Proverbs for daily life

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 24
(Please read the entire chapter of lovely proverbs. I will comment on only a few with the help of my NLT Bible notes.)

Verses 5 & 6: A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge is more powerful than a strong man. So don't go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many counselors. (We exercise and eat to build our strength, but we should take pains to develop our wisdom and knowledge. It is never a sign of weakness to ask for advice. It is foolish not to ask for it. Good advice helps you evaluate your choices and make good decisions.)

Verse 10: If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great. (Trouble can be useful if it shows you who you really are. Troubles can help you grow stronger. Don't complain about your problems. They are training you to be strong for the more difficult situations you face in the future.)

Verses 17 & 18: Do not rejoice when your enemies fall into trouble. Don't be happy when they stumble; for the Lord will be displeased with you and turn his anger away from them. (King David refused to gloat over Saul's death. Edom rejoiced over Israel's defeat and was punished by God for their attitude. To gloat over another's misfortune is to make yourself the avenger and to put yourself in the place of God, who alone is the real judge of the earth.)

Verse 26: It is an honor to receive an honest reply. (People should not bend the truth to avoid hurting a friend, but give an honest answer.)

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? There are many lessons in this chapter. Lessons on how to treat evil people. Lessons on wisdom and how to use it and how to let it create who you are. I especially like verse 26 which says to give an honest reply. I have a friend whom I have known for many years. She always answers me in a direct, unvarnished fashion. I don't always like the answers she gives me, but I know she is speaking the truth and sometimes the truth is hard for me to hear. She is a true friend because she has chosen to risk hurting my feelings in order to give me the real scoop. Thank you, Yvonne.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.