Good morning people who have a heart to build up your family relationships.

Proverbs 14:1 MEV Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

This verse is highlighting what a wise woman will do in her house. While honouring the intention of the scripture and the culture in which it was written, I also want to share this principle for every person; young and old, male and female.

In a family environment, do you build up your house or do you pull it down?

It’s a good question.

In Paul’s writing to the family of God, he often exhorts the believers to build up others with what they say and in how they live. This is equally true in natural families too.

Here’s how Jesus said it in the Book of Matthew:

Matthew 7:12 NIV So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

What could things look like if we lived this way in every relationship?

If we wouldn’t want it done to us, let’s not do it to others.

If we wouldn’t want it said to us, let’s not say it to others.

May our lives be characterised by building others up.

Good morning people who follow the example of our heavenly Father.

Because Father God loves us, He disciplines us if we get off track. He corrects and rebukes us for our own protection, and ultimately, for our freedom. God is a good Father.

So, what is the biblical instruction for us as natural parents?

Proverbs 13:24 MEV He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him early.

This verse is not too popular in the times that we live in. Unfortunately, many people have lost their minds when it comes to parenting and discipline. Now, the culture preaches that children know what is best for them. This is crazy.

When I was a child, I thought I knew what was best for me. I most definitely knew what I wanted to do. Sometimes, these desires were ok. Sometimes that most definitely were not.

Thankfully, I had parents who loved me enough – that’s right, loved me enough – to discipline me early. They didn’t wait until things escalated beyond the point of no return. Early intervention can save a lot of heartache.

I am aware that, as with most things we read in the Bible, there can be misuse and abuse. Disciplining children is no exception. Harshness and lashing out in anger is always wrong. If you have been on the receiving end of this, I pray Father heals your heart. May you feel His tenderness towards you.

Rather than react against error, once again I say that we need to reclaim the truth. And the truth is that if we don’t lovingly discipline our children, then we aren’t showing biblical love to them.

May Father lead us all in this vital truth as we seek to love like Father loves us.

Good morning people who keep your constant confidence in the God of love.

Proverbs 13:12 MEV Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Waiting for something for a long time can be extremely difficult. This may be salvation for a loved one, healing in your body or the fulfilment of a prophetic promise. There are also many other realities that can cause our hearts to struggle in the waiting.

God sees this and God cares for you. This is not a cliché – this is the truth. God cares deeply for all of His precious sons and daughters.

As I read this today, I heard the following words:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, therefore, hope in the Lord and not in outcomes.

This doesn’t answer every question and nor does it make everything ok – I admit this. Trivialising heart sickness as a result of prolonged waiting is not what I want to do. I pray Father meets you right where you are at.

But as one who is waiting on many important things myself, I take comfort in the truth that I can hope in the Lord, yes, even in my waiting.

I heard the Lord say, when things are uncertain, go to what is certain, and that is, go to God Himself.

In a storm, my anchor is not in an answer, but it is in God Himself. Again, this is not a cliché. I am safest when I am hidden in Christ and He is my focus and my life. I need Him desperately, and so do you.

I pray you find confidence in who God is today.

Good morning people who guard against the sin of pride creeping into your life.

Proverbs 13:10 MEV Only by pride comes contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom.

The opening words of this verse are a very strong statement: only by pride comes contention. This means what it says.

Wherever we see or experience contention, pride is at work in someone. Pride is arrogance, and arrogance declares I don’t need anyone else because I am better than everyone else. Pride is ugly and it needs to be ruthlessly eliminated from our Iives.

We find part of the answer to this in the second half of the verse: but with the well-advised is wisdom. In other words, searching out, listening to and submitting to the counsel and wisdom of other godly people safeguards us against the elitism of pride.

And I believe that spiritual pride is the worst form of pride. It elevates our gifts, our calling and our significance to a higher level than others. It goes directly against the theme of Jesus’ life that declared learn to be the servant of all.

We need each other my friends, we really do. We need to walk together, learn together and honour each other. We need to lift each other up, and we need to humbly learn how to submit to godly leadership.

It’s time to learn to do life better together.

Good morning people who continue to walk closely with those who will speak the truth in love.

Proverbs 13:1 MEV A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

This verse is talking about literal sons and fathers, as well as other relationships where someone is speaking into and leading in another person’s life. The truth is for both.

I know I have already written on this subject over the last couple of months – this is true. But it is equally true that God thought it necessary to repeatedly declare the same truths over and over again in the Book of Proverbs.

Therefore, the greater focus is not on how often God declares something or I write on something – repetition seems to be God’s pattern. The greater question is regarding how often and how fully we put into practice that which God declares in His Word.  

Let’s remind ourselves what the word instruction means in this verse. It means chastisement, reproof, warning or instruction. There is a corrective nature to this word, and correction is given for our protection. God corrects those He loves, and so do loving fathers – naturally and spiritually.

It’s time for Christian’s to stop kicking against the gift of those who can speak into our lives. My natural parents, who are also my spiritual parents, still do this in my life, as does my precious wife. I am so grateful that I have people who watch out for my soul, as ones who will give an account to the Lord. I trust them fully, and therefore, I welcome their input and insight.

Who speaks into your life, including giving words of instruction and correction?

Do you listen to them and respond appropriately and humbly?

If there is no one who you listen to and submit to, I believe you are living under an unseen lid of limitation. Remember, it is a scoffer who does not listen to rebukes.

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction.

Do you?