Being Wise

DAILY READING

Proverbs 27:1-27

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Don't Give The Devil a Foothold

by Pastor Jeff Morlock

Our struggle against evil is played out on the battlefield of small, seemingly insignificant choices and the attitudes that inform them. Today's reading, far from being a random set of pithy sayings; is practical wisdom about how not to give the devil a foothold in this battle. This wisdom comes to us in three basic themes. The first is in verses 1-4 beginning with, "Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring." God has a plan for how events in your life will unfold. If you're preoccupied with the future, you will miss opportunities that God is putting before you today to join him in his kingdom work of restoring what is fallen and broken. And the devil gets a foothold.

The second theme in verses 5-18 urges us to welcome discipline and hardships that will ultimately shape us more fully into God's image. Are you allowing trusted, believing friends to admonish or rebuke you and show you where you are falling short? It's easy to see the failures of those around me, but much more difficult and uncomfortable to respectively listen as others point out mine. And when I go through difficulties, my first response is rarely to think about how God is using the situation to grow my faith and shape my character.

But maybe it should be. When I'm quick to question, "why me?" or to complain about the unfairness of it all, I give the devil a foothold. The call here is to help one another flee sinful attitudes, temptations, and behaviors and to embrace repentance.

The third theme relates to Christ-honoring hearts and behaviors. Verse 19 says, "As water reflects one's face, so one's life reflects the heart." What follows is a short list of things that our hearts could be set on instead of the Lord, if we're not careful. Hearts set on lust, greed, foolishness, or selfish gain are deceived and destined for disappointment.

This list is not all inclusive, but it's designed to help us align our thoughts and desires with God's will, thereby destroying any foothold that evil might gain, no matter what our circumstances.

Lord Jesus, source of all wisdom, you sharpen us by your Word. Give us grace to sharpen one another, that the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy would
find no room in or among us.

PRAYER PRACTICE 

Breath Prayer 
Take 2-3 minutes to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with his wisdom, grace, and power.  As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, as you allow today's Scripture to guide your thoughts.