by Sadie Robertson Huff | Jul 1, 2019 | Featured, Life Advice |
It has been so fun going through Proverbs together! I cannot wait to share with you some treasures in Proverbs six. If you are just now joining us and want to catch up, I got you! Here are the previous posts:
Proverbs 1 + 2
Proverbs 3
Proverbs 4
Proverbs 5
Now let’s dive in!
Honestly, if you take the instruction of this Proverbs I think it is going to put some pep in your step, and help you make some decisions that you might have been putting off for quite some time. This chapter addresses an issue that this generation who is obsessed with sloths tends to struggle with, laziness!
The chapter starts out strong by talking about if you get stuck in any kind of binding contract situation that you do not need to be in, it gives the advice in verse 3, “QUICKLY get out of it if you possibly can! Swallow your pride, get over your embarrassment, and go tell your “friend” you want your name off that contract. DON’T PUT IT OFF, and don’t rest until you get it done. Rescue yourself from future pain and be free from it once and for all. You’ll be so relieved that you did!”
I know for those of you who do not like confrontation this verse is one you want to sprint over, but there is so much wisdom in this. The passion version just really lays it right out in front of you. What is the hard phone call you need to make? I used to have a hard time making these kind of moves myself, but I was at a leadership conference once Craig Groeschel said something that helped me not to put off things that I knew might be hard for me to do. He said, “Surgery hurts, but death hurts worse.” Essentially, it is hard to make a decision to cut something out or someone out in your present even though you know it may hurt your future, but the price you pay by not cutting out what you need to will kill your business, dream, relationship, and really just anything that it touches.
Verses 6-11 also address the issue of laziness and it is a good life lesson.
Life Lessons
When you’re feeling lazy,
come and learn a lesson from this tale of the tiny ant.
Yes, all you lazybones, come learn
from the example of the ant and enter into wisdom.
The ants have no chief, no boss, no manager—
no one has to tell them what to do.
You’ll see them working and toiling all summer long,
stockpiling their food in preparation for winter.
So wake up, sleepyhead. How long will you lie there?
When will you wake up and get out of bed?
If you keep nodding off and thinking, “I’ll do it later,”
or say to yourself, “I’ll just sit back awhile and take it easy,”
just watch how the future unfolds!
By making excuses you’ll learn what it means to go without.
Poverty will pounce on you like a bandit
and move in as your roommate for life.
This is one of those moments I am just going to let Solomon, the writer of proverbs, have a mic drop and ask y’all not to kill the messenger. Act as if Solomon is your mentor right now and take that advice to heart, because it will help you fulfill your purpose on a day-to-day basis. Verse 11 is something I want to highlight – reread it.
When my little brother turned 16 he is a very good example of who this is talking to. My parents told him that if he worked hard in school and met a certain grade point, then they would bless him with a car. It was not an impossible grade point to reach. I would say it was pretty grace filled if you ask me. Well, he turned 16 and did not have the grades, so he did not get the car. Keep in mind, my brother is an incredibly talented, smart, and creative guy and my parents and our whole family see that potential in him. Because of that, they then extended it and said whenever you reach these grades we will get you the car. It has been almost two years with the same offer on the table, and he still has not made the grades, so he does not have the car and the only thing standing in between him and this car is his own laziness and excuses. I want to ask you, what is your car? What is the thing that could be the very thing that takes you to the next place in life, but the lack of a little work is hindering you from reaching? “By making excuses you’ll learn what it means to go without” is very true.
Throughout the whole bible it talks about not being lazy. Romans 12:11 “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically! Wake up sleepy heads! You all have purpose to walk in every single day!”
XO,
Sadie
If you’re loving this study and looking for community to discuss it with along with soo many other resources, consider joining our online community of sisters! Sign up to be notified once LO Fam’s doors open back up here! Hope to see you there 🙂
by Sadie Robertson Huff | May 31, 2019 | Featured, Life Advice |
It has been so fun going through Proverbs together! Chapter 5 is incredible, and I am so excited to dive in with y’all. I hope you feel yourself getting wiser as you read, and I hope this scripture helps lead you to answers that your heart has been searching for in your life.
If you want to catch up on this study, I got you! Here are all the posts:
Proverbs 1 + 2
Proverbs 3
Proverbs 4
PROVERBS 5
Verse 2: so that wisdom and discernment will enter your heart, and then the words you speak will express what you’ve learned.
This verse is just a starter verse to the chapter, but I do not want us to pass up a really cool point found in it. The wisdom and discernment that enters your heart WILL be expressed when you speak.
People always ask me, “HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MANY SCRIPTURES?” The simplest answer is that I study and dwell on those scriptures so, when I speak, that is what comes forth. The more consistently you study and dwell on the words, the more consistent and confident you will become in speaking them. Just like the saying, “garbage in, garbage out” applies to putting things in our heads that are not good for us, that also applies to putting good things, like wisdom, in our heads. Good or bad, what is in your heart will come out of your mouth.
Verse 3: Remember this: The lips of a seductress seem sweet like honey, and her smooth words are like music in your ears.
Verse 4: But I promise you this: In the end all you’ll be left with is a bitter conscience. For the sting of your sin will pierce your soul like a sword.
Key word: SEEM. Honey in the bible is talked about as something that is sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. In the old days, honey was often times used as a natural way of healing wounds. Honey is also a sought-after treat, just as a significant other is sought after. All the single people say, “HEYYY–give me some honey!” Although everyone wants a honey in their life (no pun intended), it is so important that the honey you are attracted to does not just SEEM like honey, but that it actually is the sweet kind. Notice the scripture says, her words SEEM like honey, BUT they will lead you to a bitter conscience. Honey or a “honey” should not lead you to a bitter conscience. The next sentence is so real and something we all need to take seriously – “For the sting of your sin will pierce your soul like a sword.” Often times, the church and people in general look at God as if He is this judgmental, mean God determined to punish those who have been sexually immoral, but the truth is God only hates the sin because He loves you and He hates that something He made to be so good at the right time, will hurt you. He knows that is a proper time to “awaken love” as the Song of Solomon puts it. The verse does not say, “and God will pierce you with a sword” it says “YOUR SIN will pierce you with a sword.” It says YOUR seemingly bitter honey may lead you to harm and bitterness. If that has happened to you, the last thing you need to run from is God. Go stand under the Honey of God to bring healing and wholeness.
Verse 8: Don’t even go near the door of her house unless you want to fall into her seduction. Do not flirt with temptation, because you will fall for what your heart is set on desiring.
Let me expand so you can know it when you see it in your own life.
The “door of her house” may look to you like a wild party when you’re trying not to fall into peer pressure.
It may look like being around a lot of alcohol when you’re trying to quit.
It may look like inviting your significant other when your parents are not home.
It may look like clicking on an app or downloading one that causes you to lust.
Do not even go near.
Verse 12: And then finally you’ll admit that you were wrong and say, “If only I had listened to wisdom’s voice and not stubbornly demanded my own way, because my heart hated to be told what to do!”
I am just going to leave this one at that.
Verse 22: Beware that your sins don’t overtake you and the scars of your own conscience become the ropes that tie you up.
Again, notice that when it talks about sins it does not say, “Beware because God will not love you anymore and you will just overtaken by sin and left without hope.” Not to be dramatic about it, but I feel like this is the story that a lot of people have told themselves. But that is not what wisdom or love says. It says “beware” because it’s warning you o you will not harm your own heart and distract your mind from the scars that sin creates. God hates sin, because He loves you and He has everything that you desire in fullness. Wisdom will trust that and feel no need to go to the door of temptation.
XO,
Sadie
by Sadie Robertson Huff | Apr 29, 2019 | Featured, Life Advice |
I am so excited to be covering chapter 4 with you all this month! It is packed with so much advice from a Good Father. I hope we will all walk away from this study a little wiser 🙂
If you are just now joining in on this study and want to start from the beginning, you can find the Proverbs 1/2 post here and Proverbs 3 post here.
Let’s get started!
Proverbs 4:1 (TPT): Listen to my correction, my sons, for I speak to you as your father. Let discernment enter your heart and you will grow wise with the understanding I impart.
Solomon, the author of Proverbs, is referring to God, our perfect Heavenly Father! God has an abundance of wisdom, but often times we can miss it, choosing instead to seek out advice from the world. We are encouraged to be “attentive” to this wise council from the one who sees our past, present, and future. We’re encouraged to let discernment enter our hearts. Discernment means having the ability to judge well or make good decisions. Practice making good decisions and you will grow wiser.
Verses 5-6: Make wisdom your quest- search for the revelation of life’s meaning. Stick with wisdom and she will stick with you, protecting you throughout your days.
True life is found at the wisdom of our Father. What’s beautiful here is that the son made a conscious decision to stay, to listen, and to learn. He wasn’t looking for a quick fix, and his father was incredibly patient in teaching him. This is a beautiful picture of wisdom in and of itself: humbly absorbing instruction that will stick with you and protect you.
Verses 8-9: Wisdom will exalt you when you exalt her truth. You will be adorned with beauty and grace, and wisdoms glory will wrap itself around you.
Friend, we are seeing here that wisdom will not chase you down, but “she” (meaning wisdom) loves to be caught. She is a prized possession, set aside by our father for the ones who see the value in the gifts she gives and in her warm embrace.
Verse 12: Your progress will have no limits when you come along with me, and you will never stumble as you walk along the way.
Again, we are seeing the Father making him (us) aware that this abundance of wisdom is at his (our) disposal, yet he (we) must choose to hear and accept it. Wisdom leads to protection, endurance, and life. What are you willing to choose?
Verses 14-15, 17: Do not detour into darkness or even set foot on that path. Stay away from it; don’t even go there! They feed on darkness and drink until they’re drunk on the wine of wickedness.
Often times, we tip-toe toward sin instead of run away from any temptation of it. This verse encourages us to do the latter-stay away from it! We are either moving toward death or moving toward life. The analogy of food and wine is used here as it’s easy to understand. We are either feasting on the “bread of life” or the “bread of wickedness”. We are either drinking from the true vine or the wine of violence. Friends, flee from temptation and cling to life! We want to be a people who live and breath with fresh life.
Verses 21 & 23: Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your heart. So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you have.
Towards the end, the father is winding down his lesson to his son and we see that he mentions the son’s heart twice. Why is this? We will always worship what has our affections—what has our heart. Our greatest affections will always dwell in our hearts. If we tuck wisdom away in our hearts, our life will produce “springs of life”. I don’t know about you, but I want my life to be known as a “spring of life” by the one who provides living water for my soul.
Verses 24-27: Avoid dishonest speech; set your gaze on the path before you; watch where you’re going; Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked for an even a moment.
Just like any good father, he ends with practical advice that we all should cling to. Anything we say, whatever we look at, and anywhere we go will always be an indicator of wisdoms work in our life or the lack thereof. Pure speech, a clear gaze, and a straight path are the markers of a wisdom filled life. Keep them in mind. It will be a way to measure whether your life is on track or not according to what God has for you. Write verses 24-27 on your mirror, put them in your car, or save them as your screensaver to be reminded to walk in the way of wisdom! This is where freedom is found!
I am so thankful to get to walk through chapter 4 with you and would love to hear your favorite verse from this chapter and what you learned. Add it to the comments below. As always, I hope you walk away strengthen and encouraged by God’s word.
XO
Your sister and friend,
Sadie Rob
Follow me on Instagram @legitsadierob
by Sadie Robertson Huff | Mar 25, 2019 | Featured, Life Advice |
Proverbs 3 is PACKED, so we are going to focus on just this one chapter this week in our Proverbs study. We can catch up later. If you are just joining the Proverbs study, click here to read Proverbs 1 and 2 from last month. The plan is to go through the book of Proverbs this year together, so make sure you leave comments and let us know what God is speaking into your heart while you are reading.
Let’s get started.
Proverbs 3:5 (TPT): Trust in the Lord completely, And do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, And he will lead you in every decision you make.
You may know this verse from another translation. Here’s how you may have heard this verse: Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your path straight.
I can hardly read that verse without singing it in my head like we did in Sunday school.
In life, you are going to go through a lot. You may have already gone through a lot. Sadly, life is full of troubles. I depend on this verse in the hard times because it tells you and me this: If (I/you) fully put (my/your) trust in God and not rely on (my/your) own opinions, He will guide (me/you) throughout (my/your) life.
Think about it. Say it over again. You do not have to walk through life blindly. You do not have to walk through life hesitantly. You do not have to walk through life ignorantly. God’s Spirit will guide you to make every yes and every no be more than words. They can be confident answers to life issues. God silences confusion, stress, and anxiety if you just trust in Him. Trusting in God will certainly change the way you walk
Verse 7:Don’t think for a moment that you know it all…
HEYO! I know this verse is speaking to a lot of people. Humility matched with wisdom will take you far in life. I know so many of you do not want to hear this next statement, but it’s true. You will never know it all. Yep, that’s right.Even if you made a 36 on the ACT (which is super cool if you did), there is still more to know in life. Even if you have a master’s degree, if you own a business, if you pastor a church, if you have been in church your whole life and heard “every sermon there is to know,” there is still more to learn. God is the God who was and is and is to come. There is a whole lot of information to know about Him and this universe.
There are so many people who speak into my life: well-known pastors, local pastors, family members, uber drivers, little kids, and really anyone who has life to give can speak to me. I learn a ton from all of them, and hopefully they learn a little from me, too. For all of us, there must be a willingness to learn. I have to be willing to learn from the little kid or the pastor and they have to be willing to learn from me. Being humble and allowing others to teach you is a great character trait to strive for.
Verse 11: My child, when the Lord God speaks to you, Never take his words lightly, And never be upset when he corrects you.
This verse goes so deeply in my heart. I’m pretty sure I heard this a few times from my own parents. Ha! Many times, we choose what we want and don’t want to hear from God. If it is too scary, we close our ears. If it is too crazy, we close our ears. If it would take too much from us, we close our ears. If it convicts us too deeply, we close our ears. I want to encourage you to listen to God’s words and don’t take them lightly. God’s words are always said to make you a better person and your life an easier road. Look around. God is the God of all creation. He knows what’s best and His intentions are the best. Listen and obey. It will take you further than you thought you could go.
Verse 12: For the Father’s discipline comes on from his passionate love and pleasure for you. Even when it seems like his correction is harsh, it’s still better than any father on earth gives to his child.
Verse 11 and 12 tell us that we can be confident that God’s intentions toward us are good. I know you’ve heard your parents tell you they discipline you because they love you. Well, it’s true. Loving someone means wanting the best for them and sometimes that means discipline—not in a mean way, but a loving way in order to help train for a better way to live. Loving parents, like a loving God, discipline from a place of passionate love for their children.
Verse 17: The ways of wisdom are sweet, always drawing you into the place of wholeness.
Here is a good way to discern wisdom from other talk. Ask yourself if what is being said or taught is something that is drawing you into a place of wholeness or making you or someone else feel worthless? If what you are saying or hearing is making you or another person feel worthless, then you need to redirect your talk toward wholeness. As this verse says, wisdom is sweet. Think about that. Wisdom will not direct you to speak unkindly toward another person. It will lead you to wholeness through words that are kind and good.
Verse 21: My child, never drift off course from these two goals for your life: to walk in wisdom and to discover discernment. Don’t ever forget how they empower you.
There is so much talk today about empowerment. Everyone wants to feel empowered. Here is how it is accomplished—through wisdom and discernment. This verse tells us discernment, which is good judgement and decision-making, and wisdom, which leads to discernment, are powerful tools because they EMPOWER us to a better life. Looking at life with foolish eyes and foolish ears will always leave us confused and uncertain about life choices. But, if we use our God-given brain to make wise choices and discernment to make good decisions, we will be empowered to move forward in life.
Verse 22: For they strengthen you inside and out and inspire you to do what’s right; you will be energized and refreshed by the healing they bring.
Now doesn’t that sound nice? Energized and refreshed is always good. The “they” this verse is talking about is wisdom and discernment. Those two things not only empower you, but they strengthen you inside and out, inspire you to do what’s right, give you energy, and refresh you by their healing powers. WOW! That’s a lot of good stuff right there! Have you ever thought that wisdom and discernment can heal? Wisdom brings truth to the lies we are all told each day. Lies others tell us and lies we tell ourselves. When we see an ad with a gorgeous girl with big, beautiful hair, wisdom helps us know that someone has fluffed her hair, touched up her makeup, and then the photo was edited to perfection. Do you see how wisdom and discernment can heal? How that wisdom and discernment bring a freshness to stale thinking?
Verse 23: They give you living hope to guide you, and not one of life’s tests will cause you to stumble.
And the good stuff keeps going! Do you need a guide? Wisdom is your go-to guide. Do you worry about walking blindly through life? Call on wisdom and discernment. Do you think you may not pass one of life’s tests? Wisdom is your teacher.
But, there’s more! These next three verses are the greatest of all to me.
Verse 24-26: You will sleep like a baby, safe and sound—your rest will be sweet and secure. 25 You will not be subject to terror, for it will not terrify you. Nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside, 26 because God is your confidence in times of crisis, keeping your heart at rest in every situation.
To every anxious heart out there, let this sink in deeply. You will sleep like a baby. We have a new baby in our family and we love watching him sleep. His entire body is relaxed. Good judgement and common sense will give you your rest back. God promises to be your confident trust partner.
Verse 31: Don’t act like those bullies or learn their ways.
In verse 27, the subject changes to wisdom in relationships and basically we’re challenged to do the right thing. Always. Don’t hold grudges, don’t quarrel, don’t act like a bully. Verse 32 tells us the godly walk under a stream of God’s blessings. That’s where I want to be! You probably do, too.
Verse 34: If you walk with the mockers you will learn to mock, but God’s grace and favor flow to the meek.
Let’s look at these two verses closer. They go hand in hand. How many times do we excuse our actions, because we want to fit into the environment around us? This verse exposes the “everyone’s doing it mom” excuse we love to give and puts it in its place, which is not a good place. Peer pressure is real and it is persuasive, so it is important to be cautious about who you let surround you. There are people out there who DO NOT want the best for you. There are people out there who you DO NOT want to be like. There are people out there you DO NOT want to learn from. You have been called to something greater and higher by the grace of God. Listen and look for everything that magnifies THAT calling.
Hopefully you are walking away today a little taller and a little wiser. Xo
Follow me on Instagram @legitsadierob!
by Sadie Robertson Huff | Feb 15, 2019 | Life Advice |
Hello to everyone around the world! I am so excited for the new structure of the blog and how this is going. I love knowing we get to connect three times a week as a community, and I love getting to write two blogs a month this time around!
I wanted one of the blogs each month to be an interactive blog that all of you can be a part of. A lot of times my friends and I will send scriptures to each other that jumped out at us and what we took from them as we are reading a chapter in the bible, so I wanted to start the same thing with all of you. What I am hoping we can do is go through the book of Proverbs together!
We will go through two or three proverbs each month to finish it by the end of the year. I am going to ask that you read along with me, and hopefully the things I point out that I took from my reading will encourage you, and the things you point out from reading will encourage other people reading the comments. This is not to hate on or compare to anyone who took something different from you from a scripture, but it is to encourage and learn from everyone’s own revelation from reading. This is all about learning and growing together in reading and knowing God. This week we will just focus on Proverbs 1 and 2.
You can pick whatever translation or version you prefer to read from, but I will be reading from the passion version, because I love the way it expresses the word and relates to our everyday life. If I use any other version, I will make sure you know. The book of Proverbs is one of the poetry books in the bible and is full of metaphors and poetic imagery, so if some things are tough to understand, ask God for the understanding. The word is all spirit breathed, and I hope through prayer and by us doing this as a community you will gain so much wisdom and understanding.
The writer of Proverbs is Solomon, the man who asked God for wisdom. Also, note that Solomon refers to wisdom as “she”, so do not be confused when wisdom is referred to has “she”. I think you will be surprised at how many things in the book of Proverbs answer some of those tough life questions that you have been wrestling with.
With all of that being said, it is time to dive right in!
Proverbs One
Proverbs 1:7 “How then does a man gain the essence of wisdom? We cross the threshold of true knowledge when we live in obedient devotion to God.”
I think so many times we try to figure out a formula with God as if wisdom from the Lord will come the same way wisdom comes to us in a math class. With God there is no need to memorize a formula, but rather a need for faith to just obey what He says. When you are living and walking in that obedient faith that is where Godly wisdom will come.
Proverbs 1:17 “to be aware of the snare of the best way of escape.”
I have always loved this verse! I found it to be so true in my life. The times I am walking blindly and not taking notice of what I am allowing to be poured into my life and being aware of the places I am walking into are the times that I have gotten myself in a trap I never meant to step into. The times I am aware of what I am letting in and where I am walking are the times I have more easily stayed on the straight path.
Proverbs 1:20-21 “Wisdom’s praises are snug in the streets and celebrated far and wide. Yet wisdom’s song is not always heard in the halls of higher learning. But in the hustle and bustle of everyday life its lyrics can always be heard above the din of the crowd. You will hear wisdom’s warning as she preaches courageously to those who stop listening.”
I love how confident and loud wisdom is, but notice even with wisdoms voice being loud and even in her confident celebration, she is not heard. Just because you are filled with Godly wisdom does not mean everyone will choose to hear. However, do not stop singing it loudly and preaching it courageously, for the truth you know will set people free who do choose to listen.
Proverbs 1:33 “But the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace. Free from fear, confident and courageous, you will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.”
I know this verse is like music to our ears. Free from fear? Confident and courageous? Rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life? We all crave these things, and we ask God so many times HOW CAN WE BECOME THIS WAY GOD?, and He simply answers with, “Listen to me.” You may be saying, “But He does not speak to me like He does to others.” He has already spoken. Meditate on His word and take it to heart and all of the sudden you will begin to see why you do not have to fear, you do not have to be shaken when the storms come, and you (YES YOU) can be confident and courageous.
Proverbs Two
Proverbs 2: 1-2 “my child, will you treasure my wisdom? Then, and only then, will you acquire it. And only if you accept my advice and hide it within will you succeed. So train you heart to listen when I speak and open your spirit wide to expand your discernment.”
I know! We are already on chapter two, but do not forget about what I just said about listening to God. Now let’s take that a step further, when you do hear from God and learn from Him treasure every word. Accept every word you read as good advice and hide it deep in your heart. As you begin to become familiar with His tone, you can train your heart to listen when He speaks, and live open to hearing more of what He wants for your life. I love how it encourages us to train our heart to listen. We hear things all day long, and many of those things from the world are not going to sound like God, so the training takes intentional time of growing.
Proverbs 2:4-5 “For if you keep seeking it like a man who would seek for sterling silver, searching in hidden places for cherished treasure, then you will discover the fear of the Lord and the true knowledge of God.”
I always take note anytime the bible uses the words “if” and “then.” It is such direct instruction with direct promise. IF you keep seeking, THEN you will discover. Keep seeking. You will not get lost searching.
Proverbs 2:11-12 “If you choose to follow good counsel, divine design will watch over you and understanding will protect you from making poor choices. It will rescue you from evil in disguise and from those who speak duplicities.”
I have seen choosing to follow good counsel in my own life come in to play in a really positive way. Sometimes it is hard to discern if people who come into our life or decisions we need to make are good or not, but when we are following good counsel, we can know that their understanding can protect us from making a poor choice.
Proverbs 2:20-21 “Follow those who follow wisdom and stay on the right path. For all my godly lovers will enjoy life to the fullest and will inherit their destinies.”
Again, it is giving us advice on who we are choosing to follow. It is so important that we are following those who are seeking the same thing. Am I saying not to speak to those who are not? Absolutely not! Love and encourages those who are not seeking wisdom, but be careful not to follow them. Stay on the right path, and you will enjoy life to the fullest. You might have temporary happiness on the path of the world, but there is fullness for you on the path of wisdom from God.
Now let these words sink in, and let what God is teaching you right now while reading go straight to your heart as a treasure for the soul. This is the beginning of training your heart to hear.
