NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

Day 278 – Good companions


Having a Heart in a Sometimes Heartless World

Scripture focus: Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life. Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding. That's right—if you make Insight your priority, and won't take no for an answer, searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God. And here's why: God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding. He's a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones. So now you can pick out what's true and fair, find all the good trails! Lady Wisdom will be your close friend, and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion. Good Sense will scout ahead for danger, insight will keep an eye out for you. They'll keep you from making wrong turns, or following the bad directions of those who are lost themselves and can't tell a trail from a tumbleweed, these losers who make a game of evil and throw parties to celebrate perversity, traveling paths that go nowhere, wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends. Proverbs 2:1-15 The Message

Anytime we’re tackling a major renovation, we must eliminate some of the old to make room for the new. I was happy to see my old kitchen counters go into the dumpster when we renovated our kitchen. But it was hard work to choose what kind of counters to purchase as a worthy replacement. There were prices to consider, durability, color choices, and availability. I’m pleased with my choice. And if we choose to take heart and tune our ears to the right voices, I think you’ll be pleased with the renovation of your heart. What exactly can you expect from learning to live life God’s way? Well…how does this sound?

· You will become the proud possessor of the knowledge of God.

· You will receive wisdom from God.

· You will gain in not only knowledge, but understanding as well.

· You will become the proud owner of a bounteous supply of common sense (that will also serve as a body guard).

· You will be carefully watched over.

· You will learn how to pick out the good stuff, and void the bad.

· You will grow up and mature to the point where you actually enjoy these companions!

· You will avoid danger, wrong turns, and bad directions.

· You will not get sucked in by bad dudes and con artists.

· You will have a straight path to the throne of grace.

That’s not only good news – it’s great news! But remember – you’ve got to be willing to renovate!



Recommended reading: Jeremiah 5 and 6 in the morning; Colossians 2 and Psalm 52 in the evening

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