Living in the Spirit: Proverbs For Life
Your body is the temple of the Spirit.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
It’s not going to be easy, it will cost you, we live as holy exiles in the world. We can chose to live in the past, in the present, or in the yet to come. Choose wisely.
Lift up your heart and spirit. Offer up your health; soul, mind, and body to the Lord and he will bless you with life everlasting.
Anxiety is a drag, it weighs down the heart.
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Physical beauty unmatched by moral purity is as unbecoming as a gold ring in a pig’s nose.
Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Awareness is a key ingredient in success. If you have it, teach it, if you lack it, seek it. Walking in the light sparks and convicts the soul, leading the way in the light of life.
Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward.
Proverbs 11:25
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
The church must find a way to stand firm for truth without resorting to fear-mongering and divisive rhetoric that is antithetical to the spirit of holiness. The fruit of the Spirit stands in contrast to the vices. The Spirit should be leading us out of these fleshy works. The question at hand for us is how do we develop this fruit.
Proverbs 11:30
The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.
Try beginning in this way:
When face with a situation that typically results in knee-jerk reactions, choose instead thoughtful self-control. When faced with self-centered lust, choose instead the way of self-giving love. When faced with the spirit of cynicism instead choose joy. When you want to yield to your anxiety instead choose contentment and peace. If you’re faced with yet another frustration, instead of growing angry, sick and tired, choose patience. When you are really ready to unleash the sarcasm, instead choose kindness. And finally when you decide to walk the path of virtue signaling, instead choose sincere goodness. And likewise if you’re obsessed with viral fame try building a lifelong reputation and nature of faithfulness.
It’s all about the journey:
Proverbs 4:11-13
I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.