Proverbs 20 (ESV)
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.[a]
2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous who walks in his integrity—
blessed are his children after him!
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
10 Unequal[b] weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[c]
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[d]
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.
19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.[e]
20 If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making vows.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.
27 The spirit[f] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
searching all his innermost parts.
28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.
Who doesn’t want this? Children that are blessed because of their parents integrity.
I sure do!
But like everything in life, it doesn’t happen on it’s own.
Walking in integrity isn’t always easy, and it isn’t always natural.
I should know…the last few weeks, I’ve been battling with my leg injury from July. Over 3 months after I was hospitalized, I’m still struggling with the infection that hasn’t healed. And my character has been tested. Tested by weariness, MRI’s that take 2 weeks of wait time to receive, doctors that don’t return phone calls, nurses that don’t show up, nurses that do show up but don’t know how to care for you, medicines that aren’t delivered….the list could go on. But I’ll spare you.
I’ve felt angry, frustrated, upset, emotionally drained, neglected, angry, frustrated, hopeful, defeated, angry, frustrated….weary.
And I haven’t always behaved like a Jesus girl….and for that I have repented. But, oh, how the struggle is real.
At times, I have needed to speak up from myself. Firmly. Because if I’ve learned anything through this ordeal, it’s that you have to advocate for yourself. Like it or not. Doctors, nurses, home health companies…they don’t always listen…really listen to you, their patient.
And then the Holy Spirit whispers in my ear…you don’t always listen….really listen.
And again I am humbled, convicted.
God is working so much in my heart through this unexpected, unwanted journey. And despite the fact that if I could go back 3 1/2 months, I would make sure my foot got placed firmly on the top stair of our hotel. But then, I would’ve missed out on so many lessons that God is showing me. I can’t wait to write more about them…but after the Picc line is removed from my arm, so typing isn’t difficult.
In the meantime, I will allow God to work in my heart and refine me. Help me grown in character, in integrity.
Because I want to be a good example for my boys. And I want them to blessed by my walk in integrity.