1:24-26 “Because I have called & you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand & no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel & would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you”.
I woke up from a nightmare right before I read this. Jesus came to take me to Hell, and I woke up with my heart ready to lunge out of my throat. I’m so glad God gave me fear and led me to read this.
Cora, let me encourage you that whatever that dream was, it was likely not from God. This is why I say that:
2 Timothy 1:17 says:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
So, while we should always pay attention to dreams like that and ask God if they are from Him (and if they are, what is he telling us?) we should also pay close attention to what He has already said. God will never contradict himself. The “fear” of God mentioned in Proverbs is more accurately defined as a respect, not a phobia. It’s knowing who God is and being so awe-struck by Him, not being literally afraid of Him. God loves us!!! He doesn’t want us to cower in His presence.
So, while I believe that He set these words in motion for you to read them, I don’t believe he sent you a nightmare as a wake up call (no pun intended.) I hope this isn’t sounding judgmental.
Jesus wants you to come to him because you WANT to, not because you’re afraid of what will happen if you don’t.
Like I said, I hope none of this sounded judgmental. I am not God and I don’t claim to know how he works in other people’s lives. I just wanted to share with you what I do know, in hopes of it being encouraging :)
Acts 4:29-37 I love how they had just been threatened, but instead of backing down, they prayed to God for even more miracles and more boldness which caused them to become even more filled with the Holy Spirit and they became close as one family
That’s exactly what I was just doing, and I second that. I hope everyone was able to come a little close to God by reading His word and seeing what everone else was thinking.
Prov 2:5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Have you ever been part of a Bible study where someone makes the comment, “God is just too mysterious.” Or “Guess I’ll never understand til I’m in heaven.” I think there are some things of God that ARE too big for us to grasp, but we are told to seek wisdom, gain understanding, and find the knowledge of God! Wow! He wants us to know and understand His ways! Encouraged by that today :)
I too find encouragement in this as well. I grew up in church, but the older I got the less I attended until recently. There are so many things I don’t understand and confuse me, and I pray daily for God to help me better understand His word.
God encourages scholarship and deep thinking. There’s an element that thinks faith alone means that we must not seek to understand the mysteries of God or unravel the paradoxes of Scripture because they are ‘too great’ for us. And indeed, Gods thoughts will always Ben higher than my own! But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t plumb the depths of Hos Word to gain more understanding. Understanding and knowledge of God feed and grow faith.
Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying,the words of the wise and their riddles.
“The one who understands obtain guidance” a good reminder that the Word is His and though we may understand the value of it we need His guidance to properly communicate and share our understanding of His words. To God be all the glory.
I like the analogy, seek wisdom like silver or treasure–or seek wisdom like money. I can see that as seeking wisdom through prayer and obedience to God in the same way one works a job to earn that paycheck.
Do the hard work to become a person of integrity, and the benefit? God will give you His wisdom and understanding, and he himself will be your shield and guard your ways.
Yes! I love that analogy. It is hard work to have a relationship with God and to listen him, but what you get in return is beyond that of silver and treasure. It is a much needed reminder as I’ve struggled with ups and downs with my relationship with God but He manages to guard, protect and remind me that it is worth all of the hard work
1:24-26 “Because I have called & you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand & no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel & would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you”.
I woke up from a nightmare right before I read this. Jesus came to take me to Hell, and I woke up with my heart ready to lunge out of my throat. I’m so glad God gave me fear and led me to read this.
Cora, let me encourage you that whatever that dream was, it was likely not from God. This is why I say that:
2 Timothy 1:17 says:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
So, while we should always pay attention to dreams like that and ask God if they are from Him (and if they are, what is he telling us?) we should also pay close attention to what He has already said. God will never contradict himself. The “fear” of God mentioned in Proverbs is more accurately defined as a respect, not a phobia. It’s knowing who God is and being so awe-struck by Him, not being literally afraid of Him. God loves us!!! He doesn’t want us to cower in His presence.
So, while I believe that He set these words in motion for you to read them, I don’t believe he sent you a nightmare as a wake up call (no pun intended.) I hope this isn’t sounding judgmental.
Jesus wants you to come to him because you WANT to, not because you’re afraid of what will happen if you don’t.
Like I said, I hope none of this sounded judgmental. I am not God and I don’t claim to know how he works in other people’s lives. I just wanted to share with you what I do know, in hopes of it being encouraging :)
Acts 4:29-37 I love how they had just been threatened, but instead of backing down, they prayed to God for even more miracles and more boldness which caused them to become even more filled with the Holy Spirit and they became close as one family
It is such a blessing to be able to read what everyone else gets from each reading. That in itself is new knowledge. Thank you ladies!
That’s exactly what I was just doing, and I second that. I hope everyone was able to come a little close to God by reading His word and seeing what everone else was thinking.
Prov 2:5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Have you ever been part of a Bible study where someone makes the comment, “God is just too mysterious.” Or “Guess I’ll never understand til I’m in heaven.” I think there are some things of God that ARE too big for us to grasp, but we are told to seek wisdom, gain understanding, and find the knowledge of God! Wow! He wants us to know and understand His ways! Encouraged by that today :)
I too find encouragement in this as well. I grew up in church, but the older I got the less I attended until recently. There are so many things I don’t understand and confuse me, and I pray daily for God to help me better understand His word.
God encourages scholarship and deep thinking. There’s an element that thinks faith alone means that we must not seek to understand the mysteries of God or unravel the paradoxes of Scripture because they are ‘too great’ for us. And indeed, Gods thoughts will always Ben higher than my own! But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t plumb the depths of Hos Word to gain more understanding. Understanding and knowledge of God feed and grow faith.
Truth! God gave us brains for a reason :) He wants us to follow him heart, MIND, and soul!
Love everything you ladies have shared here. Great encouragement and I agree wholeheartedly!
Proverbs 1:3 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.
Thanks for pulling this verse out! Encouraging for me today as I go into a job interview!
good luck Nicole!
Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying,the words of the wise and their riddles.
“The one who understands obtain guidance” a good reminder that the Word is His and though we may understand the value of it we need His guidance to properly communicate and share our understanding of His words. To God be all the glory.
The part that speaks to me the most is proverbs 2:1-10 …. A very eye opening passage
Same.
I like the analogy, seek wisdom like silver or treasure–or seek wisdom like money. I can see that as seeking wisdom through prayer and obedience to God in the same way one works a job to earn that paycheck.
Do the hard work to become a person of integrity, and the benefit? God will give you His wisdom and understanding, and he himself will be your shield and guard your ways.
Yes! I love that analogy. It is hard work to have a relationship with God and to listen him, but what you get in return is beyond that of silver and treasure. It is a much needed reminder as I’ve struggled with ups and downs with my relationship with God but He manages to guard, protect and remind me that it is worth all of the hard work