Dave's Diary

Prayer

Lord God Almighty, I worship You. You are the true source of all understanding, wisdom and insight, please show me the wonderful truth of Your Word today. Amen.

Reading

Read Proverbs 20 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 20: 
⁵ Counsel in a person’s heart is like deep water, but an understanding person draws it out. (NET)

Those who are more introverted and inclined towards “internal processing” can most likely resonate deeply with this proverb. So too can anyone who has ever wondered of someone like that, “What on earth are they thinking?” But at another level it is also true of all of us.

Wisdom, understanding and insight may lie buried very deep within a person, and not be immediately apparent. Like a reservoir of water contained deep underground, it can take very hard work to access that treasure. So, when I feel at a loss to know what to do in a given situation, this proverb encourages me not to rush to the first solution that presents itself. It calls me rather to stop, become still, focus on the situation at hand, and allow my heart and mind to seek the wisdom of God that lies buried within me. To stick with the metaphor, it encourages me to drill down until I strike the well of wisdom within. Wondrously, as a child of God through faith in Christ, I also have the added blessing of the indwelling Spirit of Wisdom who will guide me when I pause to contemplate and consult Him.

The proverb also encourages me not to move too hastily past others in whom wisdom may lie deeply buried. Many solutions would have become evident to me (and I may have avoided many pitfalls) if I had taken enough time and applied enough patient conversation to draw the wisdom out of others who were hesitant to speak their thoughts and insights. As verse 18 says:

¹⁸ Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

Prayer

Lord, life in this world can often be confusing. The line between the best solution to a problem and all the other options can often seem very faint. Please grant me the patience to stop, contemplate, and drill deep down into the well of wisdom within me and within others, until Your Spirit brings me to the place of true Wisdom . Amen.