S) "30 I passed by the field of the sluggard
And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense,
31 And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles;
Its surface was covered with nettles,
And its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw, I reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.
33 'A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,'
34 Then your poverty will come as a robber
And your want like an armed man. "
Proverbs 24:30-34 (NASB)
O) This paragraph, as a whole, stood out to me for a few different reasons, I think. First, is that there's a repeated phrase and principle in verses 33 and 34 that convict my heart. When I read them the first time, in Proverbs 6:9-11, I felt deeply convicted and I probably would have written about them then, except I had already written out my SOAP entry, before I had gone back to read the rest of the scheduled chapters that day (or the next day, I think it was). So, seeing this again, it certainly jumped off the page at me. The second thing I noticed about this passage, though, and the reason I included the first 3 verses as well, is the entire experience Solomon shares. Verse 32 is really key. In the first 2 verses, he shares how he saw the world around him. He took notice of the things around him and in verse 32 he makes it a point to seek a lesson in what he saw. And he says he "received" instruction. That's significant. The LORD will, when we ask, teach us things about life, people, and the world around us. He desires to give us wisdom and understanding, if we'll take the time to seek it out from Him.
A) Part of this has actually already been applied. In the past, oh I don't know, 16 years or so, I've pretty much lived my life from snooze button to snooze button. It is now (painfully) obvious that it is folly. I have recognized in the past, that hitting snooze for an hour in the morning isn't really doing me any favors, but when I read these verses, put in such severe light, it really drove the point home. So, for the last week, I have not used my snooze button at all. Furthermore, I haven't adjusted my alarm clock much (keeping it set between 6 and 6:30). It's been a challenge, but I'm really enjoying the fruit of that (no stress in the morning about being late, getting my journaling done early, etc).
Additionally, I really want to be sure I'm applying verse 32 from this passage as well. I don't do a good job of asking God to show me understanding and wisdom in the things I observe. I've even asked God to speak to me in my dreams (I don't dream often), and then foolishly, I'll do nothing with what He shows me. This must change. Even last night, as I was going to bed I put on some worship and asked God to speak to me. I dreamt something that seems pretty significant, but I'm not sure what it means, in terms of my actions going forward. So, I will seek His further instruction for it.
P) Father, your discipline and instruction are perfect. I want to be a man shaped by my Creator into exactly what my Creator invisions. I want to fulfill Your purpose for my life because that's when I feel the closest to You and that's when I know I'm doing the most good and that's when I know I am the most secure in You. Your blessings overflow when I am with You. This new discipline with my alarm clock is hard, Father. But, I know it's for my good. Help me to be firm in my bedtime, since I am not waivering in my waking commitment.
With the dream You showed me last night, Father, I know there is significance in it. I don't know exactly what that means to me, though, in terms of the actions You want me to take. Speak to me, Holy Spirit, and make known to me the will of the Father for this. Use confirmation among my brothers in You, even this morning as I meet with them for breakfast. In One Spirit, we are connected, so speak to them a word of knowledge and give them boldness to speak it to me, even if it seems random or out of place to them. Or simply speak to me directly, God. I just want to do Your will in this. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
A) Part of this has actually already been applied. In the past, oh I don't know, 16 years or so, I've pretty much lived my life from snooze button to snooze button. It is now (painfully) obvious that it is folly. I have recognized in the past, that hitting snooze for an hour in the morning isn't really doing me any favors, but when I read these verses, put in such severe light, it really drove the point home. So, for the last week, I have not used my snooze button at all. Furthermore, I haven't adjusted my alarm clock much (keeping it set between 6 and 6:30). It's been a challenge, but I'm really enjoying the fruit of that (no stress in the morning about being late, getting my journaling done early, etc).
Additionally, I really want to be sure I'm applying verse 32 from this passage as well. I don't do a good job of asking God to show me understanding and wisdom in the things I observe. I've even asked God to speak to me in my dreams (I don't dream often), and then foolishly, I'll do nothing with what He shows me. This must change. Even last night, as I was going to bed I put on some worship and asked God to speak to me. I dreamt something that seems pretty significant, but I'm not sure what it means, in terms of my actions going forward. So, I will seek His further instruction for it.
P) Father, your discipline and instruction are perfect. I want to be a man shaped by my Creator into exactly what my Creator invisions. I want to fulfill Your purpose for my life because that's when I feel the closest to You and that's when I know I'm doing the most good and that's when I know I am the most secure in You. Your blessings overflow when I am with You. This new discipline with my alarm clock is hard, Father. But, I know it's for my good. Help me to be firm in my bedtime, since I am not waivering in my waking commitment.
With the dream You showed me last night, Father, I know there is significance in it. I don't know exactly what that means to me, though, in terms of the actions You want me to take. Speak to me, Holy Spirit, and make known to me the will of the Father for this. Use confirmation among my brothers in You, even this morning as I meet with them for breakfast. In One Spirit, we are connected, so speak to them a word of knowledge and give them boldness to speak it to me, even if it seems random or out of place to them. Or simply speak to me directly, God. I just want to do Your will in this. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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