Proverbs 3:1

3:1

“My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart, for they will give you a long and satisfying life. Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people and you will gain a good reputation.”

I absolutely love how the Lord teaches me. I know just like with my kids He has certain discipline actions that work best for Melissa than any of His other children and there are ways He talks to me through His word that He full well knows will get my attention.

This month everything I read from Judges to Colossians and now Proverbs the theme that catches my heart is Character traits. I desire to be Christ like and that requires His Character traits in my life so that when people see me they see Him!

The other day it was Proverbs 3:1 I had actually intended on reading chapter one for my devotional time and well, let’s just say, verse one held my attention and as I was praying I realized I needed to really Ponder a while on the truth that is in Prov. 3:1.

1. “Store my commandments in your heart”: It is always a great reminder to me that keeping the word close to my heart is truly the only way I can walk in the Spirit. I have also realized over the years that what ever goes in my heart will eventually come out so if I dwell on “speculations, presumptions of what others do or say” then I tend to be in conflict with people a lot. If I dwell on things that are right and true then I take things said and things done with a grain of salt matching it to their known character. I have no need of passing judgment, and usually there is no need of being confrontational. The wonderful thing about this PROMISE is: if I store God’s commandments in my heart, He says,” I will have a long and satisfying life”.

Who doesn’t want that? You know I want to live life and not be constantly worried about what others think. I also want to live life and not be hurting people at every turn too. I don’t want to live my life and when I’m old think back over my life’s experiences, my friendships, my family, my work, and think if only I had been this kind of person. I have what I need to live a long and satisfying life, it's just up to me to be the person God intended me to be! ☺

2. “Don’t let loyalty and kindness get away from you, wear them like a necklace, write them down within your heart, then you will find Favor with God and man.” Ever wonder why you may be having problems with people? Maybe it is because you’ve not been showing Kindness and Loyalty.
I know over this past year there have been people in my life who have done things and if I didn’t know them I might think what they did was unkind, mean spirited, or just down right vindictive. One aspect of Loyalty is knowing someone well enough to know what is TRUE. What kind of person they are and being loyal to what you know them to be. It means when you see some quality that isn’t true to who they are that you make a choice, you call them on it and tell them or you just let it pass realizing they too have bad day. One thing that I’ve learned about people who have these characteristics is that when they realize they have been unkind or not loyal they ask for forgiveness. This is when you know the character truly is present in their life and they aren’t just living a lie.

Loyalty: trueheartedness, dependability, duty, dedication, faithfulness, obedience, devotion, steadfastness.

Now don’t get me wrong, Loyalty is meant to be a good thing that stands by goodness. There are times I think it is necessary to walk away and let people be but Loyalty isn’t giving up at the first sight of trouble or conflict.
And neither is kindness. It is being kind even when others aren’t.

I think you really see the true nature of people when there is conflict. It is so easy to be nice when there isn’t conflict but when there is conflict that is where you see the true character of people. Who they really are deep down!


I hope you have a great weekend and that when you are challenged to really take time to reflect on whatever the Lord is teaching you!

for me it is about His character interwoven with how I need to be a faithful servant and living life with a heart of gratitude!

what is it for you?