Dave's Diary

Prayer

Lord Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, may Your Word lead me in the everlasting Way today. Amen.

Reading

Read Proverbs 18 slowly and prayerfully. Notice which verse particularly jumps out at you. Re-read that verse a few times, slowly. Write it down in your journal. Try to memorise it so that you can reflect on it without having to read from the page.

Prayerful Reflection

Now take that Proverb and think about your life at the moment. Is there a situation in your life to which that Proverb applies. Ask the Lord how this verse from His Word is telling you to live out His wisdom in that situation. Make notes in your journal.

A Devotional Thought

Proverbs 18: 
¹⁷ In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
    until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

Not only in a courtroom but in every circumstance in life, we would do well to remember this principle. To arrive at the most accurate understanding of the truth, evidence must be received from multiple angles. One viewpoint is seldom sufficient.

First and foremost this proverb is a reminder never to come to a conclusion about something based only on one person’s version of events. We ought to hear at least two versions (and ideally even more) before trying to discern the truth.

Sadly, to be very honest, this proverb also often applies to us internally too. I am sometimes my own “first witness” and because I only have my own existing perspective on something, I am only capable of seeing it my way. But if, in humility, I seek the counsel of others who might see things differently to me (and from another perspective) I may be surprised to find myself arriving at a much richer and fuller understanding and a far better solution. Of course, this approach is dependent on me genuinely desiring to come to the truth, rather than just wanting my own opinion confirmed. Humility and a genuine hunger for truth will definitely be required.

Prayer

God of Truth, lead me deeper into the truth today. Please give me a genuine hunger for the truth and please grace me with the spiritual gift of discernment, to be able to see through any half-truth and deception. Amen.