Words and music by DT (davesali [at] gmail [dot] com)
Proverbs 23:31 KJV — Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Don’t look at the seductive Oscar performance of the wine in the glass.
Look at off-camera performance lying in her own vomit in the gutter.
You don’t get shown this second one, but you still need see it, to consider it, to, to perceive it.
Go beyond the flesh and see with the eyes of your heart all that does not appear.
1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV — There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
No matter what temptation you experience, God has already made a way for you to escape.
God’s not the sender of the temptation.
God is your getaway driver.
Proverbs 21:21 KJV — He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
When you follow after who you are in Christ (i.e the righteousness of God), you end up with more than you were counting on.
Life, righteousness and honour.
You end up with everything you thought you were leaving behind.
Proverbs 20:4 KJV — The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
…doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plow.
It just means you need to put on a jumper and a coat so that you can go and do what needs to be done.
And as you start plowing, you may find the act of plowing generates enough heat such that you don’t need to wear the extra layers.
Leaning into the plow helps you overcome the cold.
Proverbs 18:21 KJV — Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Hebrews 12:2 KJV — Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
You are not the centre of the Universe.
Fix your eyes on the Son of God. Jesus, the Creator of all things.
Wisdom sounds plain spun and too casual. Flippantly disregarding the magnitude of the situation. Because the magnitude of His situation is seated above all things that have us cowering in our boots, threshing wheat in our wine presses.
Wander into the day full of wonder and reverence for the ONE who made you His dwelling place.
Proverbs 16:20 KJV — He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
…it’s about how wisely you handle it.
Look for the handle and hold it with wisdom.
Hebrews 12:1 KJV — Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
You’re in a race. You’re not on a walk. You’re racing against time. You’re exerting yourself within the framework of time. You’re moving yourself from one place to another, from one space to another.
See the race that is set before you…and run.
Proverbs 14:34 KJV — Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
Your identity in Christ has the side effect of exalting the nation.
Let your identity impact the place of your earthly nationality.
Proverbs 13:13 KJV — Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
Make a big deal out of the Word, and the Word will make a big deal out of you.
The more room you give the Word to grow in your heart, the more room the Word will give you to grow in your life.
Oh magnify the Lord with me…