For Reading and Meditation:      Proverbs 4:10-27We pause today to make clear the difference between diligence and obstinacy. I know people who have experienced spiritual shipwreck because they didn't know the difference between these two things. When asked to clarify the difference between perseverance and obstinacy, a student wrote: "One is a strong will and the other is a strong won't." Diligence is dogged perseverance; obstinacy is dogged inflexibility and self-will. A man whose life was full of promise as far as the Christian ministry was concerned now spends his days in depression because he did not know the difference between these two things. He set out on a project that he thought was God's will for him, and when things started to go wrong, instead of checking his guidance, he continued to press on and ended up in failure. Those who loved him, and were more objective, urged him to give up as what he was doing was clearly not the will of God. However, he did not have the wisdom to realize that what he was doing was not being diligent but obstinate. Now he lives in perpetual disillusionment. When Jesus came to Calvary, He said, "I have finished the work which You [the Father] have given Me to do" (John 17:4, NKJV). Note the word "You." There were many who would have liked Jesus to do this and that, go here and go there, but He did only what the Father required Him to do. Saying "yes" to God's will and pursuing it is diligence. Saying "yes" to a thing that is not God's will and pursuing that is obstinacy. We had better learn the difference.Father, I see how important it is to be clear about these two issues. Help me differentiate between diligence and obstinacy so that at the end of my time here on earth I, too, will be able to say, "I have finished the work which You have given me to do." Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Matthew 25:14-30</li><li>Matthew 7:26</li><li>James 2:14</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What was Jesus' teaching in the parable of the talents?</li><li>Why were the two who multiplied the talents successful?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (v. 23)

A. P. Gibbs used to say, "You are not what you think you are, but what you think - this is what you are." This means that the mind is the spring from which behavior flows. Control the source and you control the stream that flows from it.Therefore control of the thought-life is basic. That is why Solomon said, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23) Here the heart is used as a synonym for the mind.James reminds us that sin begins in the mind (James 1:13-15). If we think about a thing long enough, eventually we'll do it.Sow a thought and reap an act.Sow an act and reap a habit.Sow a habit and reap a character.Sow a character and reap a destiny.The Lord Jesus emphasized the importance of the thought-life by equating hatred with murder (Matthew 5:21-22) and by equating the lustful look with adultery (Matthew 5:28). He also taught that it's not what a man eats that defiles him but what he thinks (Mark 7:14-23).We are responsible for what we think because we have the power to control it. We can think about lewd, suggestive things or we can think about what is pure and Christlike. Each one of us is like a king. The empire that we rule over is our thought-life. That empire has tremendous potential for good and enormous potential for evil. We are the ones who determine which it will be.Here are some positive suggestions as to what we can do. First, take the whole matter to the Lord in prayer, saying "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalms 51:10). Second, judge every thought by how it appears in the presence of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Third, confess every evil thought instantly and expel it (Proverbs 28:13). Next, avoid having a blank, empty mind. Fill it with positive, worthy thoughts (Philippians 4:8). Fifth, exercise discipline over what you read, see, and hear. You cannot expect a pure thought life if you feed on filth and pollution. Finally, keep busy for the Lord. It's when you shift your mind into neutral that vile fantasies seek admission.

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"…as (a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)

In the first four verses of Proverbs 4:1-27, Solomon describes how good advice can and should be passed down from one generation to another. He tells how his father had taught him, then urges his son, in turn, to pay attention to good doctrine and sound instruction.It is sensible for young people to learn as much as possible from their earthly parents concerning the practical affairs of life. But it is also true that, in the spiritual sphere, every young Christian should have a spiritual mentor - someone to whom he can go with his questions, someone in whom he can confide, someone who will share from a rich store of experience and someone who will be candid in dealing with areas of need. If a parent can fill this role, all the better. But if not, someone else should be sought out.Godly, mature believers have accumulated a vast amount of practical knowledge. No doubt they have experienced defeats, but they have learned valuable lessons from them and have learned how to avoid them the next time. Older Christians can often see aspects of a problem that young people might miss. And they have learned to be balanced and to avoid unreasonable extremes.A wise young Timothy will cultivate a Paul, trying to draw on his wisdom and know-how. He will save himself from humiliations and blunders by checking first with someone who has been through it before him. Instead of treating old age with contempt, he will honor those who have fought in the conflict and have maintained a good record.Generally speaking, older saints will not push themselves on the young. They know that no advice is as unwelcome as advice that is unsolicited. But, when asked, they are always glad to share insights that have been of help to them along the way.So whether a young person is having a struggle with lust, or wants to know how to find God's guidance, or seeks to raise a family for the Lord, or wonders if God is calling him to the mission field, or needs help in managing his finances, or longs for a more effective prayer life - he would be wise to seek the help of a spiritual guide who can bring the light of Scripture to shine on the particular problem. Underneath those gray hairs there is often a fund of wisdom to be tapped. Why learn the hard way when you can profit from the insights and past experience of others?

"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding." (Proverbs 4:1)

Keep that which is good, in it; that which is evil, out: thoughts, feelings, purposes, imaginations, desires. Especially, keep God's word in it. Quench not the Spirit. Cherish a memory for what is good. Be as a gardener; be as a banker. For the mind is God's wonderful gift. As our thoughts, so our words and acts. As our thoughts, so our future life. Be as the pilot. Thermopylae. Our peace easily destroyed by unwatchfulness. God looks at the heart. Has given us suitable objects to think about, - to love.

A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.

Bowen's Daily Meditations

" Keep thy heart with all diligence." - Proverbs 4:23. 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. § Death and life are in the power of the tongue. § The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. § Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. § I believed, therefore I spoke. Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. § With the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! Your heart is not right in the sight of God. § Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. They first gave themselves to the Lord. § In every work that [Hezekiah] began … to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord. § As bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. § I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.

Evening Daily Light

 My son, give me your heart. 

23 <poetry>Above all else, guard your heart, <indent>for everything you do flows from it. </indent> </poetry>

Above all else, guard<cr>1</cr> your heart, <indent>for everything you do flows from it.<cr>2</cr> </indent>

Proverbs 4:23

 23 Above all else, guard   your heart, for everything you do flows from it.   

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 

<poetry>Above all else, guard your heart, <indent>for everything you do flows from it. </indent> </poetry>

 Above all else, guard   your heart, for everything you do flows from it.   

Bible Verse of the Day

January 11, 2000

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

More on the web

Group of Brands