Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

When I was a student, I always looked forward to Fridays! The school week was coming to an end, but there was one thing standing in the way of the weekend: tests. I got good grades in school, but I did not enjoy taking those tests on Fridays. I would spend hours studying, memorizing all the important dates in history, or making sure I knew all the formulas to help me get the correct answers on my math test and then most of what I learned (or thought I learned) was put out of my mind to make room for the next tests. If I could remember half of the things I learned in high school and college, I think I could have a good run on Jeopardy.

I may not be able to remember those historical dates or those Algebra formulas, but there is something much more valuable that I have learned that will never fail me: the wisdom found in God’s word. This week, we have started looking at the book of Proverbs. Today, we are looking at chapter 4, and I want to focus on verses 20-23.

“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Knowing and understanding the Bible is vital to our lives as followers of Christ! Pay attention. Listen carefully. Don’t lose sight. If those three statements don’t convey how important that message is, the next line does: let them penetrate deep into your heart. When we read scripture, we can learn so many things: the character of God, the depth of His love for us, how to navigate the challenges we face, how to grow in our faith, and how to encourage others. When we spend time in His word regularly and seek to understand it, it can bring us life!

In Deuteronomy 6, Moses is speaking to the Israelites about the importance of knowing and obeying God’s commands and passing them along. He tells them in verses 7-9, “Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed, and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Make spending time in God’s word a part of your daily routine! Talk to your kids on the way to school about what they are learning in KXP. Share what you are learning from scripture as you eat lunch with your coworkers or dinner with your family. Set aside time to read God’s word and pray together with your kids or your spouse. Venture provides so many ways to help you with this! You can go to our website and watch Sunday’s messages, listen to the podcast, and follow along with what your kids are learning in KXP or your students are hearing at MVMNT. The Bible Reading Plan is a great way to do that, and there are family devos each day too!

Verse 23 says to guard your heart, for it determines the course of your life. The best way to do that is to know God’s word. When I studied for those history or math tests, I just wanted to know the information well enough to get a good grade. When we read scripture and really seek to understand it, it can give us so much more than a good grade on a test. Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” When we let God’s word penetrate our hearts, it will guide us as we seek to live our lives to honor and glorify Him.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.