Dave's Diary

Prayer

Lord God Almighty, You have given me life and I am so grateful for every minute and every day You grant me. May I learn to know You more deeply and love You more completely through Your Word today. Amen.

Reading

Read Proverbs 19 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 19: 
²⁷ My child, when you stop learning, you will soon neglect what you already know. (GNT)

The sobering reality is that Solomon, the author of this proverb, later became complacent and slipped into the very error he warned against here. He ignored his own warning and gradually abandoned the truths that his own father, David, had passed on to him, rejected the Law of the Lord that he had once honoured so highly, and fell into horrendous sexual sin, immorality and idolatry because of it.

Solomon’s fall from grace (described in 1 Kings 11 and further) reminds us of a vital spiritual principle. In this fallen world of sin and deception, if we are not growing closer to God in relationship, deeper in our knowledge of Him, and more committed to Him in our daily living, we will inevitably drift further away from Him and grow less committed to Him. We do not drift into a place of holy intimacy and commitment to God. Like any relationship, it takes determination and effort on our part.

May Solomon’s words inspire us to be lifelong learners, who are motivated by our love for God, cling to God’s Word, consistently seek to discern truth and sound doctrine and live our lives in step with God’s will. If not, we risk falling completely away from what we once held so dear.

Prayer

Lord, I love You and I long to please You with my whole life. I hate the thought of falling away from intimacy with You or being led astray from a true knowledge of You. So, Holy Spirit, please teach me daily. Please draw me constantly into a deeper knowledge of the Word of the Lord and into a deeper intimacy with the Lord of the Word. Amen.