Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the
Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 18:22KJV):
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22(Amp):
22 He who finds a (true) wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the Lord.
Thoughts for the Day:
One of the themes that Proverbs stresses
over and over is how to have good relationships. Here is a statement that tells us that
one who finds a true and good wife will obtain the favor of the Lord. How does one
find a good wife? Studying the Word of God, we discover that to find a good wife,
one must first be a good man who is following God. If one is seeking God with his whole
heart and desires to have a mate in order that he may serve the Lord together with his
wife, God will guide him to the right person.
When any person makes a total commitment to God, the
Lord promises that man will have His favor on his life. He will also be led in a
good path of righteousness that is ordered of the Lord.
Proverbs 12:2: "A good man
obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn."
Psalm 37:23: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the
LORD: and he delighteth in his way."
Proverbs 31 describes a good wife. She
is one who is virtuous and trustworthy. Today many people are marrying for the wrong
motives and end up with the wrong person. When someone is looking for a mate, they
should make sure the person is committed to Christ and loves the Lord. They should
also have character and virtue as their lifestyle.
Proverbs 31:10:
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of
spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
While men or women are single it is a wonderful time for the Lord to prepare them for a
marriage. As they seek God to cleanse them of the world and help them become the kind of
husband or wife that would bless someone, they will soon find they are not lonely. First
the Lord will begin using them to bless others; then they will find they are content in
Him. Eventually, in God's plan and timing, He will bless them with a wonderful mate so
that both their lives can be a witness for Him. If a marriage cannot glorify the Lord,
then it would be better for the person to remain alone. There are worse things than being
alone. One of these is to be out of God's will by compromising and marrying someone who
does not feel the same way you do toward the Lord.
Marriage is the second major choice we make in our lives, and we should never enter
into it without much prayer. To rush into a marriage can be disastrous. The most important
decision of our lives, of course, is our decision to follow the Lord. This decision is not
a one-time declaration, but a daily determination to follow Jesus above all. The devil can
play on our emotional natures and make us very susceptible to the enemy leading us astray
through "feelings" for someone. This area of the flesh should be brought
under the Lord's subjection so that Satan does not get the advantage and consequently
destroy our lives and ministries. So many have failed the Lord because they chose a man or
woman over the Lord.
We find this true throughout the Bible, too. Solomon's heathen wives led him into
idolatry. Samson lost his eyes because of a woman, Delilah. David committed murder because
of passion for Bathsheba. Passion and lust should not be the determining factor in
choosing a mate. We should chose one who has character, as this is a lifetime
commitment and you will live with this person day in and day out. If they are of a good
character you will be blessed. Emotion and passion are a part of marriage, but by
themselves will not sustain a happy and good marriage. If a mate is selfish,
jealous, etc. this will affect your relationship adversely. Seek God diligently so
you might find a good wife or a good mate. A good woman's price is far above rubies.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for my
good husband. I am most blessed, Lord. I pray for those who are seeking a good
mate, that they will be guided by Your Holy Spirit and find just the right person with
whom they will share their lives. Lord, I also pray for those who are already
married and ask that you strengthen the good marriages and heal those marriages that have
suffered wounds and hurts. May each mate seek more of Your love and be willing to
lay down their lives for each other. Let us all be filled with more of Your love
daily. May love pour from me today no matter what I face. I ask this in the name of
the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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