Dave's Diary

Prayer

God of all wisdom, power and might. I surrender to You and to Your Holy Word. Speak to me, I pray. Amen.

Reading

Read Proverbs 24 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 24: 
¹⁰ If you faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small. (ESV)

¹⁰ If you are weak in a crisis, you are weak indeed. (GNT)

Have you ever noticed that pouring cold water on a tea bag does virtually nothing? However, we all know that when boiling water is poured on it, all the goodness is released and a cup of delicious tea is soon brewed. Often at a human level something similar is true. It takes the “hot water” of adversity to reveal our inner strength of character or the lack of it.

None of us enjoys a moment of adversity or crisis, but this Proverb hits the nail on the head. How we respond in a moment of great difficulty is a true indicator of what lies within us. That is why it is so important to invest in our relationship with the Lord every single day, to seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in His Word, to train ourselves in godliness and in reliance on the Holy Spirit within us. God has promised us that He will give us sufficient strength for each day (Deuteronomy 33:25). He has promised that His grace will be sufficient for us, so that when we are at our weakest, His strength will be at its most powerful within us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Yes, trials and adversities will reveal what lies within us. But thanks be to God, by His grace it can be His power and wisdom that lies hidden there.

Draw close to the Lord today. Send your roots down deeply into His Word. Drink deeply of the well of Living Water that is His Spirit within you. And may His grace always be sufficient for you.

Prayer

Lord, when I am weak, then You are strong. Thank You for Your amazing grace! Amen.