Daily Devotional for April 20
God's Wisdom for Daily Living
Devotional Scripture
Proverbs 14:28-30(KJV):28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Thought for the Day
Verse 28 - Proverbs records many situations from the standpoint of the Word of God. A sign of God's favor upon Israel was the birth of many children and an increasingly large population. In America, we have reduced our population by millions because of abortion. This has hurt us in many ways, one being a loss in our work force and disproportionate age groups. (The older population will soon outnumber the youth, and because our Social Security system is supported by new workers enrolling in it, this means there will not be enough contributions to support it).
However, the greatest damage to our country is the curse of death that is upon it because of abortion. Because millions of innocent babies have been murdered, we will reap what we have sown. We are told in Genesis 9:6-7 and Deuteronomy 27:25 that the penalty for shedding innocent blood is that we will experience the shedding of blood in our nation.
Any country with a small population has difficulty in defending itself and is deprived of the talents that many people contribute and inspire in others. Evil kings can rule so badly that their own people will flee the country and strangers will not want to settle in it. A king without the support of his people cannot maintain his position. If a ruler does not have his people behind him, it will eventually be to his destruction.
Verse 29 - Whoever is slow to become angry is a man of understanding. The quick-tempered man exposes his own folly. He says and does many foolish things, and some may not be correctable (Proverbs 14:17 AMP). Hateful, angry words can devastate others and cannot be taken back. Only God can deliver someone from a bad temper and heal the wounds that he has inflicted on others. God will do this for us if we ask Him.
Verse 30 - Doctors have discovered that many physical ailments are due to problems in the soul. Patients who replace negative attitudes with positive ones recover dramatically. The physical body can express envy, anger, and unforgiveness in the form of various diseases. Yielding to anger drains us of energy we could have used productively, whereas walking in love, faith, and forgiveness produces peace of mind and health. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It develops in us as we allow the Holy Spirit to change us. We must ask the Lord to help us to restrain our anger. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20).
Prayer Devotional for the Day
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Your grace that abounds in my life. I am most appreciative for Your daily provisions. Lord, help me to overcome the character flaws in my life. May I be angry at the things You are angry about, but Lord, I do not want to be angry in my own wrath. Remove that kind of anger from my life and give me a gentle and patient spirit with all men. Lord, I desire to be controlled by Your Holy Spirit. Bless my brothers and sisters in the Lord, and help each of them to walk in the spirit so that we all may glorify You in the earth. I ask in the lovely name of Jesus. Amen.Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God ... And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Deuteronomy 13:17; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Peter 2:11; Jude 1:23; 1 John 3:2-3; Titus 2:11-14
It is I; be not afraid. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee: and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, ... thy Saviour.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Emmanuel, God with us.
Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Acts 26:15; Matthew 14:27; Isaiah 43:2-3; Psalm 23:4; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 1:21; 1 John 2:1; Romans 8:34-35
