There are 101 verses in our reading today, and they cover a lot of topics. The challenge is to grab some of this great wisdom and put it into practice.

One way to do that is to mark your favorite verse or two from the reading. A highlighter is very helpful for this, or you can write a note in the margin of your Bible. As you read and highlight verses you may see a theme emerge. The Lord may be speaking to you on a particular topic.

After you finish reading, go back and look again at the verses that stood out to you. Think about how they relate to your life and what you might do to apply them to your situation. Write a note to yourself and pray right away about following through on what you have learned.

Personal Bible Study

Here’s how I did some personal Bible study as I read today’s chapters.

First, I noticed several verses about people who think they know what they’re doing, but may be making a mistake. They haven’t consulted the Lord and they are on the wrong path. These are the verses I noticed:

 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

“To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.  All of a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”   Proverbs 16:1-2

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end.” Proverbs 16:3-4

What Does It Mean?

I didn’t know why these verses caught my attention, but I decided to stop and give them some thought. There is a warning here: People can get committed to a course of action that doesn’t end well. It seems right to them, but they are deceived; their hearts lead them astray.

That’s a problem, because aren’t we all inclined to follow our hearts? These verses seem to suggest that a person’s heart can be wrong in what it wants.

There is a contrast in these verses between what people want and what God wants. People tend to go with what “appears to be right,” and “the plans of the heart,” but they can be so wrong that “in the end it leads to death.” How can we avoid getting on the wrong path?

We need the wisdom of God.

“From the Lord comes the proper answer” Proverbs 16:1

“All of a persons’ ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord” Proverbs 16:2

“The Lord works out everything to its proper end.” Proverbs 16:4

And the way to access God’s superior wisdom is to,

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3

That’s good, practical advice! Take your plans to the Lord and let him lead you and he will “work out everything to its proper end.” Proverbs 16:4

Practical Application

This is good general knowledge to have, but what about a practical application to my life? It turned out that it wasn’t I who needed this lesson from Proverbs; it was a friend.

Later in the day I got to use what I learned. I saw someone I love struggling with the consequences of bad choices, and instead of just being sad for that person I knew how to pray for them.

They had done what seemed right to them and ended up in a blind alley. Things weren’t going well, it was dark there and they felt stuck. They followed their heart, but it didn’t bring a good outcome. What they really needed was to go to the Lord and commit their plans to him so he could help them turn things around.

I knew these things, but perhaps my friend didn’t understand them. Were they even interested in God’s plans for them? How should I pray about this?

Practical Prayer

Here is how I applied these verses in prayer for my friend.

• I read through the verses with my friend in mind, inserting their name like this: “Lord, ______________ believes that their way is right, but they may be on a destructive path. They need your help to understand what went wrong and change their thinking. Most of all, ____________ needs to commit their way to you.”
• I thanked the Lord that he understands my friend completely, right down to the motives of the heart and that he loves them just as they are. But he also wants to save them from a bad end, so I prayed that my friend would become willing to commit their way to the Lord.
• Finally, I prayed that nothing would interfere with God’s work in my friend’s life. I know there is a spiritual battle going on around my friend and I prayed that the Lord would defeat his enemy Satan. I prayed for my dear friend to be set free.

Now I will watch and wait to see what the Lord does for my friend. I know God is answering my prayer, even if it doesn’t happen right away.

What About You?

What verses stood out to you in today’s reading? Maybe you noticed some verses that are very different from the ones I chose. Try capturing your favorite and make it applicable to your life.

1. Make a note of the verse that stands out to you. If there is more than one, compare them to each other and see what they say to you.
2. Write out what you learn from these verses.
3. Decide on a practical application of what you have learned to your life.
4. Pray about what you have learned and ask the Lord to help you put it into practice.

Scripture is a living book, with a living Author. Every time you read the Bible He comes to your side to help you understand and apply what you learn. Do you remember what wisdom said in Proverbs 8:30-31?

“Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.”

The Lord delights in you, especially when you pursue wisdom – and applying Scripture to your life is true wisdom. Take delight in him and his Word, and he will be delighted with you.