Author: dennisconrad

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Wisdom Prayer

Listen To Your Teachers and Instructors!

Listen To Your Teachers and Instructors!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who listen to the voice of their teachers and incline their ear to their instructors. In Jesus’ name, amen.

King Solomon’s message resonates today, even though, according to the English Standard Version of the Bible, he “reigned c. 971-931 B.C.” God used Solomon to give fair warning to those who violate God’s laws.

Proverbs 5:7-14 (ESV) continues the theme of earlier verses in Proverbs 5 about avoiding adultery.

“And now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
lest you give your honor to others
and your years to the merciless,
lest strangers take their fill of your strength,
and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,
and at the end of your life you groan,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
and you say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”

With all that can befall one involved in an inappropriate relationship, it pays to stay clear of illicit involvement. Thank God for his words of wisdom.

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Wisdom Prayer

Avoid Adultery!

Avoid Adultery!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who refuse to be tempted by the lips of the forbidden. In Jesus’ name, amen.

King Solomon gave advice to men tempted to commit adultery. His dire warning says of the woman providing the temptation, “Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol.”

Proverbs 5:1-6 (ESV) describes what happens if a person is seduced by the temptress.

“My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,
but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.”

Beware the temptress. If you have already succumbed to adulterous behavior, stop. Repent and ask God’s forgiveness. Go, and sin no more.

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Wisdom Prayer

All Your Ways Be Sure!

All Your Ways Be Sure!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who ponder the path of their feet, so all their ways will be sure. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In the notes to Proverbs 4:24 in the English Standard Version of the Bible, “Crooked speech points one in the path of the wicked. Crooked speech includes not only dishonest speech but also any good and honest communication (e.g., rebuke) without the proper content, context, or purpose.”

Proverbs 4:20-27 (ESV) reiterates the importance of being attentive to Solomon’s God-given wisdom.

“My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.”

Be on guard to follow God’s ways. Avoid evil. Be mindful of other’s crooked speech.

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Wisdom Prayer

Do Not Enter the Path of the Wicked!

Do Not Enter the Path of the Wicked!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who do not enter the path of the wicked. In Jesus’ name, amen.

King Solomon has warnings for those who are not wise.

Proverbs 4:10-19 (ESV) is about those who hold on to wisdom and instruction, and, in contrast, those who enter the path of the wicked.

“Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.”

Do not even think of following the way of the wicked. God can provide a way of escape. Pray. Ask God to make his direction clear.

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Wisdom Prayer

Get Wisdom!

Get Wisdom!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom and ask that I may be attentive and gain insight. In Jesus name, amen.

God inspired King Solomon to write the words of Proverbs.

Proverbs 4:1-9 (ESV) Solomon makes a point of sharing the wisdom he learned from King David, his father.

“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,
for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Notice how much value Solomon placed on obtaining wisdom. Has obtaining wisdom become a priority in your life? If not, perhaps it is time to reassess your priorities.

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Wisdom Prayer

Do Not Envy People Of Violence!

Do Not Envy People Of Violence!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who do not envy people of violence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Many individuals try to blur the lines between good and evil. In Scripture, there is a clear distinction between the two. Evil doers are violent, devious, and wicked.

Proverbs 3:31-35 (ESV) shows the contrast between evil ones and the righteous.

“Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.
The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace.”

The wise ultimately get the prize by inheriting honor. Avoid blurring the lines and rationalizing away evil.

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