Daily Devotional – Thursday, January 14, 2021
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Proverbs 27:12 (NLT)
There is an African saying that, after war, cowards eventually go back home while heroes pay the ultimate price. Are there times when being a weakling is preferable to being bold? That is the gist of our key verse.
If you were about to leave your house and then realized a storm was coming, would you proceed or abort your mission? If you were walking in the open and suddenly a heavy storm begun to pour, would you look for a shelter or continue walking in the pounding rain?
These are rhetorical questions, you say. However, how often do we contradict this principle in our lives? In Proverbs 27:12, Solomon observes that wise people see danger and hide while fools face the hazard head-on and get punished.
How many times do parents fail to read signs that their children may be abusing drugs? Are there spouses who ignore indicators that their partners could be unhappy in the union? Do you know young lovebirds who refuse counsel from older people when told their intended spouse could be a wrong match?
How often does the Holy Spirit speak to you to avoid certain associations and engagements but you ignore divine counsel? If you look back, you will realize that for most of the decisions you regret, there were warning signs which you ignored. Our God never leaves us without guidance, but often we trust in our wisdom, to our peril.
Christians are blessed to have the Bible and the Holy Spirit, ever present to give clear guidance in all aspects of life. We are not left in darkness. In James 1:5, God promises wisdom, free-of-charge, for those who feel they need it. Claim this promise today.
The world keeps urging us to dive into sin, even when the consequences are clear. You may be called a coward because you refuse to follow worldly advice, but that is your only path to safety and life. Fools delve into sin for a moment, appear wise momentarily, but eventually, pay a heavy, painful price for ungodly decisions.
Prayer
Father, give me the wisdom to discern the devil’s traps, the courage to say NO to sin, and the patience to wait until I hear you guiding voice.
The wisdom in this devotional is worth pondering. What is your experience with the issues raised here?