The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs by Debbi Bryson Page B
Authors: Debbi Bryson
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(Proverbs 10:22, NIV ).
Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!
While we’re on the topic of definitions, let’s address the concept of beauty. There are many brokenhearted women because they look in the mirror and do not see the Hollywood version of beauty. We need a reality check. Those cover girls don’t look that good when they wake up either. And remember, true beauty is more than skin deep. Beauty sometimes comes in simple packages. God raises the bar on real beauty in 1 Peter 3:4: “Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” ( NKJV ).
One Year Bible Reading
Leviticus 25:47–27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22
March 3
Wise or Foolish?
A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,
but a man [or woman] of understanding delights in wisdom.
PROVERBS 10:23 ( NIV )
This proverb sets before us two women, a foolish woman and a wise woman. The point is not just for us to see the difference, but for us to choose who we are now and who we want to become.
Woman number one is foolish. She finds pleasure in evil conduct. She plays games that cause trouble. She takes a wicked pleasure in causing division or hurting people’s feelings. She is drawn to sin, and no matter how much grief it brings her or others, she keeps going back for more. She is foolish because she never learns that the ounce of pleasure she gets in the moment of sin later delivers a pound of heartache. Second Timothy 3 tells us, “In the last days perilous times will come: For [people] will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, . . . headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (vv. 1-4, NKJV ).
But woman number two is a wise woman, a woman of understanding. Psalm 1:1-2 is her mantra: “Blessed is the [woman] who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But [her]delight is in the law of the L ORD , and on his law [she] meditates day and night” ( NIV ).
So, to be wise or foolish? That is the question. The point is for us to choose. Who are we now, and then who do we want to be?
Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!
Part of becoming wise involves becoming increasingly sensitive to the red flags of warning and conviction sent by the Holy Spirit. For instance, if you’re in a group of women and someone says something that triggers negative emotions in you, you might feel the desire rising to shoot back a sharp, retaliatory word. God will be faithful at the same moment to give a “check.” What does that little voice sound like? It can be as simple as, “Zip your lip,” “A soft answer turns away wrath,” or, “Count to ten, Debbi. Count to ten.”
One Year Bible Reading
Leviticus 27:14—Numbers 1:54; Mark 11:1-26; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 10:23
March 4
Wicked versus Righteous
What the wicked dreads will overtake him;
what the righteous desire will be granted.
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.
PROVERBS 10:24-25 ( NIV )
“What the wicked dread.” Isn’t that an intriguing phrase? What then do the wicked dread? Think about it. When you lie or steal something, there is that constant dread of someone finding out. If you say something mean about someone, what if they hear about it? What if you get a bad reputation for being mean?
Dread. It is like a big ol’ black cloud of darkness, a fear that that thing you did will come back to haunt you. Isn’t that the way of sin? You think it will add pleasure, but instead it rips you off. It does, it really does.
In contrast, living right, doing right, has its own sweet rewards. I love that our proverb tells us that doing right gives us stability. The definition of stable is “constant, able to maintain or return to a strong position, not likely to
Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!
While we’re on the topic of definitions, let’s address the concept of beauty. There are many brokenhearted women because they look in the mirror and do not see the Hollywood version of beauty. We need a reality check. Those cover girls don’t look that good when they wake up either. And remember, true beauty is more than skin deep. Beauty sometimes comes in simple packages. God raises the bar on real beauty in 1 Peter 3:4: “Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” ( NKJV ).
One Year Bible Reading
Leviticus 25:47–27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22
March 3
Wise or Foolish?
A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,
but a man [or woman] of understanding delights in wisdom.
PROVERBS 10:23 ( NIV )
This proverb sets before us two women, a foolish woman and a wise woman. The point is not just for us to see the difference, but for us to choose who we are now and who we want to become.
Woman number one is foolish. She finds pleasure in evil conduct. She plays games that cause trouble. She takes a wicked pleasure in causing division or hurting people’s feelings. She is drawn to sin, and no matter how much grief it brings her or others, she keeps going back for more. She is foolish because she never learns that the ounce of pleasure she gets in the moment of sin later delivers a pound of heartache. Second Timothy 3 tells us, “In the last days perilous times will come: For [people] will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, . . . headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (vv. 1-4, NKJV ).
But woman number two is a wise woman, a woman of understanding. Psalm 1:1-2 is her mantra: “Blessed is the [woman] who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But [her]delight is in the law of the L ORD , and on his law [she] meditates day and night” ( NIV ).
So, to be wise or foolish? That is the question. The point is for us to choose. Who are we now, and then who do we want to be?
Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!
Part of becoming wise involves becoming increasingly sensitive to the red flags of warning and conviction sent by the Holy Spirit. For instance, if you’re in a group of women and someone says something that triggers negative emotions in you, you might feel the desire rising to shoot back a sharp, retaliatory word. God will be faithful at the same moment to give a “check.” What does that little voice sound like? It can be as simple as, “Zip your lip,” “A soft answer turns away wrath,” or, “Count to ten, Debbi. Count to ten.”
One Year Bible Reading
Leviticus 27:14—Numbers 1:54; Mark 11:1-26; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 10:23
March 4
Wicked versus Righteous
What the wicked dreads will overtake him;
what the righteous desire will be granted.
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.
PROVERBS 10:24-25 ( NIV )
“What the wicked dread.” Isn’t that an intriguing phrase? What then do the wicked dread? Think about it. When you lie or steal something, there is that constant dread of someone finding out. If you say something mean about someone, what if they hear about it? What if you get a bad reputation for being mean?
Dread. It is like a big ol’ black cloud of darkness, a fear that that thing you did will come back to haunt you. Isn’t that the way of sin? You think it will add pleasure, but instead it rips you off. It does, it really does.
In contrast, living right, doing right, has its own sweet rewards. I love that our proverb tells us that doing right gives us stability. The definition of stable is “constant, able to maintain or return to a strong position, not likely to
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