief; and their sleep is taken away, and they cause someone to fall. They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. It’s as if they live and breathe to get into trouble.

The path of the righteous is like a shining light that shines brighter every day.

The way of the wicked is like someone stumbling around in the night: they have no idea what will cause them to stumble.

Solomon warns his son not to walk in the way of the wicked. He tells him to do whatever he has to do to keep from going down that path. He explains to him how those who are wicked act and think.

We must be on guard at every turn so that the enemy doesn’t cause us to stray. The enemy will try to tempt us to turn away from God and to go down the path of the wicked.

As believers, we are to let our light shine in the darkness of this world. We are to share the light of God’s Word with those who haven’t heard it. By doing so we may be able to help some of those who have trodden down the path of the wicked and lead them to see the light of the LORD.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 4:14-19

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

 

Things to think about:

  • What does Solomon say about the wicked?
  • What does he say about the path of the righteous?
  • What are some things we can do as believers to help shed the light of the LORD in this dark world?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in the book of Proverbs we see Solomon’s warning about walking in the path of the wicked. Help us not to walk in the ways of the wicked, but to let our light shine in this dark world. Guard us from all iniquity and help us to walk on the path of righteousness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Christian Music Video: “Let Your Light Shine in the Darkness”

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

haggai(1)-25The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Haggai by Deborah H. Bateman. It is the twenty-fifth book in the Daily Bible Reading Series by the author. Haggai was one of the prophets from the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the book of Haggai, the LORD reveals a message to Haggai for the people asking them to consider your ways. The LORD also reminded the people through Haggai that He was with them, among other things. These are lessons that we can still use today in our lives.

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways contains four Daily Bible Reading lessons consisting of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions to consider called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer of the day. It is a great Bible study for individual or group study.

Go to: Amazon
Get your copy now!

 

Click here to subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site and receive Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Get Wisdom” (Proverbs 4:1-13)

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Get Wisdom

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 4:1-13. Solomon says, “Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and listen to learn understanding. I give you good instruction, don’t forsake my direction.”

I was my father’s son, tender and beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me well, and said to me, Let your heart attain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Get wisdom, get understanding: don’t forget it; don’t stray from the words of my mouth.

Don’t abandon wisdom, she will protect you: love her, and she will keep you.

Wisdom is the first thing; so acquire wisdom: and with all your acquisitions get intelligence.

Exalt wisdom, and it will promote you: it will bring you honor, when you embrace it.

Wisdom will give to your head a wreath of favor: it will give you a crown of glory.

Listen, my son, and receive my words; and you will add many years to your life.

Solomon says, “I have taught you the ways of wisdom; I have led you on the right paths. When you go, your steps won’t be distressed; and when you run, you won’t fall.”

Hold on to instruction; don’t let go: guard her; she is your life.

As children, our parents taught us many things. It is important that we pass down the wisdom of our parents to our children.

As we learned earlier in Proverbs, wisdom comes from the LORD. We need to pass down what we have learned from the Bible to our children as well. Much of what is taught in Proverbs are good godly principles to live our lives by.

In this Scripture, Solomon is trying to impress the importance of holding on to the wisdom that he has been taught by his father as his way of life. He knows the dangers of straying from the ways of the LORD. He wants his son to live a good life, as we wish for our children and grandchildren as well.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 4:1-13

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

 

Things to think about:

  • What is the importance of wisdom in our lives?
  • What is the importance of passing down wisdom to our children?
  • What is the importance of understanding?
  • How can we get wisdom?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in the book of Proverbs we learn the importance of attaining wisdom and abiding by what we learn. Help us to make wise decisions. Help us to pass down the wisdom we have learned in this life to our children and grandchildren. Guard our hearts and minds. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Bible Verse to Journal or Memorize:

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. – Proverbs 4:5

 

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

haggai(1)-25The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Haggai by Deborah H. Bateman. It is the twenty-fifth book in the Daily Bible Reading Series by the author. Haggai was one of the prophets from the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the book of Haggai, the LORD reveals a message to Haggai for the people asking them to consider your ways. The LORD also reminded the people through Haggai that He was with them, among other things. These are lessons that we can still use today in our lives.

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways contains four Daily Bible Reading lessons consisting of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions to consider called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer of the day. It is a great Bible study for individual or group study.

Go to: Amazon
Get your copy now!

 

Click here to subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Live Good, Do Good, Be Blessed” (Proverbs 3:27-35)

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 Proverbs 3LiveGoodDoGoodBeBlessedLive Good, Do Good, Be Blessed

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 3:27-35. In this Scripture, Solomon warns his son not to withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it. What does this mean?

What are some things that would be considered to be good that we could withhold from others? Do we ever willfully not do good things for others even though we are able to do them?

Would this include an employer/employee relationship? How about a husband/wife relationship? How about our children? How about our friends and extended family? How about our church family? How about strangers we meet on the street?

Has someone ever stopped you on the street and asked you for money and even though you had money you did not give it to them? Is this what the Scripture is talking about? Should we be generous enough to trust that people really do need money or they wouldn’t be asking us? Or, are we sometimes skeptical and afraid of what people might do so we refuse to help them? Maybe it is not our place to judge them. Maybe we should leave it up to God to determine if they are right or wrong.

The Scripture says, “Don’t say to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you.” Does this mean if our neighbor came to borrow something from us and we had it available we should give it to them?

Has there ever been a time in your life when someone asked you to do something for them and you didn’t feel like being bothered? Maybe you had the power to do for them what they needed, but you were selfish. Maybe you didn’t want to get involved. If we look back on our lives and  think of these things were there times we weren’t always a good neighbor? How could we improve on doing good to others?

Being generous is a way for us to share the love of Christ with our neighbor or those we come in contact with every day.

We are warned not to devise evil against our neighbor. We are to see that he dwells safely by us. If everybody lived peacefully with their neighbor we would have a much better world to live in today.

In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan who took compassion on his neighbor and took care of his needs, both physically and financially. He tells us to go and do likewise.

We are instructed not to quarrel with a person without cause if they have done us no harm. This is also meant not to sue a man without cause. In the world we live in today there are some people who are always looking to sue someone and get over on somebody. This is forbidden in this Scripture.

We are warned not envy violent men and not to choose any of their ways. The wicked person is an abomination to the LORD. But God’s guidance is with those who are righteous.

Solomon tells his son why he shouldn’t choose the ways of the wicked. He explains to him what the rewards are for living a righteous life and being in fellowship with the LORD.

The Scripture says that the curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but God blesses the house of those who are just.

He mocks the scorners: but gives grace to the lowly, those who are poor, humble and meek. People who are wise will inherit honor: but dishonor will come to those who are foolish.

Sometimes we may look at people who do wrong and think that they are getting along better than we are. This Scripture tells us not to choose any of the wicked person’s ways because their ways are contrary to the ways of the LORD. In time they will get their just reward. The LORD communes with those who are righteous and blesses them.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 3:27-35

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

 

Things to think about:

  • What are some things we can do for others that would be considered good?
  • Who is our neighbor?
  • How are we to treat our neighbor?
  • What is the fate of wicked people?
  • What are the rewards of righteous people?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we study this Scripture in the book of Proverbs, no doubt many of us are convicted about the ways we have interacted with others. Help us to treat others in the ways You would have us to. Help us to be good neighbors and to always do good to those who it is due when we have the power to do it. Help us not to be selfish. Help us not to be unconcerned about other people. Help us not to judge others. Help us to show Your love to others by our good deeds. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Bible Verse to Journal or Memorize:

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. – Proverbs 3:27

Christian Music Video: “When the Music Fades”

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

haggai(1)-25The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Haggai by Deborah H. Bateman. It is the twenty-fifth book in the Daily Bible Reading Series by the author. Haggai was one of the prophets from the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the book of Haggai, the LORD reveals a message to Haggai for the people asking them to consider your ways. The LORD also reminded the people through Haggai that He was with them, among other things. These are lessons that we can still use today in our lives.

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways contains four Daily Bible Reading lessons consisting of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions to consider called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer of the day. It is a great Bible study for individual or group study.

Go to: Amazon
Get your copy now!

 

Click here to subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “The LORD Will Be Your Confidence” (Proverbs 3:19-26)

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The LORD Will Be Your Confidence

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 3:19-26. In this Scripture, Solomon reassures his son saying, “The LORD by wisdom, created the earth; by understanding, he made the heavens. By his knowledge, the oceans were divided, and the dew trickles from the clouds.”

Solomon encourages his son to not let them depart from his eyes and keep sound wisdom and discretion. He tells his son they will be life to your soul, and favor to your neck. Then you will walk safely on your journey, and your feet will not stumble.

When you lie down, you won’t be afraid and your sleep will be pleasant. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, or of the devastation of the wicked, when it comes.

The LORD will be your confidence and will protect you and keep you from being captured.

In this Scripture, we are reminded of God’s great wisdom and His ability to create the earth and to keep it in place for all these years. We are encouraged to keep wisdom and discretion in the front of our minds. We are also reminded that God is our protector from the enemy and we can put our confidence and hope in Him.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 3:19-26

19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

 

Things to think about:

  • How does Solomon remind his son of the LORD’S great power?
  • How can we lay down to sleep at night in peace?
  • In whom can we find confidence and hope?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in the book of Proverbs we are reminded of Your awesome power. We are reminded that You watch over us and protect us from the enemy. Help us to rest in You, knowing that you are by our side keeping watch over us day and night. Help us to remember that no matter what is going on in the world in You we can have confidence and hope. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Bible Verse to Journal or Memorize:

For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. – Proverbs 3:26

 

 

Christian Music Video: “Hope in Front of Me” Danny Gokey

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

haggai(1)-25The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Haggai by Deborah H. Bateman. It is the twenty-fifth book in the Daily Bible Reading Series by the author. Haggai was one of the prophets from the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the book of Haggai, the LORD reveals a message to Haggai for the people asking them to consider your ways. The LORD also reminded the people through Haggai that He was with them, among other things. These are lessons that we can still use today in our lives.

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways contains four Daily Bible Reading lessons consisting of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions to consider called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer of the day. It is a great Bible study for individual or group study.

Go to: Amazon
Get your copy now!

 

Click here to subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site and receive Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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