After completing your daily reading, come back to chat with fellow Bible readers about any reflections you have on the proverbs, introduction, or questions from today.
God’s commands are more than rules; they are one of the primary ways He has revealed His character. The commands of God help us know who He is and what He values for His children because He loves them.
Reflection Questions:
Do you find it easy or difficult to act according to God’s commands?
According to these proverbs, what purpose do God’s commands serve in the life of a Christian?
What does living according to God’s commands look like for you today?
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173 thoughts on "The Commands of God"
It’s very difficult for any Christian to live by Gods commands. Our sinful flesh desires to everything ungodly. The Law serves three purposes- curb, mirror, and guide.
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Walking in faith daily. Trusting in His plan and promises!
I think some things are easy and others are hard. We live in such a worldly manner, thriving for material things. Learning no to follow Gods lead sometimes without those things!
Living to God’s commands for me today looks like aligning myself with Him…dying to myself daily.
Today, living according to God’s commands looks like taking pride in my work and not just seeing it as a job I have to go to.
It’s simple but it’s not easy!
I think some come easy other don’t , being diligent with my hands for sure is what I get from this ! And taking the days /time I have and using it wisely! ❤️
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I am struck by the words “treasure up” the Word of God is what I want to treasure up and not useless things!
Living for Gods commandments is trying to focus everything on him and what he says for us to do. Surrounding myself who also value that helps a lot with this.
God uses commandments to guide us through this life and how to live life with most fulfillment through him.
I typically find certain commandments easy to follow while others are more difficult but I do notice they all come easier when I am closer with the Lord because I can tend to find the
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I find God commandments a handy black and white set of rules but once you get into the word there are so many additional guidelines to help live your life by. Emotions sometimes get in the way when I feel anger rising or jealously bubbling up. I am making a special effort to appreciate all God’s children, even the ones who I struggle to get on with. Ha!
I am more of aware of keeping God’s commandments the more I get to know God’s word
The more I study the Word or God, keep His commandments come natural. I’m far perfect but it makes me more aware.
I am really enjoying this study of proverbs. I am a little behind in the readings but just wondering if anyone has discussed how this was written by King Solomon ( and others) so it’s not God speaking “his commands”? Specifically in chapter 7 I am reading it as King Solomon’s instruction. Trying to understand the context. Great wisdom but am I missing something here for it not being directly spoken from God?
I just searched a little bit because great question and I didn’t know the answer. What I found was that in 1 kings 3, Solomon ask God for a discerning mind to govern Israel and God granted it. Also he refers to himself as son of David , implying connection to the divine gift of wisdom from God. Hope this helps because it helped me!
These are words of wisdom from King Solomon. His wisdom comes from God
Living according to God’s commands for me looks like being still and listening for her voice – to direct my path.
Amen
Proverbs 6:22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
This is a beautiful depiction of God’s commandments. While not always easy to follow, they are our strong foundation.
So beautiful to get such real advice from everyone, thank you.
There are times life is easy and so following His commands flow from gratefulness. But in hard times, especially when something from the past is triggered,it can definitely be harder.
How good God is to give us words to give us hope and direction.
Following Him fills me with joy
I agree and echo everything everyone has been saying. Some of God’s commandments are easy to follow, but I struggle the most with letting go and putting my trust fully in the lord. This is something that as I have been completing these readings that I can feel my need to control everything slowly going away. I am so grateful!
I think especially during the unsure times we are living through currently it has amped up my anxiety and need to control, but remembering that god is in charge and he is watching over and guiding me has made the anxiety and sorry lessen!
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I feel so uplifted and encouraged reading others responses. Thank you for sharing and praying that the Lord would continue to open our hearts to His wisdom, instruction and goodness as we read through Proverbs together.♥️
I find it really difficult to follow God’s at times! I am going through a challenging season with a family member. There are moments I struggle in my heart with responding to this person with grace; however, I follow the Lord’s commands, my heart is full and there is the peace I yearn to find. This is the purpose that God’s commands serve in the Christian life according to the verses we read.
Despite the current challenges that I’m experiencing at this time, I know that spending time with the Lord, reading His word and following His commands will lead me the place that I hope to be. Living at peace with my creator. I will continue to pray that is on my heart and spend time in His word daily!
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Amen❤️
Treating others the way I want/need to be treated. Working on my patience and understand today and every day. Especially in my relationship with my own mother. I struggle with truly being a Christian woman with the short-temper I hold with her.
I agree with what so many of you ladies have already shared that there are times for me that responding (even if only in my heart) with the right Godly response is not always easy.
Among the verses for today the one that stood out the most to me is Proverbs 7:1-3. When God talks about storing up his words/commandments I think about the scripture memorization. The better we know/understand God’s word the more likely we are to align our choices with God’s choices. The idea of binding them on your finger, as a way to remember them and writing them “on the tablet of your heart” is a really meaningful visual.
The church I grew up in as a young christian did not emphasize scripture memorization, and so it’s only more recently that I have begun to appreciate the benefits of it – of being able to recall a scripture at the right time to help correct my head or heart posture and/or confirm the direction I’m going is the correct one. I still have a long way to go when it comes to scripture memorization, at least now I can better understand the importance of it.
So good Lauren!I agree, it is good for us to memorize it, and it also comes to mind to share with others as well. I am not good with memorization, but I know several now, and realize I know more than I thought, just not where they are. But it is so important. Back in the day, when we didn’t have phones and laptops and radios, they would memorize many of the scriptures . Oh how we need to turn off social media and get back to that! What if we couldn’t easily access a Bible anymore? I hope I would have much of it written on my heart!
I have just recently been tackling memorizing Psalm 57. I sing along to a melody. But as I go to bed I sing it in my head. That is how I memorized The Beatitudes as well! Also there is many memorization apps as well which I like!
Thank you all for your words of encouragement and prayers. These are all God moments for me. Prayer changes things or maybe changes our perspective. My therapist is going to work with me tomorrow with ways to lessen the pain.
Continued prayers for you!
Keep updating us! And thank you for prayers for my back! I have been feeling better, the pain is not such a constant high level, more it’s normal pain, which is a good thing!
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Do you find it easy or difficult to act according to God’s commands? DIFFICULT! It’s always hard, but I’ll keep persevering at trying to be better everyday.
According to these proverbs, what purpose do God’s commands serve in the life of a Christian? To live and live well. To live peacefully.
What does living according to God’s commands look like for you today? It looks like watching someone in paradise while you’re sitting in the dessert sun. Like I need to keep trying to put another good foot forward each day as I’m trying to reach that promised land.
Living by and understanding the commands I find easy, but sometimes when met with conflict it’s hard to stay grounded and remember His word
After reading the Proverbs for today, God’s commands will act as guidance, protection, and so much more, as long as we keep the commands. In our world today, I find it harder to keep all the commands, especially when I stray from my personal time with the Lord or am going through a particularly hard season. However, this doesn’t mean that I don’t try, but that I’m more likely to fall into the trap. During these seasons, I spend time in prayer.
Absolutely. Straying from my time with God has results I can feel. I don’t like that feeling, although I am so grateful for the reminder and evidence that I need Him. He is so good, faithful, and worthy.
My daughter, Amanda, started radiation treatment today. Please pray for her.
Thank you so much.
Praying now
Thanks for letting us know, Teresa! You and Amanda will be in my prayers. ❤
So many good comments today!
At first glance, I looked at the first question and thought, of course it’s easy to follow God’s commands. But then when I remember that being angry at someone to the point of hating them makes me guilty of murder, I know I’m guilty of that, and much more. The truth is, I’m a sinner through and through Jesus’ commands to love God with all my heart, and love my neighbor as myself? I don’t find that as easy as it sounds! There are people i dont love like I should. And if I loved God with all my heart, I would find it easier to love others. Without Jesus’ blood sacrifice to pay the ransom for my sins, I have no hope. I am so thankful for God’s love. For Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. I am saved. My sins are gone. Thank You, Lord.
AMEN! So much POWER in the blood of Jesus!
Yes, Teresa! Amen.
Living according g to God’s commands today means surrendering to his leading and living to please him. ❤️
So of God’s commands are easy to follow and some are harder. I find it easy to not murder, lie or cheat. I find it harder to trust God in all things, love my neighbor as myself and abstain from jealousy.
I believe that the God’s commands lead us down the pathway to true life, protect us and give us peace.
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy maybe be full. John 15:10-11
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Pray for healing of my eye, please? I had an “emergency” trip to the eye doc. Good thing I went when I did because it wouldn’t have gotten better. I have a corneal abrasion that happened, probably when I opened my eye upon waking. (My lid stuck to my eyeball, most likely.) Eeuuuwww! Doctor put a “bandage” on it… a non-powered contact lens and prescribed some eye drops. She wants me to come back on Monday for a follow up. It hurts!
Keeping you in prayer
I’m praying for relief from pain and complete healing of your eye.
Oh, Adrienne, I am so sorry! Praying for healing and relief! ❤
Yeah, that’s good. Because I think the non-believers think they are neutral, yet they are choosing Satan. If you are not with me, you are against me- right?! Many verses saying this in different ways.
…and then the computer refreshed and it landed here. I don’t even remember who I was replying too! (old brain).
Good Afternoon! So many thoughts came to mind with todays reading….thoughts about our churches, our nation and leadership, and our invidual families. We need God’s revelation, divine guidance, and instructions everyday. Without it we become unrestrained, easy prey to sin, disobedient, unrestrained, seduced, and out of the will of God. God has MORE for us… so much more! My prayer is that I would always be quick to obey his commands and instruction without hesitation or complaining. My prayer is that our nation would be guided by God, that our leaders heart would be open and sensitive to the Lord in all the decisions that endeavor to make. That obedience and elrevival would sweep our churches and nation….I believe it is happening and will continue if we stand boldly in the place of prayer. The prayers of the righteous avail much. Reflection Questions:
1. If it were easy to act on God’s commands, the path to LIFE would be wide and crowded and not narrow with many on it instead of few as described in the Bible. Obedience to Gods commands takes a made up mind and a heart totally surrendered to living in obedience to Christ. Acting on Gods commands requires a steadfast resolve and a sincere commitment that no matter what happens….I WILL OBEY YOU LORD. To say that obeying God is easy…. I would not say. It is worth it. It guarantees me life in Heaven and seeing my Jesus face to face one day. It guarantees me a life of the true blessings of God as I walk in obedience to Him. Easy… no but absolutely worth it! Gods ways are better, so much better!
2. Gods commands lead us, keeps us, and talks with us. That is Divine guidance, protection, and fellowship. It serves to direct our steps. The Bible says the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Gods commands keep us safe and in right standing with God when we walk in obedience. As Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus used Gods Words, his commands to combat Satans temptations and JESUS MAINTAINED VICTORY. He didn’t fall for the enemy’s traps. He was kept safe and remained in His father’s will. What a great example Jesus is for us!! He did everything God commanded and He is sitting at the right hand throne of God in Heaven! Hallelujah! Obeying Gods commands keep us in fellowship with God. I want God to lead me, keep me, and talk with me! Obedience is vital!
3. Living in Gods commands, for me, looks like a life that is consecrated to the service of the Lord. It looks like following Gods voice instead of social media or even “my truth”. It’s leaning and depending on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who helps me obey God. It’s going against culture and the so-called crowd. It’s a daily life of surrender….. moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. Listening to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit and letting Gods Word, not society or politics, lead and guide me in my daily walk with the Lord. That’s what obeying Gods commands look like for me and my prayer is that the Lord would keep me on His narrow path… leading to life and peace and long days with Him. Pray for me.
Yes, Yes..Amen!! Oh I wish I had the verbiage to say all this to others! It is not easy to follow the Lord, and not all are going to make it “in their own way” or half-heartily unfortunately, the majority will not. There is only Jesus, and obedient heart is required. His way, his truth, his life.
Is this your first study with us, or have you been a She for awhile?!
Hi Rhonda J! This is actually my first study with the community of SRT but I have ordered study guides before and studied at my own pace. When I saw you all were studying Proverbs, I got so excited and wanted to join the community. It really has been a blessing!
UCOBB- This community is something else! Glad you are here and commenting! You have lots of good stuff in your comments! ❤
Thank you!!
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Yes, loving your comments and that you are here daily commenting! You will love being in the She’s community!
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Amen❤️
Amén
I was able to barely answer the first question which is difficult to understand and follow.
If we have truly accepted Him in our hearts, the Holy Spirit convicts us if we step out of line. It may be difficult at the beginning to choose God’s way but the more you choose God above the flesh His promise is that He gives us a new heart. Keep His commandments in your heart, bind them in your heart and fasten them around your neck and seek the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you. You are promised peace and prosperity.
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Yes, amen, so true!
You are exactly right. After accepting Jesus as our Savior, it is The Holy Spirit working in us who reminds us to follow God’s commands. And without binding them to us, keeping them in our geart, we cannot live them.
I agree with you sisters who say obedience is sometimes easy, sometimes hard. It’s easy for me to turn away from physical temptation, but matters of the heart and mind are more difficult for me.
RHONDA J mentioned one of my favorite verses – memorized in a Bible study years ago:
2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
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I thought of 2 Timothy 3:16 immediately as I read:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”
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On ‘training in righteousness’, John MacArthur said:
“Scripture provides positive training (“instruction” originally referred to training a child) in godly behavior, not merely rebuke and correction of wrong behavior (Acts 20:32; 1 Tim. 4:6; 1 Pet. 2:1, 2).”
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Before reading MacArthur’s statement I mentioned a similar thought in reply to Mari.
Doing the right thing takes energy. Training, too, takes energy.
It’s especially draining when we are expected by a superior to do the opposite of right (as MARY mentioned in her comment).
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From Lead On, Good Shepherd by Patrick Mayberry:
Step by step, day by day
Lead me on, Lord I pray
Road gets dark, walk by faith
Lead on Good Shepherd
Lead on
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Just realized 2 Corinthians quote should say NIV, not NLT!
apologies!
So good! Draw closer to God and he will draw closer to you, and it is much easier to walk in obedience! We can’t play around though with temptations! We must flee all evil! (Which is worldly things!)
Your word I hide in my heart so I will not sin against You.
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Jesus said that he came to have life and that we might have life more abundantly. I believe part of that abundant life comes keeping the commandments and embracing G-d’s wisdom and statues. Keeping G-d’s laws won’t save you, only Jesus can, but they will save you from falling in the pit. Life has a lot of pitfalls and seductions.
I was watching a documentary about young American women lured into prostitution by watching a reality show that made working in a house of prostitution look like a family and fun. This documentary exposed the rapes, the beatings, and the bandage this life brings.
The world candy coats a lot of vices but we need Godly wisdom and we to teach our children Godly wisdom to avoid all the dangers and snares that will enslave them.
My goodness that sounds like a shocking show. It’s awful and disgusting to see the world proclaiming something as good when it’s clearly evil. I agree: I think that we experience the abundance when we make every effort to live according to his will and design, as the laws are there for our good, ultimately. Thank you for reminding me of this x praying for you, Tanya.
It’s easy to act according to God’s commands when it suits me. But those times when God says, forgive seventy times seven or love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you – those are the tough ones. Those are the times I think, “But God, did you see what they did, did you hear what they said?” Or, “I forgave them once, isn’t that enough?”
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If I want to grow in Christ and deepen my roots (as Rhonda mentioned) then I have to be willing to act according to all of God’s commands – not just the ones that suit me, or are easy.
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We were never promised that living for Christ and obeying God’s word would be easy, but we are promised blessings if we do. Those blessings may not be seen until eternity, but still, we march on doing our best to trust and obey and reflect the light of the Son.
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Have a blessed Thursday She’s. ❤️
Well said, Sharon! Right there with you! ❤
Yes, Amen! We must give up our life, give up our flesh..But God!!
Yes. Good thoughts.
Maybe I’m splitting hairs here or don’t fully understand the questions but I believe that at my current age I don’t think in terms of easy/ difficult. I genuinely believe Gods commandments to be true and right so I default to the word endurance. Finishing the race set before me with compassion mercy, grace and forgiveness. All for the glory of showing Jesus to others. Does that mean I don’t find some things difficult? No. I do. And sometimes I find things easier. In either circumstance I want to look for the best way to display Jesus and show my love of God to others. In this attitude I find room to grow and room for both peace and correction.
Well said Ci
Good insights. Endurance is a good word. Maybe perseverance too?
Amen, Cindy. Endurance.
For the most part, I feel like it’s easy to act in accordance with God‘s commands, but there are times where life happens and fleshly, worldly views provoke so much emotion in you that you forget, for the moment, what God‘s commands are. Even though you know them… thank goodness we can repent and be forgiven by our loving God
Good morning sweet She’s. I find it both difficult and I wouldn’t necessarily say its easy either, as a fallen being, I fail daily, and I don’t want to but I do. I feel SO bad when I do. It’s something I reflect on when I go to bed at night as I think about my day. I feel the purpose of Proverbs is to teach us, guide us (even when we fail). Living for God on a daily basis for me looks like coming to HIM daily, sometimes on the hour and even every minute (sometimes) and seeking HIM for EVERYTHING!! And I mean EVERYTHING! Nothing is ever too small for God. If its important to us, its important to HIM!
Agreeing with everything you said, Mari! ❤ Some choices are easier than others, but we still must EXERCISE our choice. Any exercise (mental, physical, spiritual) takes work.
Thought of your comment when I saw the verse of the day on Biblegateway: Psalm 42:8 NLT-
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life
That’s right..nothing is too small! Sometimes they seem silly- But God, today 2 prayers were answered after I prayed! It reminded me to ask him for everything!
Yes, so true!!
I think living according to His commands is hard because we live in community with others. I remember a lady at a Bible study once saying, “I never sin because I live alone.” Whaaaat?!?! I think I see what she was getting at, but it always makes me chuckle!
Interesting comment about never sinning.
Joyce Meyer always says she was a great Christian when no one else was around lol I get it!
yeah, that’s funny! People can drive you crazy until you look/act with grace and the love of Jesus.
Chapter 28:4 warns that those who forsake the law praise the wicked while those who follow the law strive against the wicked. His commands are our weapon! What a perspective change that was.
❤ The Sword!
I completely agree! I thought about that scripture for some time.
Todays readings take us back to the Shema in Deut 6 and the commands that are to be on our hearts. These are what God has laid out for us to guide us to walk in step with Him and live a live pleasing and devoted to Him – life that honors Him. It is to protect us and lead us in the Way everlasting. In theory, it should be easy, but, here I am in my sinful, human nature messing up on the daily…ugh:( The commands are meant to bring life in the truest sense of the word. My hearts desire each day is to obey His commands, to walk in fellowship and faithfulness to Him and each day that is posturing my heart to do that. To dwell in Him, to abide in His presence, to seek Him and to have an undivided heart. Heavenly Father, thank you for your commands that are meant to lead and instruct us in your ways and your truth. Keep my heart in step with yours and show me your ways above all else. I love you Lord and may the word, action and heart of who I am be a genuine, intentional reflection of that. Amen❤️
I love ❤️ that shem passage
Shema
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Amen ❤️
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A simple but powerful thing that God showed me a while back is from John 14 when Jesus says “If you love me you’ll keep my commands”, that the opposite is true. If we don’t keep His commands we are showing God we don’t love Him by our actions.
This scripture really captures the heart behind obeying God -simply because we love Him and seek to please Him! Thank you!
1. Depends on the command, I guess. At a high level, I’d say it’s easy, but if I start to dissect my life then there are things I clearly struggle with and find difficult to follow. While I will not live a sinless life on earth, I can live in “long obedience in the same direction”. Grateful for grace.
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2. His commands serve as a blueprint, providing instruction on how to build a life that bears fruit. A life lived for the good of others and the glory of the Lord.
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3. To weigh my thoughts against scripture. In moments of frustration at work (and home), to be slow to speak and to choose my words, tone, and attitude carefully – in order to serve, encourage, and problem solve.
GM ladies. After reading this morning, I was thinking about what God’s commands are and remembered our study of Romans. Romans 1:28-30 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, . Tare gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
The hard commands are the change of heart commands which others have stated. There are many on this list that can describe me on any given day. I am not where I want to be, but am also not where I once was.
Without revelation people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy (Proverbs 29:18) Running wild was me in my younger days who did not know God.
In the proverbs today we are told to keep them (the commands), tie them, bind them, treasure them, obey them, guard them, write them, to not reject or forget them, allowing us to have a full life, guidance, protection, well-being and happiness. I keep going back to surrender. Finally, I remembered something about Jews literally binding God’s commands to their bodies and found this: In ancient Jewish practice, Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:18 command God’s people to keep His law close:
“Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”
This led to the use of tefillin (phylacteries): small leather boxes containing Torah verses. One is bound to the arm (near the heart) to symbolize devotion, and one to the forehead to represent keeping God’s law in the mind. I love this visual! Have a great day ladies!
God’s commands are life giving, they give us hope and peace and generally add to our years. They are not a burden, but the change they should produce in us isn’t always easy. We will make mistakes but the Spirit of God is our Help!
Walking in love, by the fruit of the Spirit and producing fruit is what we should be doing.
Father let Your Words always be hidden on my heart that I don’t sin. In Jesus name, Amen
It seems so easy to crave God and his word these days, but I know it’s not. It is an effort and discipline on our part, even though we desire and love the Lord, the world has a strong pull. Going against the grain is hard in work places, among friends, and in our families at times. And then, don’t forget Satan is there all the time tempting, putting shiny things in front of us, playing on our weaknesses. Even when you love God with all your heart, it is a real Spiritual battle, and we have to have eyes to see and ears to hear, testing everything with vigor and supplication. We have to have discernment and know the Lord so well we are not fooled by the angel of light.
Lord, keep us She’s diligent to stay in the word daily and to write the word on the tablet of our heart! To take every (not of you) though captive and throw it out quick, all fear and anxiety, the not measuring up thoughts, the self-centered and proud attitudes. Lord, you are our solid rock, our firm foundation. Help us to grow our roots deep, to get our daily bread full of nutrients from you, and let you fill our daily cup to overflowing. Let us keep our eyes on you during the storm, always reaching for you rather than false hope and worldly councilors. You are all we need at the end of the day, knowing that morning is near. Thank you Lord for sisters and community in Christ that help strengthen us and hold us up in prayer. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Amen❤️
Thanks, Rhonda, for that beautiful prayer…agreeing with you, as we receive “Strengthening in our roots”, attitude adjustments… fresh nutrients for our Souls… Hope for today… and tomorrow… Great is His Faithfulness… as we Walk with Him! ❤️
Amen!
Thank you for the beautiful prayer Rhonda! ❤️
Amen! Beautiful! ❤
You are so right that it is a spiritual battle,Rhonda. Only by binding God’s Word to our heart and relying on Him are we able to fight against the devil and his temptations. Thank you for the wonderful prayer.
AMEN, I completely agree with all you said! What a powerful prayer! Yes, keeping our focus and eyes on Jesus helps us walk confidently in His word, obeying Him in love. Thank you for the prayers for the group! The hunger for wisdom and more of God is really encouraging!
“keep my teaching as the apple of your eye”
The most precious nature of God… His Word
The most sensitive part of the human being…Our eyes
Word & Eyes
Scripture & Sight.
Serving as One.
Treasuring the Law…
Needing protection…
Living faithfully…
Guarding against harm…
Listening…
Seeing…
One God…
One Gaze…
Amen & Amen
That’s beautiful,Gwineth
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1. Both. Things like don’t kill are easy but then Christ says even if I am angry with someone that is being guilty of this command.
With matters of the heart the commands are difficult. I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit.
2. These proverbs tell me God’s commands provide discipline, life, full life, guidance, protection
3. I want to remember God’s commands and pray for them to become who I am.
#1 – me to a T!
Sometimes I think all is good in my walk with God and then, temptations hit and it becomes soooo difficult. Lord please strengthen me in the hard times by reminding me to keep Your words on my heart at all times. I love the idea shared in the podcast to guard God’s Word for our lives like the pupil of our eye – when danger comes, it’s one of the first things I protect. May it be so for God’s words, way, and will in my life when temptation comes!
That verse stood out to me, too. If I guard God’s Word and commands like I guard the pupils of my eye, I will keep them safe, and they will be among the most important things in my life.
It feels easy to follow certain commands from God, yet there are times it seems without thought I can slip into not following His heart commands, pride, envy, insecurity.
God wants us to follow His commands so we don’t lean into our evil nature. He wants to bless us and be in relationship with us.
For spending my morning in His word, seeking His will and trusting Him no matter my circumstances is how I’m living in a way to follow His commands.
Thank You for Your Word, LORD. Thank You for Your commands. Help us to see their value. We love You. Help us to follow Your commands as a reflection of our love for You.
Proverbs 3:1-2 to store these commands in your heart. ❤️. Obedience brings long life.
Acting according to God’s commands is a mixed bag. On the surface, His commands are not a burden to follow. But the desired heart change God wants is more of a challenge some (most) days.
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God’s commands serve as instructions to the way to honor Him and bring Him glory by overcoming the evil that is in the world.
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Living according to God’s commands looks like being in His Words every day to align my heart with His before the challenges of this world and my flesh begin pulling me in different directions.
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Love all yourcomments and reflections, ladies. Thank you for sharing.
You took the words out of my mouth Kelly!
Love how you always give your “straight to the point” summaries! ❤️
Amen!
I love the way you put that….”God’s commands serve as instructions to the way to honor Him and bring Him glory….”
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For me these verses combined are reminiscent of Psalm 1. There is a path, God’s path – albeit against the grain, that leads to flourishing and life; AND there is a path, usually pleasant for a short while, that leads to death and destruction. The wise person chooses life!
May we say like Joshua, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
Great connection
Love it
Amen Sally ❤️
AMEN!!!
“ oWhen you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.”
This verse really struck me this morning. I am awake, not able to sleep. I slept too much during the day yesterday as I spent most of the night in ER with extreme leg pain. Even their “ happy juices” did not touch the pain. So they began looking for the bad stuff – blood clots, infection in the fusion. It was one miserable night! But, as I lay here going over the events, I saw God. Praising Him that there was no bad stuff, just extreme nerve pain. A nurse sat down and explained it. She told me never to miss a dosage of the pain meds and it may take a long while. As I meditated on the events, I saw her as a God send. They told me I could wait up to 6 hours for the MRI. I was first on the list. There were so many God moments and how often do we miss them when we’re too busy. They have indeed “talked to me” this morning. Be sure to watch for the God moments in your day.
So sorry for your continued struggles with the pain. Good reminder to watch for God in every situation.
Amen❤️
Lord, send even more people to minister to Elaine as she goes through these difficult days. Give her pain relief and restoration of body. Amen
I’m so sorry for your pain! I am dealing with a version of it so I can relate with the frustration and ongoing grief that comes with the pain itself. Thank you for the reminder to slow down and listen for God. I’m very good at finding ways to be busy and to avoid finding the quiet spaces where He speaks best. Praying for healing over you.
Oh Elaine…ughh, so sorry! Praying for it to decrease.
Elaine I am praying for relief for you! And how awesome of you to be in the hospital and choosing to read with us instead of other things (worrying, complaining, etc)
Oh dear…so sorry you are suffering Elaine. Pain is so difficult. Praying now for relief from that and continued energy, strength, encouragement and fresh eyes to see God’s hand.❤️
Praying for you Elaine
So sorry to hear of your pain and that you had to visit the ER. But praise God for a nurse who took the time to sit with you and explain. Praying for your healing process and patience in the waiting. ❤️
Sister, I am so sorry. I know you had so much hope for relief going into surgery and now this. Thankful for the nurse who had the compassion to explain things. Hang in there! ❤
Amen and Amen to that! We often miss those God moments. I too have been having health struggles. Will probably need spine surgery but I have definitely seen the hand of God these past 2 weeks. Sometimes we just have to sit quietly at the end of the day and reflect on all that God has done.
Sorry you are having pain issues as well. But yes, God is there with us in the struggles. In my pain group we always try to see the things to be grateful for. And we can always lay at his feet and just be with him.
Elaine, I am so sorry for the pain you are enduring. I’m amazed you could see God in the nurse and being first in line for the MRI. It makes such a difference when we see and recognize Him showing up in the hard times in our lives.
Lord, please place Your Hand on Elaine and bring relief from this pain. Heal her nerves and her body and bring her to full healing. Give her rest, and peace in the waiting, and bring help from others as she needs it. Amen.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
1. I don’t always find it easy to follow God’s commands. I know what they are, but I know that in a moment of weakness/ to please someone/ make them like me, I will lie/ deceive, which is detestable to God. I want to fear the Lord more than I fear man, and I hate to see the idols in my life which mean that I don’t always live this out.
3. At the moment, I work for my local council, and I often feel torn between doing what my managers want me to do for my clients, versus what God wants me to do. I want to respect my managers, but I also want to defend the weak and the vulnerable (I work with prison leavers threatened with homelessness), and sometimes, I just don’t agree with my managers’ position. This happened yesterday, and I am going back into work quite nervous as I went to someone very high up who agreed with me. However, it now looks like I undermined my managers. I want to store up God’s commands so that I stay on track in whatever situation I confront.
Mary, I can sure sympathize with your position. I worked for a manager that always wanted to fudge the numbers because numbers meant federal dollars and federal dollars meant our jobs. Sadly, I did comply a few times and knew it was not true. Do you obey God or do you obey man. I finally just posted the truth and if any “fudging” happened, it came from him.
Thank you for this x it is reassuring to know that you and others have wrestled with similar things. I love this community so much; thank you for your encouragement
Your #1 answer, so true … reminded me of Matthew 26:41 & Mark 14:38. “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
When being pushed or tempted in the right now, it is hard at times to stand firm. Lord, give us strength to do the right thing.
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Praying for job situation ❤️
Yes and Amen!
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Thank you x I love that God’s will for us is to be holy! Thank you for the reminder to pray and watch
Mary, praying for you to stand strong as you fight for the “least of these” and that God will be your defender.
We’ve all been there.
Praying for you Mary!
Praying for you Mary. ❤️
Praying for your situation at work! ❤
Thank you x I love that God’s will for us is to be holy! Thank you all for your prayers and reminders from scripture. Today was a very productive work day. I am so grateful to have you all. Thanking God for each of you x
Mary, my heart goes out to you in this work situation. I was told to lie and go reneg on a deal already verbally agreed to. I prayed about it, and finally told my boss that if anyone was going to renew on the deal, it would have to be him because my word was my word. He ended up telling me he wasn’t going to do it, and the deal went through. I found a new job shortly after that. That’s a long way to say that you’re doing the right thing. I’m praying that God continues to guide you and protect you in this situation.