Proverbs – Introduction To WisdomSample

Delighting the Father

Once again, we hear the Father urging us to be attentive to his words of wisdom from heaven. How do we do this? By meditating upon these insights and memorizing them. When we contemplate the kingdom revelation contained within these verses, our thoughts become filled with the Father’s words. When we memorize them, their truth penetrates deep into our spirits.

For this to happen, we cannot merely read these proverbs with the head alone. Our hearts need to be engaged too. If our hearts are not filled with expectation, then our heads are unlikely to be filled with light. This is why we must guard the affections of our hearts. If we come to God’s word and read it with fire in our hearts, then its truths will permeate and illuminate every part of us.

It is so important to read the Father’s book as loving sons and daughters, rather than as dispassionate students of God. Lovers of God read the word because they enjoy being close to the Father’s heart, leaning on his chest, and hanging on every word from his mouth.

Those who have a heart-to-heart relationship with God also  bring delight to him because they are the ones to whom he can most fully give his love. They are affectionate and attentive. Their reward includes his words bringing life and health not only to their spirits, but also to their souls, and even their bodies.

If you’re looking for “radiant health” (v. 22, TPT), make it your aim not to detour into darkness.  Instead, aim to read God’s word as a lover and to stay on the highway of light.

Many of us have not been trained to read the Bible as lovers (with our hearts) but as students (with our minds). God desires that we read his book with both. Write a prayer expressing your heart to read the Bible as a loving son or daughter.