Proverbs 3:21 “my son do not lose sight of these, keep sound wisdom and discretion”
This verse looks back at least two verses, encouraging us not to lose sight of knowledge, understanding and wisdom, as well as forwards to holding wisdom and discretion close.
How do I do that?
Every morning I get up at around 5 am and after I let the dog out I sit in the office and think and write for around an hour to ninety minutes. I think I understand that I am at my best in the mornings, I seem to have great energy levels when I wake up and feel ready to jump in and give my best to whatever needs doing, laundry, empty the dishwasher, tidy up etc. And I do sometimes do some of that.
But I caution myself to get alone with God and meditate on his words and write (writing is my expression of creativity). I want to bring the best of my day to him, and I understand that if I do that it will set me up for a healthy start to each day. After I have thought, prayed and written I stop around 6.30 am, and go for a run in the local park. I do seven laps of a double football pitch and do a couple of sprints and recoveries during this. This is for my heart and lungs etc, to give them the day that they need to be their best.
As I run, I intentionally have a conversation with God (I often lose count of laps so probably do a few extra ones from time to time). I ask him questions and try to still myself to hear the response. I often have moments of great new insights to scriptures or questions that I have been carrying in my head during these runs, and need to write it down when I stop and get back to the car.
I know this is a really simple and basic structure and approach, and I do guard against it becoming routine and dull. I think for me, it’s what I can do, and that’s where I try to live – I don’t want to focus on what’s lost, but rather on what’s left. I don’t want to focus on what I can’t do, but rather step into what I can do. These are little things that I can do each day, and they help draw me closer to wisdom.
KNOWLEDGE
This is how I would read Proverbs 3:21 to myself now –
My beautiful child whom I love more than anything else, whom I desire to pour all my wisdom and nature into, whom I will give my best training and discipline to each day – you, my beloved child, yes you. Take this to heart, store it there, guard it like treasure above all other thoughts, don’t for a second take your eyes of Jesus. There is a continuous fountain of knowledge, and wisdom for you in this living relationship.
Why oh why would you even consider a glance in another direction? Keep close to me, side by side, know my strength and support every step, gaze at my face and receive my love for you. If you will do this you will know abiding success, you with dwell in pleasantness in every season of life, you will make great decisions when others are bewildered, you will take careful steps when others stumble, and you will sing and praise while others groan and complain. This is what I have in mind for you my beloved child, I will daily impart to you everything you need each day, nothing missed, nothing lost, and nothing forgotten, you will be satisfied and flourish where you are planted, you will overcome, you will increase in the hardest seasons and you will understand and rejoice in the ways of God.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word for lose in the Hebrew language is pronounced “luz” and appears only 6 times in the Old Testament. It is translated into the English words: devious; escape; perverseness; and, lose. In Proverbs 3:21 we could imagine that “do not let perverseness cause you to depart from” would capture well the meaning?
WISDOM: where are you focused today and what do you glance at?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Focus as a Strength knows what direction it wants to go in, and won’t be distracted. Stay connected to those close to you.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [my beloved and obedient child, don’t allow sin to deviate you one step from the fountain of life and knowledge, rather hold onto great judgement and lasting success intentionally.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to remain grateful each day and to express my gratitude openly and consistently to you and to others. Thank you.
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Amen. Thank you Pastor Allan for the gentle reminder and yet powerful message today. That Jesus is all we need to stay connected with God. That wisdom comes from Him alone. That life in whatever season is made beautiful by the grace of God. I am grateful for my blessings.
Well done Allan for being intentional with your time with God and for taking care of yourself physically also.
Putting Him first at the start of each day does set us up for a healthy start, so true!
Love your wisdom thought – where are you focused today and what do you glance at?
This verse speaks instruction in “do not lose” and “keep”. It is telling me that I need to do something, I need to 7. Take action. Do not lose sight of tells me I need to keep my focus on wisdom and sound teaching, I need to actively do what I can to keep these things. It’s not up to anyone else and it doesn’t matter how busy the season may be, I need to do these things! It’s about seeking first, it’s about priorities that will set me up for success in my walk and relationship with God and life itself. There’s much to do in my daily life but not all have the same weight of importance when it comes to what really matters! There is so much choice, I need to choose well and wisely!
I need to read your rendition of Proverbs 3.21 every morning Allan ! Thanks for sharing it. Great to read but harder some days to let the reality and beauty sink in .
I absolutely love how you would read provers 3:21 Pastor Allan.
“ hold onto great judgement and lasting success intentionally.” I believe that’s the key, intentionality! And I see that lined out in your daily choices. Getting up early, the time of day where your mind is at its best, to focus on the The Father and go after what He lovingly wants to impart into your Spirit that day. I’m encouraged to get back into the habit of my 5:15 wake up time also. I’m yet to get back into the habit after my holiday in hospital last year 🙈 but have felt the Lord encouraging me to get back at it, so this was confirmation. Haha. My time with the Father each morning is what I hold most dear and when I don’t have it, every part of my day feels it.
Thank you Pastor Allan. Encouraged in more way than one today! And HAPPY SUNDAY everyone 😇
Thanks Pastor Allan for inspiring me to be better in my walk with the Lord each day!
I see this verse as a warning about not even thinking about letting God’s sound teachings escape from me! Keeping them leads to a solid foundation for my life as well as rewarding relationships. God’s Word gives me sound wisdom & discretion for my spiritual stability on a daily basis. Jesus is my Rock steadfast & immovable & as I focus on Him & know & obey His Word this will overflow into every area of my life where I will flourish & overcome & be totally satisfied even increasing in the hardest of seasons. In turn I can give Him all the glory He so deserves!
I love the structure you follow below
“To think what I can do and that’s where I try to live”
Try not to focus on what is lost but rather on what’s left,
This is such a beautiful attitude to live by each day .
I pray God give me the wisdom and strength to live this way
Thank you pastor Allan
Thank you for the loving and kind way of bringing out the meaning of this verse again!
I pray that we live in continual wisdom and discretion!
Seeking the Lord early in the morning is a discipline and thank you for sharing.
‘I don’t want to focus on what’s lost, but rather on what’s left.’
Beautiful, mate.
Wish I had your energy first thing in the morning. I definitely don’t!
When what u do really inspire me to put things in order to start my day off on the right foot (even though it is sometimes a challenge) it kind of echoed what TD. Jakes was talking about 2day, about what’s your priorities in life🤷🏽♂️, thank you for your words today pastor 👍🏾
Thank you for this message, Pastor Allan. I am an early riser too. At 5.30 I’m up when my phone tells me your Proverbs message for the day has arrived. Having read and digested it , I bundle my dog into the car. In the park While the sun hasn’t risen yet, I talk to my Father for an hour. I ask for wisdom and guidance for the day, to help me make sound decisions and think before I speak or act.
He is my strength. He loves us and wants the best for us.
I thank Him for the beautiful sunrise. And I feel stronger and my burden seems a whole lot lighter.
Thanks Allan
Staring in the face of Jesus. This helps us not deviate to the right or to the left. Also it helps us to be grateful and thankful. Beautiful
I loved to feel the comfort of your simple quiet devotion to GOD of a morning. It encodes the same feeling in me as thinking about Genesis when GOD would come down and walk in the cool of the evening with Adam and Eve. So simple, so peaceful and. Entering in our lives no matter the circumstances.
Phil 4:11-13