Choosing Wisdom When Emotions Take Over - Your Nightly Scripture - October 15th
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Choosing Wisdom When Emotions Take Over
Evening Scripture
Proverbs, Chapter 14
The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
But knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.
The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
Evening Reflection
We all have those days when we get things wrong; it’s part of life, and it leaves us hungry for eternity. We lose our cool, share something we wanted to keep private, don’t get the job, miss the deadline, or forget to pay the parking ticket. These things happen; they don’t make us bad people; they just reveal our humanity.
What matters most is what we do with our emotions in those moments. Will we be foolish and let ourselves unravel? Or will we walk with wisdom, sorting through what we’re dealing with in a Godly manner? Proverbs 14 paints a clear picture. It shows a stark difference between those who let the Lord lead them through the challenges of everyday choices and those who let folly control their hands and hearts.
As children of God, we can turn to Him immediately in prayer when a challenge arises. When we realize we made a fumble, we can look to Him to learn how to course-correct. He will always be faithful to provide the next right thing; the best-suited solution to the problem lies in His hands.
Tonight, as you surrender the things of your day to the Lord, ask Him: “Did I handle the day with your wisdom, or did I allow folly to have its way?” Be attuned to the Holy Spirit, repent if needed, and praise God for His work in your life. He cares for you and all the needs of your life – big and small.
Evening Prayer
Father,
Thank you for being the giver of wisdom. As I journey through my life, I know I will make mistakes; please remind me that you are always willing to receive me. You have never asked me to be perfect, but you have called me to be wise. I pray to be a faithful follower of yours, choosing to live by your word and your ways.
Help me be bold and calm for the Kingdom of God, not letting my emotions overtake me and ruin my witness to those around me. Thank you, Lord, for your gift of grace and endless mercy.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
How did tonight’s scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Your Nightly Scripture forum discussion.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Dilok Klaisataporn
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
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