Liz Curtis Higgs's Blog, page 11

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #18 Sweet as Honey

Sweet. Delicious. Mouthwatering. And no calories. Not a one.

That’s our tasty verse from Proverbs, a divine recipe for good health.

Reach for a spoon, beloved.

Gracious words are a honeycomb,

    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are… Proverbs 16:24

What if the only words we spoke to one another were “pleasant” (LEB) and “kind” (CEV) and “fair” (GNV)?

How would it change things if we filled the air with “gracious speech” (MSG)? With carefully chosen and “well ordered” (DRA) words? With nothing spoken out of anger or pain or frustration or guilt?

And what if we used our words to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11), rather than discourage and tear each other down?

You know the answer. The world would be forever changed. The enemy of our souls would be completely undone.

Graciousness. Delightfulness. Favor. Beauty. That’s what this Hebrew word, noam, means. “Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us” (Psalm 90:17). Especially upon our mouths, Lord. Please.

There is a brief moment, a mere nanosecond, between when we think a word, then speak that word. A slender space between cursing and blessing, between evil and good.

What if we took the slightest breath, the faintest pause, and gave that window of time to God? Just think what might happen!

Sweet.

…a honeycomb,… Proverbs 16:24

Few verses are as flavorful as this one. So sweet, you can almost taste the “flowing honey” (CEB), catch the fragrant aroma of “clover” (MSG), feel the smooth “liquid” (EXB) on your tongue.

Imagine…

Stirring a spoonful of golden honey into a cup of hot tea
Skimming a knife laden with honey across warm, buttered toast
Drizzling a dollop of honey over steaming porridge

Are you hungry yet? I believe that is God’s desire in this verse from Proverbs. To whet our appetite for His Word, so our own words will be sweeter. To make us eager to taste, chew, swallow, and digest the banquet He has prepared for us.

David described God’s commands as “sweeter than honey” (Psalm 19:10). And when God told Ezekiel to consume a scroll covered with His words, the prophet confessed, “I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth” (Ezekiel 3:3).

Here’s what happens when we feast on God’s Word: our words will echo His.

M mm mmm good.

…sweet to the soul… Proverbs 16:24

When someone speaks a kind word to you, what happens, inside and out? How does it make you feel? think? How does it change you?

That encouragement to your soul becomes “sweet to the mind” (AMP). Negative thoughts are banished, as Christ-like thoughts surface and “cheer you up” (CEV).

Heaviness gives way to lightness. Fretfulness dissolves into peace.

This is why God wants us to dine on His Word. Not just because it’s good for us, but because it is good. And it is for us. It makes us spiritually healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Wellness doesn’t get any better than this.

…and healing to the bones.  Proverbs 16:24

I realize, when it comes to Bible study, you are all in, because…well, you’re here, right?

My goal each week is to prepare a quick meal for us from His Word, knowing it provides “medicine to the bones” (JUB) and a source of “energy for the body” (MSG). When you are feeling weak, God’s Word makes you “strong” (CEV). If your joy is depleting, God’s wisdom will be “invigorating” (NABRE).

Above all, His Word will “bring healing to the body” (NIRV). For a powerful example, check out Christine Caine’s story—this week’s must-read.

May you, too, experience the Hebrew word marpe—“a healing, a cure”—and speak healing words to everyone who crosses your path this day.

Now it’s your turn

How could you make your words more gracious, more kind?

Thanks for taking a moment to share under Post a Comment below. Your honesty is a blessing to us all.

Meanwhile, your free Printable of Proverbs 16:24 is ready to download. One way to sweeten your speech might be posting this printable where you can see it. :>)

Do check out our Word Art on Pinterest, with 35 colorful, inspirational images to share and pin. And if you’re curious where I’m speaking this fall, here’s my calendar.

Lord willing, I’ll be posting again later this week, so we’ll be back on track for our Wednesday-only visits. Woo hoo!

Your grateful sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs

  

Bible Studies for Fall and Winter 2014

The Girl’s Still Got It

6 weeks / 12 weeks

Leader’s Guide

The Women of Christmas

4 weeks / 8 weeks

Leader’s Guide

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #19 Best-Laid Plans

When we unpacked Proverbs 27:1, we learned that bragging about our plans isn’t the way to go. But what about planning? Surely that isn’t a bad thing.

After all, Jesus said, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28). Sounds like planning to me. And when David wrote, “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4), we’d need those plans in hand, yes?

Hmmm.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans… Proverbs 19:21

Story of my life, beloved. Endless good intentions. Lists upon lengthy lists. Not just to-do but must-do. I have a Word document with my daily schedule that runs through 2016. It is 35 pages long. I wish I was kidding.

Uh-oh. I just ran roughshod over our favorite proverb, “Do not boast about tomorrow” (Proverbs 27:1). Still, a crazy-busy schedule is nothing to brag about.

It says, “I can’t say no.”
It says, “My priorities are out of whack.”
It says, “I’m afraid to let go.”
It says, “I don’t trust anyone else to get the job done.”

Confession may be good for the soul, but it looks pretty ugly on the screen.

Whether our notebooks have pale blue lines on paper or tiny pixels on a screen, we keep “brainstorming options” (MSG), coming up with “many devices” (ASV) and creating “all kinds of plans” (EXB).

That’s the problem. They’re our plans. We forget to check with God before we check our calendars. We neglect to seek His counsel before we start looking for something to write on.

“We may make a lot of plans” (CEV), but it’s worth asking—where are all those ideas generated?

…in a person’s heart,… Proverbs 19:21

Ah. Human plans, then. Not divine. Some plans that “occupy the mind” (ISV) may reveal questionable motives or selfish desires or outcomes that aren’t remotely good for us.

We all know “the impulses of the human heart may run wild” (VOICE). When I was twenty I wrote out a bucket list of sorts. Sky diving was in my Top 10. A decade ago, I quietly dropped that one. (Jump out of a perfectly good airplane on purpose? Not this girl.)

The truth is, we can plan all we like,…

…but… Proverbs 19:21

My favorite word in the Bible.

But forces us to reconsider and reminds us Who is in charge.

But halts our wayward thinking and tugs us back on track.

The Lord “knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile” (Psalm 94:11). We may act like we’re all that, like we know what’s best for us. But God knows better.

Far better.

…it is the Lord’s purpose… Proverbs 19:21

Purpose tells us this is not a whim, not a passing notion. God isn’t capricious, pushing us around for His amusement. Everything He does is according to His will—His “good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

That’s why we can depend on “the counsel of Jehovah” (ASV). We can say with David, “I trust in you, Lord,” and “You are my God” (Psalm 31:14).

We can watch “Adonai’s plan” (CJB) unfold and know it’s His very best plan for us. Does it always look like a good plan when we’re in the middle of it? Well…no. Will it prove to be the best plan when we stand at the finish line? Absolutely.

We can’t picture with any certainty what our lives will be like even five minutes from now. The phone rings, a letter arrives, a text message appears, and nothing is the same. Yet the Lord is always the same—“yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

His plan is The Plan.

…that prevails.   Proverbs 19:21

The only time we hear the word prevail anymore is when a weather forecaster talks about prevailing winds. The cool thing is, prevail means “victorious.” Literally, the One left standing.

On hard days, when I lose my bearings and get bogged down in the details of life, this is what keeps me going: knowing God wins. His plan is the ultimate plan, the one that will “succeed” (CEB) and “stand firm” (DRA) and “endure” (GW). We can be sure His purpose “wins out in the end” (NIRV).

I love happy endings. Sometimes in movies or books, that final scene can be downright sappy. But in real life? Our forever life? Bring on the hats tossed in the air, the bells ringing, the showers of confetti, the angels singing.

When God wins, “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). When God wins, there will only be joy.

Now it’s your turn

What does this promise mean to you personally: “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:11)?

Thanks for taking a moment to share under Post a Comment below. Your honesty warms my heart, every time.

Meanwhile, the free Printable of Proverbs 19:21 is ready to download. If you’re memorizing our 50 Proverbs, these printables can really help.

And have you checked out the Artful Words from Proverbs that I’ve pinned on Pinterest? At the moment you’ll find 33 colorful, inspirational images to share and pin.

I love autumn, so am thrilled September is finally here. Blessings on your day!

Your grateful sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs

  

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #20 Be Refreshed

Okay, who picked this verse? Because, if we do what the proverb tells us, we will gain weight. Not kidding. That’s what the Scripture says.

(Well. Not precisely what it says. But close enough to give this Big Girl pause!)

The women who chose this as their fave—Carol, Kathy, and Beth—will explain themselves shortly. Meanwhile, we’ll steer clear of our bathroom scales and dive in for some refreshing news.

A generous person will prosper;

    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

A generous person… Proverbs 11:25

This may strike fear in the hearts of our more conservative sisters, but the Hebrew word for “generous,” berakah, is also translated “liberal” (AMP). Oh!

Don’t panic. It’s not a political statement. Here, liberal refers to any generous soul who likes to “give freely” (ERV). Someone who “blesses others” (CJB), and looks for opportunities to do so with joy and abandon.

Carol picked this verse because, “My mom always taught me to have a servant’s heart, to be giving.” Jesus teaches us the same: “Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward” (Mark 9:41).

Hmm. So, when we bless others, we benefit too?

…will prosper; Proverbs 11:25

Those who are generous will be “rewarded” (CEV) and “enriched” (ESV), and will “profit” (ERV) from their giving. In fact, they will be “made rich” (NKJV).

As rich as buttermilk, apparently, because the Hebrew word, dashen, literally means, “to grow fat.” Horrors!

I’m not making this up. At least nine Bible translations very plainly state that when we bless others, we’ll be “made fat.”

True, fat isn’t always a bad word in Scripture. Like when “the lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows” (Genesis 41:20), which were “well-fed” (GW), decidedly more “healthy” (ERV), and beautifully “sleek” (NIV). In that context, being fat was a good thing.

It’s really about being abundantly blessed, about getting filled up. Jesus assures His followers, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38).

So, should we give to get something? Not for a second.

We give because His love compels us to.

We give because we can. We give because He gave first.

Whenever God sees a generous soul who is full of mercy and empty of self, He makes certain the one “who gives much will have much” (NLV).

Kathy, who also chose this verse, wrote, “I find that when I pray for others, and reach out to help others, I am blessed. It truly is better to give than receive, for in giving we receive even more than we could have asked for.”

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #21 Sword and Shield

Success can be a dangerous word for a follower of Jesus. If we’re chasing fame, wealth, or power, we’re running in the wrong direction.

But if by success we mean pleasing God, we’re on the right path. God alone makes a truly satisfying life possible. Here’s how.

He holds success in store for the upright,

    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless

for he guards the course of the just

    and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:7-8

He holds success in store…

Not the word store, as in shopping—walk in with a list, walk out with bags of stuff.

Here, store means keeping things safe. A place where God “hides away” (AMP) what matters most, where He “reserves” (CEB) the things we truly need, where He “layeth up” (ASV) treasures for us, and will “keep” (DRA) them for our use.

What’s He holding in store for us? To be honest, “success”doesn’t fully capture the depth of the Hebrew word, tushiyyah. What God offers us is “sound and godly Wisdom” (AMP) and the gift of “common sense” (CJB). He also provides “help and protection” (GNT) by way of His “effective counsel” (NET).

If we experience any real success, it’s only because of God’s “priceless” (GW) and “perfect wisdom” (NLV), safely stored for us in His Word.

Beloved, I have no doubt that I wear you out with my word-by-word approach to Bible study. Some weeks I can almost hear you saying, “All right, I get it! Next verse, please!”

Here’s the thing: 2 Timothy 2:15 tell us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

That’s why I’m trying to handle each word with care, hoping we all discover the Big Picture that God is painting for us—a breathtaking masterpiece!

…for the upright,…

Who qualifies as upright? People who are walking in the right direction. It’s “everyone who obeys him” (CEV). Not folk who are simply “honest” (ERV) or “decent” (GW). We’re talking about those who are “in right standing with Him” (AMP).

My father was a good person, a man of high principles and deep integrity. But he was not a man who worshiped God or read the Bible or prayed for his family. Much as it breaks my heart, after 89 years on this earth, he didn’t choose to be counted among “the godly” (TLB).

You can be sure, if my father gave his heart to Christ in the twilight hours after his stroke, I will be the first to leap with joy when I see him in heaven! Until that day, my passion is to share the truth of God’s love with anyone willing to listen. (So grateful you’re one of them!)

…he is a shield… Proverbs 2:7

What a visual! God is our defender, our “bodyguard” (MSG), our “safe-covering” (NLV). We’re surrounded by His love, guarded by His strength, and wrapped in His grace. As David wrote, “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:5). Such a comfort, to picture God shielding us front and back, to sense His mighty hand resting on our shoulder.

In Hebrew, magen means a literal “shield.” What we call the six-pointed Star of David is better known as the Magen David, or Shield of David. (The Yiddish phrase, Mogen David, is also the name of a cheap wine I guzzled back in my college days, but let’s not go there…)

One translation tells us God’s wisdom is “a buckler” (JUB), a small, round shield, which a warrior grips in his hand or wears on his arm. Like the old hymn says…

A trusty weapon is Thy Word,
Thy Church’s buckler, shield and sword.
Oh, let us in its power confide
That we may seek no other guide!

I’m singing a three-fold “Amen” to that, sister.

…to those whose walk is blameless… Proverbs 2:7

We’re reminded again that divine protection is for “those who walk blamelessly” (NRSV). Wait. Blameless? Us?

You bet. The Bible clearly tells us how perfection is possible: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Once again, it’s all God.

We can “walk uprightly” (GNV) only because He bent down to carry a cross.

…for he guards the course of the just… Proverbs 2:8

Verses 7 and 8 flow together, so we gotta press on, knowing “God sees” (CEV) us right where we are. He “keeps his eye” (MSG) on us every hour of the day and night, and continually “protects” (GNT) us from the enemy’s attacks.

Can our temporal bodies become injured or weakened with illness? Yes. They will also be healed—in this world or the next—by the Lord Himself, who sees us safely home.

God sees. God guards. God wins.

Here’s my favorite take on the course of the just—“the paths of rightwiseness” (WYC). What may look like a crazy, curvy road to us looks like a rightwise path to God—straight, true, and according to plan.

…and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:8

In case we missed it, God reminds us that “he watches over” (CEV) His own, and “pays special attention to” (MSG) “those who belong to Him” (NLV).

Who are those blessed people again?

His “saints” (ASV). His “loyal followers” (ERV). His “committed ones” (MSG).

By His grace, we can be counted among them.

Remarkable, isn’t it? Just. Wow.

Now it’s your turn

How might you take these many words and sum them up in one word (or two or three)? A single, simple truth that says it all.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with! Thanks for taking a moment to Post a Comment below.

Your free Printable of Proverbs 2:7-8 is ready to download, and all our weekly Proverbs to date are on Pinterest.

Next week, a much shorter verse, I promise. And a refreshing one!

Your sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs

  

 

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #22 Open Hands

Hmm. This is the third time we’ve considered God’s calling to be generous (you wisely chose Proverbs 16:19 and Proverbs 31:8 as favorites too).

Seems like God is trying to get our attention. Self improvement has some value, but improving the lives of others? Priceless.

She opens her arms to the poor

    and extends her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20

She opens… Proverbs 31:20

This beautiful woman is Hannah, one of the many guides at Nazareth Village in Israel. Her hands are always busy. Spinning, weaving, sewing, cooking, gardening, serving. A Proverbs 31 sister? You bet.

Her hands are not only active; they are also open. In Hebrew, paras means “to spread.” So, she “stretcheth out her hand” (ASV). Beyond her own needs. Beyond her family’s needs. Beyond herself.

“She is generous” (GNT) with her time, her skills, her resources. I so want to be this woman, but the truth is, I’m not there yet. Maybe I’m not the only one.

What if we started each day praying, “What can I do for You, Lord?” or “What can I do for others?”, instead of wondering, “What’s on my to-do list?”

…her arms… Proverbs 31:20

Since I’m a serious hugger, I picture a woman who reaches out “to embrace” (CJB) others, to wrap her arms around them and hold them close.

But in truth, the Hebrew word here, kaph, means the “hollow or flat of the hand.” So, she “stretches her palm” (EXB) is a more literal translation. If our palms are open, we’re saying to the people around us, “Here you go. Please take what you need.”

This kind of woman “always gives” (ERV) to those whose wallets are empty, and continually “welcomes” (NCV) those who feel unwelcome.

A Proverbs 31 woman follows in the footsteps of Jesus. She doesn’t just say, “I love you” with her words. She also says it with her actions.

…to the poor… Proverbs 31:20

She opens her hands to the ani—the “poor, afflicted, humble.” Not to her friends, her peers, her coworkers, her neighbors that have what she has, but to the people who are “oppressed” (GW) and “in need” (MSG).

A true (and not at all pretty) confession: I have a close friend I’ve always enjoyed shopping for. I’d buy little things all through the year, then send them off at Christmastime, hoping she’d have fun opening each gift, chosen especially for her.

Year after year, she kindly returned the favor, sending me an equally thoughtful present. Until the Christmas when all I received was a card with a note, saying, “We gave a donation to this wonderful charity in your name.”

My first response? Humph. No gift?  (Told you this wasn’t pretty.)

I kept looking at the donor card, trying to get excited about the idea. Finally, the Lord opened my eyes.

Did I need yet another present? I did not.

Did this impoverished family need a sheep? They did.

My friend gave me the greatest gift of all: the joy of opening my hands to meet the needs of others.

…and… Proverbs 31:20

The rest of the verse is a parallel of the first half, a common practice in Hebrew poetry. So, instead of adding a second step, this is more about saying “yes” (AMP) or “indeed” (OJB) or “yea” (YLT) to the truth God has already revealed.

Once more with feeling, she…

…extends… Proverbs 31:20

She doesn’t merely open her hands; the Hebrew word shalach tell us she “sends” (EXB) them forth. We get the sense she’s traveling beyond her borders, whether that means walking out her front door or pulling out her passport.

The truth? No one visits a homeless shelter and leaves unaffected. No one takes a mission trip and returns home unchanged.

…her hands… Proverbs 31:20

Not just her palms this time, but her yad—in Hebrew, her whole “hand.” More to the point, her “helping hand” (NLT), her “filled hands” (AMP).

How can she give away what she has, emptying her hands? Because she trusts God. He will provide for her needs. He will fill her hands.

Look at the promise Jesus makes: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

Giving comes first. It’s an act of faith. Receiving comes later. It’s an act of trust.

…to the needy. Proverbs 31:20

She not only helps those who are “poor” (CEV) and “destitute” (JUB), who require food, clothing, shelter, care. She serves all “those in need” (VOICE), “whether in body, mind, or spirit” (AMP).

We don’t have to be wealthy to have open hands. We just need open hearts.

Lord, help us discern the needs of others, then meet them—with hugs, with prayers, with food, with clothing, with Your truth, with Your love. You’ve given us more than enough, Jesus. Help us share it with complete joy.

Now it’s your turn

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to help those in need?

Bless you for taking a moment to share. We learn from one another when we’re open and honest.

Your free Printable of Proverbs 31:20 is ready to download, and all our colorful weekly Proverbs to date await you on Pinterest!

By the way, when we finished our time visiting Nazareth Village in Israel, Hannah opened her arms and asked me for a hug. So. Kind. May I extend one to you as well, beloved?

Your sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs

P.S. Want to see a Proverbs 31 woman in action? New York Times best-selling author Lysa TerKeurst is using every penny she earns from her brand new book, The Best Yes, to help others in need around the world. Just. Wow.

My take on The Best Yet

Wise, warm, honest, funny, and do-it-now practical, this guide to making smart decisions is just the thing for those of us who have too much on our calendars and need help to stop the madness. Lysa has clearly lived and learned what works and what doesn’t. Her stories, examples, and advice all ring true, and wisdom pours from every page.

 

 

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #23 Tomorrow, Tomorrow

I didn’t see this one coming. Fifteen harmless words. A simple note of caution, reminding people not to boast about tomorrow. Seriously, who does such a thing?

You do, Liz.

Ouch. When the Lord pokes me like that, using the double-edged sword of His Word, I know I’m in trouble.

Even so, good news is on the horizon.

Because with God? There is always good news.

Do not boast about tomorrow,

    for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1

Do not boast about tomorrow… Proverbs 27:1

So, if we’re boasting about, say, Thursday. What does that look like, exactly?\

We forward our overloaded schedule to friends, asking for prayer, secretly hoping they’ll be impressed with all we’re doing.

We spend endless hours organizing our calendar in color-coded glory, instead of taking care of what needs doing right now.

We blithely tell people about our plans for next week, next month, next year, confident all will come to pass precisely as planned.

Sound familiar? Sadly, these examples were taken from my own life. Given enough time, I could come up with a dozen more. Groan.

Now, here comes this verse from Proverbs, urging us to “never brag” (ERV) or “brashly announce” (MSG) our plans for tomorrow. In fact, it’s best if we “do not talk much” (NLV), let alone “glory over” (WYC), what we will “do in the future” (ERV).

So, are we to live only for today? Forget about the future?

We’ve all seen tee shirts and coffee mugs proclaiming, carpe diem, meaning “seize the day.” Interesting that it’s only the first part of the famous Latin quote. The rest is quam minimum credula postero, which translates, “put very little trust in tomorrow.” That last bit? That’s the heart of this verse from Scripture.

Fleetwood Mac sings, “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.”

God says just the opposite. Stop thinking about tomorrow. Stop bragging about it, putting your trust in it, and counting on your future to unfold the way you expect it to.

Here’s why.

A thousand years after Solomon wrote Proverbs 27:1, Jesus offered the same wisdom: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34).

And James reminded us, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:13-14).

Wow. There’s a sobering thought. We might not even be here tomorrow. I looked up the recent stats, and every day on our planet more than 144,000 people die. That’s more than 6,000 people an hour. More than 100 people a minute.

Not trying to be gloomy. Just pointing out the obvious.

Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone.

So, where is the good news in all this?

God is asking us to trust our tomorrows to Him. To embrace the promises in His Word: “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18). To rest in knowing He’s in charge, and holds your future safely in His loving hands.

Joshua trusted the Lord implicitly, and so told his people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5). Not you will do amazing things, but the Lord will do them.

So, whenever we think about tomorrow, we’re not to focus on our ability to make things happen, but on God and what He is able to accomplish, which is “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

Good news, yes? This week’s verse reminds us, “Each day brings its own surprises.” (CEV) They could be good surprises. Something life-changing might happen tomorrow. Something fabulous that’s not on your list, not on your radar, yet God has already put it in motion.

James gives us the right way to handle tomorrow: “You ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:15).

So, having a list of things to do is fine, if we seek God’s leading when we make those plans, and hand them over to him at the start of each day.

God has tomorrow covered, according to His perfect will. Our job? Embrace today. Carpe diem, if you will. As David said, “The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad” (Psalm 118:24).

We’re rejoicing, Lord!

And trusting You. Today, tomorrow, and forever.

Now it’s your turn

Have you ever boasted about tomorrow?
In light of this verse, what might you do differently now?

Thanks for taking a moment to share. I cherish every comment, and respond as often as I can. Your sisters appreciate your honesty too!

Your free Printable of Proverbs 27:1 is ready to download, and all our weekly Proverbs to date are on Pinterest.

Sending a grateful hug from Louisville (and trying not to think about tomorrow being the last day of July?!).

Your sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs

  

  

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #24 Trust Worthy

I didn’t marry until I was 32, so I had plenty of time to consider what kind of guy would make a great husband. Tall, dark, and handsome weren’t even on the list. My top 5? Trustworthy, joyful, confident, flexible, generous. And, above all, a man after God’s own heart.

When I met my dear Bill, who has all those fine qualities and more, I found out what he was looking for in a wife. Uh-oh. At the top of his list? A woman he could trust completely.

Her husband has full confidence in her

    and lacks nothing of value. Proverbs 31:11

Her husband…

Before my unmarried sisters are tempted to pass on this proverb, here’s something to think about. If you focus on becoming the kind of person you’d like to marry—thoughtful, loving, sincere, faithful—you’re more likely to attract a man who admires the same qualities.

And if that guy never comes along? Then you will be an amazing, godly woman who pleases the One who loves you best. “For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name” (Isaiah 54:5).

Whatever your future may hold, beloved, you’ll live happily ever after if you’re wrapped in His loving embrace.

…has full confidence in her…

Full confidence. As in 100%. The kind of woman that a man “relies on and believes in” (AMP). All the time. In every situation.

When her husband “entrusts his heart to her” (CEB), he does so willingly, knowing she has offered her heart in return, and he is “safe with her” (VOICE).

Still, it may take a few turns of the calendar before a husband trusts his wife “without reserve” (MSG). After all, you can fall in love, but you can’t fall in trust. Trust is based on time, experience, and year-in, year-out faithfulness. Even those of us who’ve been married for decades might be surprised to learn what really makes our men feel confident.

When I taught a Bible study on Proverbs 31, I gave everyone a simple homework assignment: “Ask your husband, ‘What speaks love to you?’”

One husband said he treasured the look in his wife’s eyes when he entered the room. Another said the way his wife addressed him in conversation revealed her true feelings for him. And a third husband confessed that the sacrifices his wife willingly made on their behalf were the deepest expression of her love for him.

It isn’t our words so much as our actions that say, I love you. God’s Word confirms that too: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

Maybe that’s why last Wednesday morning, the Lord put my husband’s trust in me to the test.

Don’t talk, Liz. Act.

I was behind the wheel as we breezed along a narrow country road, when a car coming from the opposite direction swerved into our lane, headed straight for us.

The road had no shoulder, no passing lane, and no obvious way I could escape a head-on collision.

With only a split second to act, I whispered, “Help, Lord!”, then dove into the grassy embankment, steering around a telephone poll, a large electrical transformer, an enormous tree, and one very long fence.

When I braked to a stop without hitting any of the above, I was amazingly calm. No tears, no trembling hands. Clearly, I wasn’t the One who’d spared us.

Another car pulled up behind us, also forced off the road. “Are you okay?” the anxious driver wanted to know.

“Fine,” we both assured her, blinking at each other in astonishment. We were fine. So was our car. So was our marriage. Bill’s trust in me was not misplaced.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

…and lacks nothing of value.

Nothing is more valuable than the lives of those we love. Here, though, the Hebrew word shalal means “spoil, plunder, booty.” So, a husband with a trustworthy wife has “no need for robbery” (WYC) or “dishonest spoil” (AMP).

He doesn’t have to spend four nights at a casino trying to cover the VISA bill. He “will never be poor” (ERV) because of his wife’s careless spending. Instead, “he has “all the important things he needs” (NIRV).

For all of us, married or not, this verse provides some exceptional qualities worth praying toward:

Serve as “a great asset” (CJB) wherever God leads us.
Never give friends a “reason to regret” (MSG) knowing us.
Make sure the people we love have “every good thing” (VOICE).
Look for ways to “greatly enrich” (NLT) the lives of others.

Lord Jesus, we can only hope to be trustworthy women if we put our trust in You. If we say with all our hearts, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

Now it’s your turn

How would you define “trustworthy”?

Kindly post your comment below. It means so much when you do. Your free Printable of Proverbs 31-11 is ready to download, and all our weekly Proverbs to date are on Pinterest.

Can’t believe we’re closing in on August?! We’ll reach your #1 Favorite Proverb on the last day of 2014. Thanks for studying them with me. (And if anyone happened to pray for me on Wednesday morning, bless you!).

Your sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs

P.S. On Proverbs 31.com, you’ll find my humorous take on this verse with a story from the year Bill and I got engaged. And, in case you’re curious, I took these photos on romantic Mackinac Island.

   

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #25 Speak Up

Mind if we hang out with royalty for a minute? This week’s verse was spoken by a queen mum to her ruling son, as we find out at the start of Proverbs 31: “The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.”

Two questions: who is Lemuel? and who’s his mom? The rabbis of old believed Lemuel—“belonging to God”—was a symbolic name for Solomon. That means his mother—the one who spoke this “prophecy” (CJB), this “vision” (DRA), this “oracle” (EXV), this “prophetic revelation” (GW)—was none other than Bathsheba.

That’s right. Bathsheba. The woman whom King David slept with while she was still married to Uriah the Hittite.

Wow. God spoke through a woman who was once involved in adultery? He did.

Because of King David’s heartfelt repentance, captured in Psalm 51, God forgave this couple and blessed them mightily. He filled Bathsheba’s womb with Solomon, then filled her heart with His words. “She spoke them as if they came from God” (NIRV).

Proof that God can use anyone. Including us, beloved.

So, here is the “strong advice” (MSG) given by a mother to her grown son, the king. Wise words meant for every generation.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

    for the rights of all who are destitute. Proverbs 31:8

Speak up…

Let’s face it: it’s easy to keep quiet, to say nothing, to look away when we see someone who is desperately in need.

But that’s not what kings or emperors or dictators or presidents should do. Nor should a daughter of the Most High King. He calls us to “open thy mouth” (ASV). To say what needs to be said. To write a letter to the editor, to post the facts on social media, to make a phone call to the mayor’s office, to send an email to local broadcasters.

To give a voice to “those who have no voice” (HCSB).

…for those who cannot speak for themselves,…

In Hebrew, illem means “unable to speak,” which is why it’s also translated “mute” (ESV). But we’re not talking about a physical challenge. More like an economic one. These are people who are “voiceless” (CEB) in our society, who are “helpless” (CEV), often living on the streets, begging for aid.

On any given night, more than 600,000 people in the U.S. are homeless. Ten percent are veterans. Twenty-five percent are children. And they don’t all find their way to emergency shelters. More than a third of homeless Americans sleep under bridges, hide inside cars, or take cover in abandoned buildings.

Lord, help us.

He is helping—by calling us to help. God wants us to notice those in need. Listen to them, care about them, feed them, shelter them, educate them, guide them, and above all, speak up for them.

…for the rights of…

When you have no job, no money, no food, and no roof over your head, you need someone to “protect” (GNT) your rights, to “help” (ERV) and “defend” (CEV) you, to “ensure justice” (NLT) for your “cause” (ASV).

God’s Word makes this clear: the ones who wield power and control the budget are the ones who need to speak up first. Leaders need to lead. Step forward. Be advocates.

And, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength of the Lord, we need to be right beside our leaders, looking for ways to serve those who have “nothing” (NCV).

…all who are destitute.

“Destitute” is translated so many different ways—“poor” (NIRV), “defenseless” (AMP), “vulnerable” (CEB), “unfortunate” (NASB), “dispossessed” (HCSB), “fragile” (EXB)—I dug a little deeper to grasp the true meaning of the original Hebrew word.

Ben means “son,” but chaloph, which appears only in this verse, literally means “passing away.” So, it’s “children” (GNV) we need to focus on. The next generation, especially “those who are doomed” (GW) to suffer the same bleak future as their parents. The children who are slowly “dying” (NET) from neglect, the forgotten “sons of destitution” (OJB).

Angie, who chose this verse as her favorite, said Proverbs 31:8 has given her courage in many situations: “when I worked in a crisis pregnancy center; when I took my friend down to TESSA to get her help from her abusive husband; when I stood up to the schools for my daughter who has disabilities; when my husband and I had to go to court and testify against a family member. This verse kept reminding me that I am doing the right thing, even though it is hard.”

It is hard, Angie. Yet so worth the effort. Your family and friends are blessed to have you in their corner.

For the Angies among us who speak up, who do the right thing, may the Lord be your strength and shield. For the rest of us who want to speak up, but don’t know where to begin or what to do, Lord Jesus, help us stop making excuses and start making a difference.

Now it’s your turn

As I unpacked this week’s verse (ouch), God nudged me repeatedly about not only speaking up, but stepping up. What has God revealed to you?

Use the link below to post your comment. It means so much when you do. Your free Printable of Proverbs 31:8 is ready to download, and all our weekly Proverbs to date are on Pinterest.

Next Wednesday, King Lemuel’s mom has more wisdom to share, directed at the wives among us (gulp). Not married? No worries. We’ll find a valuable nugget for you too. Can’t wait to go digging!

Your sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs #bgbg2

  

 

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #26 Tower of Power

If you live in the U.S., you’ve probably seen yellow-and-black signs posted outside schools, fire stations, libraries, and other public buildings, with these two words: Safe Place. Troubled youth can find a safe haven there, as well as practical help and people who care.

You and I have a Safe Place too, beloved. A refuge, a sanctuary, where we can run for protection from our enemy, and seek direction from a God who cares.

The sign we look for? His Name. A tower that’s stronger than any man-made fortress and large enough to see from a distance, even if we’ve lost our way.

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;

    the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord…

Christians may call him “Adonai” (CJB) or “Jehovah” (ASV), even “Yahweh” (HCSB), but our devout Jewish friends are more likely to say, ““The Shem of Hashem” (OJB). Literally, “The Name of The Name,” since in Hebrew, shem means“name” (and rhymes with it as well).

The Jewish website, aish.com, helps us understand the magnitude of God’s Name and the respect He deserves. In fact, observant Jews do not speak the name of God, YHWH, derived from the Hebrew word hayah, meaning “to be,” in past, present, and future tense.

The amazing truth wrapped up in that Name? God transcends time.

He exists then, exists now, and exists forever—simultaneously. Since that reality is more than our finite human minds can truly grasp, religious Jews believe His Name is not to be spoken. Saying just “The Name” is meant to fill His people with awe and keep them humble, lest His power and authority be minimized.

“Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence?” (Jeremiah 5:22). The short answer? Yes. “Tremble before him, all the earth!” (1 Chronicles 16:30).

…is a fortified tower;…

Ah, but God never trembles. He cannot be shaken.

Even these impressive Scottish tower houses can’t capture the kind of “strong tower” (ASV) we’re talking about in Scripture. Although each one has stood for centuries, the Lord’s Name is an eternal “fortress” (TLB), a “sturdy watchtower” (VOICE).

His Name will never fall. His Name will never be defeated. His Name will never be reduced to rubble.

That’s why His Name instills confidence. It is strong enough, “mighty” (CEV) enough, to provide “a place of protection” (MSG) for those who love Him.

…the righteous run to it…

We’re righteous not because we are Good Girls, but because we are “in right standing with God” (AMP). We are “his people” (CEV). He has chosen us—a fact that continues to astound me every day of my life.

We are “the just” (DRA) only because He justifies us. We “do what is right” (ERV) only because His Spirit makes doing the right thing possible. His strong tower of a Name is “where the righteous can go” (GNT).

So , how do we run to a name, exactly?

We speak His Name.

A shout or a whisper, whatever fits your situation. Do it aloud. Do it expectantly. Just voicing the name Jesus makes me feel stronger, safer, calmer.

We open His Word.

Turn to your favorite book. (Some of mine are Psalms, the Gospel of John, Romans, Ephesians, 1 John 1.) God will guide you. Ask Him for whatever you need. Peace? Mercy? Strength? Assurance? Forgiveness? Love? You’ve come to the right place.

Here are three gems from Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:7

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

We seek His Church.

Since He wants us to “flee to Him” (VOICE), that could include a house of worship. More likely it means the people who serve God there.

How do you know you’ve found the right church? If they make you welcome when you’re in trouble, afraid, hurting, in need, confused, or on the run, that’s the place you want to be. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12).

A church is meant to be an infirmary, a hospital, a place where sick people get well.

A refuge for the poor, not a resort for the rich.

Father, it’s hard to write those words. Our churches are beautiful to us.

But are they beautiful to you?

…and are safe.

“Safe” is definitely good. But the Hebrew, sagab, gives us a clearer picture. It means “inaccessibly high,” a place where the enemy of your soul cannot touch you—“above danger” (CJB) and “above evil” (AMP).

What a visual! When you run to the Lord, you are “exalted” (GNV), literally “raised up” (JUB), and “set safely on high” (NET). Like when my big brother carried me on his shoulders. I was so high up, yet utterly safe in his care, as I squealed with delight.

Maybe you sing “” as a praise song at your church. It’s been running through my head the whole time I’ve been writing. Or this proverb might remind you of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” a hymn written by Martin Luther nearly five centuries ago.

The music stirs our souls. The words lift our hearts.

But The Name of The Name is what keeps us safe.

You are indeed a mighty fortress, Lord. Bless you for holding us up when we feel defeated and holding us close when we feel forgotten.

Now it’s your turn

I suggested we can speak His name, open His Word, and seek His Church. How else might we run into His strong tower?

Use the link below to post your comment. I can’t wait to learn from you! Your free Printable of Proverbs 18:10 is ready to download, and all our weekly Proverbs to date are on Pinterest.

Thanks so much for celebrating my birthday with me last week…and studying Proverbs with me this summer!

Your sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs

  

 

Your 50 Favorite Proverbs: #27 Silver Is the New Gray

When my first gray hair appeared, it was well hidden beneath Clairol’s Nice ’n’ Easy Natural Medium Ash Blonde, my hair color of choice back in the day.

When I turned 40, I avoided the salt-and-pepper look by going paprika—well, Light Auburn, from L’Oreal, because I’m worth it. (If you watched my video Bible study, Loved by God, you saw that very red hair. Oh baby.)

I celebrated turning 50 in proper biblical fashion: “In this Year of Jubilee, everyone is to return to their own property” (Leviticus 25:13). So, I gave my hair back to God and discovered—eek!—it was mostly silver with some dark blonde in the back. Who knew?

Today, I’m turning 60. (This is where you say, “Wow, Liz, you don’t look a day over ____!”) My silver hair has been on display for a decade now, which is one reason I’m delighted you chose this proverb as one of your 50 favorites.

Gray hair is a crown of splendor;

    it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31

Gray hair is …

I wish I knew the woman in the portrait above. The warmth in her smile, the wisdom in her eyes, and the confidence in her posture mark her as someone who is comfortable living in the skin she’s in, whatever her age may be.

She also has a “hoary head” (ASV), with “hair that is turning white” (NLV). Or “grey” (YLT). Or “silver” (GW), if you prefer. I certainly do.

Gray is gloomy. Rain clouds. Battleships. Dingy sheets. Sadness.

Silver is sparkly. Nice jewelry. Sterling teapots. New coins. Gladness.

Of course, our hair color doesn’t matter in any spiritual sense. It’s the maturity, the ripe “old age” (DRA) we’ve reached, that’s truly a gift from God. Although my husband suddenly turned silver in his late twenties, gray hair is primarily “the splendor of the old” (Proverbs 20:29).

It’s years in the making. Hard won. Well deserved. Impressive.

… a crown of splendor;

How delicious is that phrase? When our silver hair appears, it’s a crown “of glory” (ASV), “of honor” (CJB), “of dignity” (DRA). From God’s point of view, it’s a “mark of distinction” (MSG) and absolutely “beautiful” (GW).

As it happens, in our look-younger-at-all-costs culture, many of us dye our silver crowns, rather than polish them. Heaven forbid we should look old. One mature woman clucked her tongue at me and said, “Honey, you are aging yourself ten years with that hair.”

(It was really hard not to snap back, “And you, honey, are fooling no one with your color not found in nature!” But I didn’t. Honest.)

Meanwhile, guess who’s excited about my silver crown? Women under 30. Wild, right? Maybe I remind them of Lady Gaga. Or Daenerys, Mother of Dragons.

Okay, maybe not.

Could be they’re happy to see an older woman take what God has given her and run with it. Why not? It’s just hair. And I love-love-LOVE not having to touch up my roots every two weeks. Saves so much time and money.

If you color your gray hair, beloved, no worries. We all come to our own conclusions about these things. I simply couldn’t miss this opportunity to say, if you’re considering taking that leap of faith, go for it. You have lots of sisters who’ve paved the way.

 

…it is attained…

This crown of glory—not the color, but the spiritual gift of wisdom and maturity—cannot be bought. Nor is there a shortcut. ”It is earned” (ERV) from experiencing God’s constant presence and “found” (KJV) through seasons of faithfulness.

This special “award” (MSG) can only be “worn by” (CEV) those whom God considers righteous—in right standing with him—which he alone makes possible, whatever age we may be.

The truth?

We’re righteous because of his righteousness.

We’re worthy because he is more than worthy.

We’re crowned because he is our mighty King.

We’re on our way because he is the only way.

…in the way of righteousness.

This “path” (CEB) may not always be a straight line—the Hebrew word, derek, is often translated “journey”—but if we’re walking with the Lord, we’re definitely going in the right direction.

However many years we’re given on this earth, let’s aim to be “God-loyal” (MSG), always seeking after “justice” (DRA), doing everything we can to lead “a righteous life” (ESV), realizing what matters most is “being right with God” (NLV).

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us another day, another year.

If silver hair is on our horizon, help us see it as a “ beautiful crown” (GW),

a gift from your loving hands. Not a sign of old age, but a welcome sign

of age-old wisdom.

Now it’s your turn

What words of wisdom would you offer anyone

celebrating a milestone birthday this year?

Kindly use the link below to post your comment. We can’t wait to learn from you!

Your free Printable of Proverbs 16:31 awaits you, as do all our weekly Proverbs on Pinterest.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me on this special day, dear friend. How I love opening God’s Word with you!

Your sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs