Have you ever felt that some days were better than others? Have you had some days where you didn’t even want to get out of bed because you already knew it would be a bad day? There really is no such thing as a bad day. All days were made to be good; it’s what happens in those days that are bad. No, I’m not a philosopher, but I’m just trying to shed some light on things.
People have these “bad days” all the time and then think the following day will be worse. That’s not how you go about making your day productive, exciting, or even livable. You have to tell yourself that your day will be good. You have to believe that your day will be the best one until tomorrow; otherwise you’re shooting yourself in the foot before your eyes open.
With that said, I wanted to share ten proverbs with you that will help make your day spectacular. These aren’t the only ten, but just a sample that you can take with you and apply to your life.
“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.” – Proverbs 3:27 NIV
This is a scripture of justice to me; it’s also a scripture of doing right. When you have the ability to defend someone you should take it. That doesn’t mean that every fight is yours, but it does mean that if you have the ability to help someone, help them. If you were in a defenseless position and someone was able to help you, then you would want them to help you, right? To me this scripture basically says if you can do something to help someone in need, then you should do it.
“From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence. He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” – Proverbs 13:2-3 NIV
The mouth is a very powerful weapon. With it you can speak life or you can speak death. The things we say loosely are often our most powerful confessions. What you really believe will eventually come out of your mouth. At the very least it will show in your actions. This scripture is saying that the rewards you get, the blessings you receive, are a result of what comes out of your mouth, good or bad. Your very life is guarded by what comes out of your mouth. Keep in mind just because you don’t say it, if you’re thinking it, it will somehow come out. So first, guard your mind, and that will help guard your mouth.
“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” – Proverbs 13:4 NIV
Laziness is its own reward. That is what this scripture says to me. If you want to enjoy life, you have to work at enjoying it. If you just get frustrated over every little thing, then your life will not be very fulfilling. Sometimes you have to fight to keep the joy you have. There are times you need to make yourself be happy. I’m not saying buy things to make yourself happy, I mean keep yourself encouraged, keep looking at the assets of your life instead of the liabilities. This scripture isn’t just talking about working hard, or even working smart to gain material things, but it’s also about keeping your joy up, keeping your guard up, keeping your relationships up. Life is more than material stuff, and if you’re not diligent about the immaterial, those things will eventually fall away.
“If you find honey, eat just enough-too much of it, and you will vomit.” – Proverbs 25:16 NIV
My translation of this is: to everything in life there is a balance. Even too much of a good thing and you’ll get tired of it. Of course, God is the exception to this, but even as much as love God we cannot spend every waking moment in meditation and prayer. Are they bad things? Absolutely not! They are necessary. We must go out and do righteousness as well. We must go out and work. We must go out and spread the kingdom. Life is all about balance. If I haven’t learned anything else from my life it’s that. Without balance you’ll be off-kilter.
Also, know when to stop a thing. Just like when you’re eating, and the food is really good, if you eat too much of it you’ll get sick from it. The food itself didn’t make you sick, it’s the gluttony that did (which is a sin by the way). You’ll go home feeling miserable and you probably won’t want to see that food again for a while. That’s why I believe the scripture says to eat just enough, eat until you’re satisfied, then savour it, not devour it.
“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.” – Proverbs 8:12 NIV
Have you ever run across a person who was really knowledgeable and wanted everyone to know how knowledgeable they were? The scripture says that knowledge is accompanied with discretion. True wisdom is in knowing when to speak, and when to shut up. True wisdom doesn’t have pride attached to it, so you have no problem being quiet at times. You won’t mind not having to be right, or having to have the last say in a matter.
“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.” – Proverbs 15:30 NIV
Learn to smile everyday. Smile at somebody; you’d be surprised how much hope that can give to a person. You may be at the midst of giving up, but that smile just becomes contagious. You may start thinking of things that help you get through a day. Consider giving a smile today.
“A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” – Proverbs 22:9 NIV
I heard a guy named Mike Murdock say, and I’m paraphrasing, that a seed may leave your hand but it never leaves your life. Generosity is a seed that continues to be planted, and is a harvest that never ends. Generosity first is a mindset, a desire to give, and to give willingly. Look to be generous today. One of our desires once we said we want to be like God is to give like Him. He gives generously to all that belong to Him. He doesn’t withhold anything good from us. Neither should we withhold when we have an opportunity to give to someone less fortunate than us. Outside of grace or mercy we could be the beggar and not the giver. Giving generously is a way to thank God for all He has given us. If we didn’t have to give, people wouldn’t have to receive. It is God’s heart that we give cheerfully, and give of ourselves, not just our possessions. You may not have much, but what you can give, give generously. As you give, you’ll notice you think less of yourself and more about the recipient of the gift… the same way God thinks about us as He gives to us. His heart is always towards others, as should ours be.
“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” – Proverbs 10:9 NIV
Shortcuts lead to long returns. That’s a saying I just made up, but still apropos. Integrity is the road that leads to the correct destination. Integrity involves the whole of a man. It’s not just how you are with others, but how you are with yourself, and with God. It’s a process of maturity, and a daily journey. If you lack integrity in any one area, then you lack integrity, because integrity is a complete thing. In integrity is security, and a man who is secure isn’t concerned about where he steps or where he goes because he is walking with the one who secured his steps… the one who integrated him… God.
“For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.” – Proverbs 30:33 NIV
I included this proverb because it’s amazing to me how many people live angry! It’s usually over something stupid, or something not worth remembering five minutes later. If you notice a child, he or she can be angry for a few minutes, and then go back to playing as if nothing ever happened. Sometimes we need to have the mindset of a child. They forget things like that easily because they just want to have fun. Yes, the anger is real, and it hurts, but scripture also says not to sin in your anger. Don’t do something you’ll regret. The more you get angry, the more you’ll enter into strife. Once strife enters into your life, nothing else in your life works.
If you are finding that there are things in your life not working, check your strife level and make sure it’s at zero. If you do have strife in your life, with someone or a few people, get those matters cleared up and make amends. There isn’t a day with strife in it that ends well.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
This is my favorite scripture, probably in the whole bible. For a thinker and analyst like me, this is the scripture that grounds me (once I really let it do so). It tells me that I don’t know everything. It tells me that He is willing to direct me if I stop and let Him. It tells me I don’t have to do everything myself. It tells me that I can have relationship with Him and He with me. It tells me that I don’t have to depend on what I know to get me everywhere and everything. It tells me that I can relax knowing I did my best. For a person like me, I need to rehearse this on occasion. It helps me make it through the days when nothing makes sense. This and the other proverbs I’ve mentioned help me on this journey called life.
Source for this article:
http://www.biblegateway.com/
