It is hard to make it in this world. It seems as though for the Christian, there is a continuous mounting level of persecution. When we speak out we are considered hypocritical. When we are silent we are considered passive. It seems as though there is no way of getting away from the negative view of Christianity. And as such, I tend to be poisoned to the point that I begin to feel negative about myself and wonder if it is all worth it.

But isn’t the fact that we are being noticed kind of the point. We are making a difference and have to remember that it is really not about us. I have continue with the work that I have been given and know that it is making a difference. Others are watching and see the work I am doing and I have to realize that I am not here to make everyone happy, but I am here to spread the gospel of the Lord.

It is easy for me to simply give in to the naysayers and those that persecute me into believing that I have somehow done something wrong. When really maybe what I have done is to bring light to some darkness. I have to take the work, invite and embrace it so that others can see that work in me.

“⁵A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. ³²Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.” – Proverbs 15:5 & 32 (ESV)

I have to love myself enough to know that the work I am doing is not for me, but for God. I am not here for my own pleasure, but for His. I am to be doing the work knowing that I will be rewarded. I have to invite the chance to do the work and the consequences of that work and what comes of it here in this world does not really matter when I consider my kingdom purpose. The difficulty that I experience is just part of the journey to the reward I have waiting for me in heaven. I chose to follow Christ and now it is my duty to invite instruction and so that I can do His work.

Loving myself seems to be the place where I struggle the most. When I am working in an environment, regardless of where or what it might be, my thoughts are on making it easier for others and making sure that they have what they need to be successful. I take on more work so others do not have to. In knowing that, I have to love myself enough to know that it is my choice to do that and not to expect anyone to recognize it. I am simply doing that which I have been taught to do and when I am not getting something in return, it should not matter as I will be getting what was expected anyway, the love of God and the satisfaction of doing His work.

So I am here doing the work of the Lord for His glory and knowing that I will receive my reward in heaven. Lord, I invite instruction and reproof so that I can grow in my purpose and bring glory to you. I am yours to direct and I know that the journey may be hard. I love myself enough to know that you only want what is best for me, and that best may not be here, but with you in heaven.

What things are you avoiding because they may be hard? Do you love yourself enough to invite that hard work and know that your reward may be sometime later? What if you loved yourself enough to recognize the work as worthwhile and invited even more of it?

Dr. Joyce Brothers is quoted, “Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.” And oh how she was right. I have taken a lot of instruction over my years and in that time I have to look back and determine how much of it I truly listened.

“¹⁷Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.” – Proverbs 10:17 (ESV)

I have to remember that instruction is there for me to learn from. Not for the moment, but for the lifetime. I have to listen to the instruction and look at the application of what it is I am learning. How am I able to use this in my life and going forward to be sure that I am indeed on the right path. It is when I am listening that I grow the most.

Look at the second part of verse 17 above, see the consequences of not listening. It is when I believe that I already know and reject any additional learning that I end up leading others down the wrong path. I have to remember that all of the instruction in the world is of no use if I am simply going to cast it off and go it alone anyway. By doing so I am surely on the path of ultimate destruction. Yes, there will be those moments when success seems to be presented, but those are in the moment and not sustaining.

I have to “heed” the instruction that I am receiving which means to me to listen and act on it so that I am able to truly head down the path of life God has for me.

When have you been given instruction that you really did not listen to? Were you already so “in the know” that whatever was being taught was of zero value? What if we took all instruction and truly “heeded” every word to grow and be directed on the path of life?

What we do not know we must learn from somewhere. There are things that are just not found through a search engine on the web or in a video sent to us. In order to really know those things, there has to be more than just seeing or reading it.

“¹⁰Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, ¹¹for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” – Proverbs 8:10-11 (ESV)

This passage is spoken from the perspective of wisdom and her calling out. She is making it known that with her there are no more valuable things. Notice the references to things of monetary value in the above verses. Silver, choice gold, and jewels are not in the same realm of value as instruction, knowledge, and wisdom.

As I am studying the word “instruction” I am drawn to the value it presents as noted above. I have to remember that I do not know everything and I have to seek out instruction from others to know and understand.

“³²And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. ³³Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. ³⁴Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. ³⁵For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, ³⁶but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” – Proverbs 8:32-36 (ESV)

She, wisdom, is calling out to me so that I may hear and learn. When I am seeking her, I will open up to the instruction that comes from her and understand the value I am receiving. I know the value is great based on successes of those that are giving. It is my duty to embrace that value so as to gain the knowledge and wisdom that will bring me closer to success and more importantly, closer to God.

What instructions has been offered that you may have missed? Are you looking for quick information that is found and readily available? What if you were to listen for (seek out) wisdom and listen when she begins to instruct, what value will you find there?

I know that there is plenty that I learned throughout my years and of that plenty, there is a great deal that I do not remember and act on. I have been given or shown a good number of things from those that were more experienced than I and yet, somehow I knew better. I was more in tune with what was really going on and those that were teaching were behind the times and really did not know anything. Until, they did.

“¹³Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.” – Proverbs 4:13 (ESV)

Yes, it is true that we learn more from failure and recovery than just going through things unscathed. I am a proponent of adversity and learning from the mistakes made. What I think is missed a lot of the time is that it does not have to be my mistakes, failure, and adversity that I can learn from. Those that have been there know best. They have experienced it before and have come out on the other side, either conquering and able to share or moving on and knowing now what not to do and able to share.

Too often the site of success is all that is seen and all of the struggles and challenges are missed due to the sheer joy of end result. It is the journey where the learning really takes place. It is in the knowing what to do and what not to do that gives the success that much more punch.

In life there are people that have given freely to others to assist in making it through. I have to remember that which was/is given to me and act on it so as to be better for it. Those giving have the experience and I have to remember that they are providing that experience as instruction for me so that I may be able to avoid some of the failures, mistakes, and adversity they ran into.

What challenges have you come across in life? When you look back, is it possible that someone gave you instruction that would have helped you to avoid those challenges? What if we were to remember and act on the instruction from those that have given freely to us so that we can avoid those challenges?

“³When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, ⁴he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.’” – Proverbs 4:3-4 (ESV)

Notice that the father here indicates that he received instruction from his father. This shows the son that the instruction is not in the spirit of “do as I say” but more in the spirit of “do as I do”. The father received from his father and is now passing that instruction on to his son in hopes of giving him what was needed, but also to pass on the wisdom from before.

Too often I feel as though we are going it alone in working to figure things out and understand. Why would we not go to those that know and have been successful to learn the way to success (not necessarily monetary success of course). Shouldn’t I go to those that have been through the difficulties and come out the other side with a better understanding. Shouldn’t I look to learn from them so that when the difficulties present themselves, I will be prepared to deal with them knowing that they have been beaten before.

“¹Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, ²for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.” – Proverbs 4:1-2 (ESV)

Notice above the proactive approach to teaching in the words of the father to the sons. He is advising them to be present in this moment of teaching to learn and gain valuable information. Notice what he is teaching “insight”, or knowledge of things that have already occurred or an approach that has proven to work already. This is from a father that knows and has already been there and wants his sons to know also. As the learner, it is important to note this willingness to give from the father to the sons. Too often there is a hoarding of knowledge with the idea that one now has something over others. This father is wanting to multiply his knowledge and give others the advantage he had.

This father knows a thing or two about living and wants to share what he knows with his sons. As the sons, they should be attentive and learn. I myself find it satisfying to learn from those that have experienced so that I will know and be able to navigate similar situations in the future, knowing that they have already been conquered and that if someone else has, I can and will also.

What opportunities have you had to learn from those that have already experienced? Were you attentive to their teachings? What if we used their knowledge and experience to grow and know that we too can get through things in life?

I maintain that we must be lifelong learners. Continuously looking to increase in knowledge. This morning I was led to the beginning of Proverbs and realize that I have written often on the subject from this passage. I have to remember not to sit and think that I have learned it all I must continue to read in search of learning more and more each day.

“⁷The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

All of my knowledge and learning begins with the knowing and fearing of the LORD. When I know Him and fear Him and all that He is and can do, I will be more open to listening to that which He would have me learn. I think of one of my favorite teachers in school who was one that I respected and wanted to attend class. I looked forward to class to learn about the subject and all else that was being taught. Learning from the LORD is something that I must be looking forward to and it all starts with knowing Him.

I have to be open to instruction and learning. I feel as though in society today, there is a thought that everything needed to know has already been taught and it can be found at our fingertips to use when the time comes. But is that really knowing? It is in the instruction that real knowledge is transferred. I can watch a video to see and replicate the steps to replacing the brake pads on my car, but do I really know and understand all of the workings of them. I can watch someone paint a masterpiece and follow along with the brush strokes, but am I an artist at that point. There are things that are internal and those things are learned from others and transferred into the heart. The LORD is where we will find our instruction for life and in order to truly dig in and understand, I have to fear and know the Him to want and internalize the instruction.

I have to want to learn and when I do, I am open to instruction from those that know. I want to know how to be more like Christ and therefore I must be open to instruction from Him. I have to know that He is the leading authority and will guide me where He wants me, through my openness to instruction. The same holds true in this world. I must know what it is that I am looking to become and find the leading resources of that thing and then seek them out to know and learn from them to know. I have to be open to being out of my comfort to find and know them to learn from them.

What is it that you seek to know? Where are you seeking to find that? What if you were to start with knowing them and being open to instruction from them?

Not sure if all are in the habit of doing so, but speaking truth is the best policy.

“¹⁷Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. ¹⁸There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. ¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” – Proverbs 12:17-19 (ESV)

There is power in the truth. As noted in verses 18 and 19 above it “brings healing” and “endure forever”. These ideas make it worthwhile for me. Speaking the truth is the way to transparency and growth.

In the healing arena, I like to think of the truth in this way. Without the pain, there is little to no gain. When a doctor is tasked with fixing a broken leg, he must first set or in some cases re-break the leg to begin the healing process. This is not a pleasant experience for the one with the broken leg in the first place. There is more pain to endure. On the other side though is a leg healed more properly or at least in the best way to bring about a fruitful life going forward. The truth is the same. It may be painful to hear and realize the truth. And even in giving the truth, there may be some backlash and disconnection as a result of the hard being given and received. On the other side, there is healing and growth that occurs from not having to deal with what might be detrimental.

On the endurance side of things, speaking the truth keeps me in a position of not having anything to hide. I do not have to explain away things or justify actions taken. I am able to speak the truth and be comfortable and without concern for trying to make up for something that I may be called on later. Similar to the healing part though, there may be consequences to speaking the truth. It may not be what others want to hear and that will lead to discord. But, it is worth it on my end to have others know what they are getting from me is not just what they want to hear.

I believe, as I am reminded in the verses above that the truth will bring about healing and will endure forever. It is my work here in the world to do the work of God and part of that work is to bring the truth to this world. As we are reminded in the following verse, Jesus is truth.

“⁶Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6 (ESV)

When in the world and interacting with others, what is your propensity to speak the truth? Do you find yourself holding back to save from creating discord? What if you were to speak the truth to “bring healing” and allow for to “endure forever”?

As I read Psalm 119:169-176 this morning I saw and was reminded to speak with God. Yes, prayer is interacting with God and telling and asking things. What I am really referring to here is to really speak or talk with God. Have a conversation with Him. Open up to Him and let Him into your life.

“¹⁶⁹Let my cry… ¹⁷⁰Let my plea… ¹⁷¹My lips… ¹⁷²My tongue…” – Psalm 119:169-172 (ESV)

I have only placed the first parts of the verses above to show the action that I should be taking in my conversations with God. I have to give to Him as He has given me so much. I have to open up to Him and allow for our relationship to grow and blossom. I have to bring Him the good, the bad, the uncomfortable, and the exciting to release that which is bottled up. I have to allow Him to hear me.

I know what you may be thinking and it is true, God already knows. What I am referring to here is that I have to let Him know so that I can hear it and know that I have communicated it. Too often I have been the one to just keep silent and feel as though someone already knows, and they may, but it is not until I bring it up that it becomes real and can be dealt with.

In the instance of speaking with God, I have to remember to bring it up out loud, not so He can deal with it, but so I can. I have to openly say things so that they become real and are now actionable. Take the instance of goals I may have for accomplishing things. I can think them and they are there, but whether or not I work to achieve them is arbitrary. Now when I write them down and have to stare at them knowing that I have missed the mark, then I will work to take action. My interactions with God are the same. I have to get them out so that I am forced to stare them down and deal with them at that moment.

Thanks be to God that He just lets me speak and He listens. When I am done He will guide me and present items that I am now ready to work with as I have opened up to taking action.

“¹⁷³Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.” – Psalm 119:173 (ESV)

What have you bottled up or kept internal thinking that God already knows? Are you waiting for Him to act? What if you were to get it out by speaking with God and being ready to take action?

I hear all the time the phrase, “Fake it til you make it.” I maintain that if you re genuinely working to make it, then you are not really faking it after all.

“¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. ¹⁵O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” – Psalm 51:14-15 (ESV)

In these couple of verses, David is declaring that with God’s forgiveness, he will declare aloud to God the praise due Him. Notice where that praise starts, aloud from the tongue and lips of David, not an empty gesture of sacrifice or going to church so that people may draw inferences from what they see. David is overt in his actions of vocal praise and adoration of God so there is little question as to what he is doing. He is genuinely working for all to see and HEAR of his repentance and glory declarations to God.

Now, once he has openly declared his repentance and praise to God he now takes on the actions associated with those declarations.

“¹⁶For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17 (ESV)

The actions of the declarations are driven into and from the heart. Words are just words until they are from the heart. As mentioned in the title of this posting, “It begins with the tongue”. I must first make the out loud statements and then make sure that those are brought into and cascaded from my heart. The action for me is to be “broken” as mentioned in verse 17 above. I have to use my words to elicit action from my heart and then from other visible actions.

“¹⁹then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.” – Psalm 51:19 (ESV)

Only when I have the broken heart will my sacrifices to God be received. I have to first announce my transgression and seek forgiveness. Second I must have brokenness in my heart for the transgression and third, my sacrifices to God will be received. So when I say that faking it til you make it is really working to make it, what I believe is that the actions that begin with saying things and then allowing them to permeate the heart, create actions that are from the heart and generate realism as opposed to the feeling of fake.

When out there in the world what are you “faking til you make it”? Are you just going through the outward motions each day and/or time? What if you were to say it out loud, allow it to permeate your heart and then work on those outward actions, would it create a more real and genuine action?

I have difficulty all the time and find myself venting related to that difficulty. I have found also that no one really cares what I have to say in those instances. They are only interested in what they think and do. My interests are not taken seriously and by venting I am only making myself look as though I am not willing to take on the challenge. Whereas I know that not to be he case, those around me, blinded by their own perspective, only see their way and as I do not fall into their way, I am simply the complainer.

“¹I said, ‘I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.’ ²I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.” – Psalm 39:1-2 (ESV)

In these verses, I see that holding my tongue is the right approach. I should not allow myself to be the “bad mouth” in those situations. I am to keep things to myself related to the difficulty and vent up to God and allow Him to take care of that which needs taking care of. As far as I know, and that is the most difficult part, God has this suffering in His plan for me so that I am able to reach others through my actions and not just my words. And that is where the next part of the passage come in.

“³My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:” – Psalm 3:3 (ESV)

That emotion that builds up inside, I need to get it out. I am allowed to vent, but not like one would think. I should be letting out the steam and emotion of the situation and lift up praise and worship to God. I should be singing and shouting to Him and not to those around me. He is the only one that will truly hear me and will take action to comfort and protect me. He will wrap His arms around me and let me know that He has got it and will take care of it. He may not let me in on the when, how, or even why I was going through it, but He will take care of it and I will be rewarded for my endurance.

When things seem to be out of my hands, I have to remember to turn them and my eyes to God and allow for His work to be done. Frustrations will come and I have to remember to lift them up in the form of praise and worship to God as opposed to complaints to those around.

When you are met with challenges, what is your approach to dealing with them? Do you find yourself in the mindset of letting everyone know how you are feeling? What if you were to turn to God and vent to Him in the form of praise and worship with your tongue?