November 9 –Avoid Being Bone Tired

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.  It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.”  Proverbs 3:7–8. (NASB)

The two verses before today’s selection (Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB) are often most familiar in the book of Proverbs. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart….” The Proverbs of King Solomon frequently offered a word of wisdom, how to be wise in our behavior, followed by the benefits that such living brings to us. Today's promise is written that way. The wisdom is a caution for us to not be wise in our own eyes. Many promote themselves as wise, knowledgeable, experienced; as expert at whatever they want to claim. Solomon says, “No. Do not think that way. Do not perceive yourself as wise.” This does not mean we are to think of ourselves as unwise or foolish. There is something unrighteous about thinking too highly of ourselves. Solomon commands, “Fear the LORD" (hold Him in awesome regard) and reject the temptations that are evil. Turn away from such thoughts. In return we will have healing and a healthy body. We won’t be weighed down but will experience refreshment deep to our bones. Reject self conceit and evil ways, and we will be healthy. We will not be bone tired. That’s a promise from God.

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April 30 – Strong Bones

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”  - Isaiah 58:11 (ESV)

"Be prepared." A lesson well learned long ago for many of us. Now it is time to prepare our world to recover from the shock that has shaken every country on Earth.  From global issues to the most local conditions' people are approaching and beginning the effort to “normalize.”  We want to restore a sense of equilibrium. We want fear to subside and anxiety to take a back seat, or get out altogether.  Is it not accurate to think we have experienced places that have been scorched?  But God promises to guide us throughout the process.  He promises to meet our desires and He promises to give strength to our bones.  We’ve been knocked about a bit and some have really been hurt by the effects of the Pandemic of 2020. Yet we have hope coming from our LORD God.  We will enjoy life as a watered garden enjoys fresh spring water.  Water that never fails to be available for our needs.  This is our promise that God is our fresh spring of water that will never fail to satisfy us. No matter how scorched the places we’ve gone through have been, God has always been with us.

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February 12 – Worried About Afflictions

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”  -  Psalm 34:19 (NASB)

Have you ever been so troubled or sorrowful that you leaned on the well know spiritual by Mahalia Jackson? “Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Nobody knows but He knows my sorrow. … Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Well, no, nobody knows but Jesus.”   Perhaps, or not, we know these words well but we certainly have a promise today from a song by David which should give us comfort when we are deep in trouble.  As we experience many troubles, we are promised delivery from them all by the Lord.  And if the trouble threatens our bodies, we can know that the Lord will protect us. Protection of all our bones is a means of saying He keeps our physical well-being.  Our bones are the structure of our bodies and our bodies might well be threatened by troubles from time to time.  Seeking God when we need His help will bring us needed deliverance from afflictions of many kind.  Every verse in this Psalm underscores how God cares for His own when the take refuge in Him. 

Next: Worrying about suffering for Jesus

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