- Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa Terkeurst
Ever have those days when nothing is going right?
For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
(Proverbs 24:16, New King James Version)
Notice what is interesting about this passage?? Lysa pointed it out: “For a righteous man may fall seven times “.
No where does it say that a righteous man will NEVER fall.
There is only ONE perfect man.
He lived and He died for our sins, but besides that, there is no one near Him or will EVER be near Him.
So why are we so hard on ourselves or on others who are imperfect?
Why are we critical of ourselves or of others?
Something interesting is pointed out by Lysa on page 41, that really got me to think, “Whoa,I am too hard on myself and I let others get to me more than I should”.
She shares on page 41, “You see, if Satan can get us asking these kinds of questions, then we can easily justify distancing ourselves from God, once more reducing our relationship with Him to itemes on a checklist.”
That’s not having a real relationship is it?
That’s not lifting ourselves up to Him, but, well, trying to pull Him down to us.
We all want to feel liked and loved and acknowledged and belong, but the truth is…it’s not about us. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about…..Him.
Here’s the scary thing, this helps the enemy more and it delights in it. The enemy wants to do whatever it takes to keep us there and keep us feeling, we’re not adequate enough for us and more than anything, for our Father in Heaven, God.
Instead of saying “Why doesn’t Jesus work for me?”, just like Lysa did, we NEED to start saying to ourselves, “How can I see Jesus even in this?”
Remember the scripture from Phillipians:” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13, New King James Version)”, if we, if I , if you, truly believe that,then what is really stopping us?
Yes, we’re human; We make mistakes, but it gets to the point, that we have to ask ourselves, is that an excuse and how is that helping us in worship or is it hindering us instead?
I decided to explore Proverbs 24 fully and, wow, it really humbled and just revealed that sometimes we can be so petty and in the process distance and hurt our relationship, more than we intend.
Have you read Proverbs 24?
I did and it went:
1 Do not be envious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;
2 For their heart devises violence,
And their lips talk of troublemaking.
3 Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4 By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8 He who plots to do evil
Will be called a schemer.
9 The devising of foolishness is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is small.
11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
13 My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
16 For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king;
Do not associate with those given to change;
22 For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin those two can bring? 23 These things also belong to the wise:
It isnot good to show partiality in judgment.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
27 Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
For would you deceive with your lips?
29 Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
30 I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
(Proverbs 24, New King James Version)
All I could think of was…talk about misplacing the wrong priorities.
Makes it a little bit harder to think….I’m not measuring up.
Don’t get me wrong…I’m human…I still have those days and may and hey..scratch that…will have those days that I just don’t feel like I measure up and no one cares or cares enough.
But it’s not about you or me is it? It’s about Him..and He cares..He always cares and always will care.
Good ol’ Proverbs I think can end this post better than I can.
The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.
(Proverbs 29:25, New King James Version)
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