Proverbs 5:2 “that you may keep discretion and your lips may guard knowledge”
Laying on hard white sand, the moonlight casting sharp shadows that melted with the passing clouds. Shared hardships, shared pain, shared passions. We were training to be the best, which meant we went where others would not. If we just kept doing what others would not, eventually we would do what others could not.
That night we were guarding the escape route for a midnight beach rendezvous deep in enemy territory. It was stealth over strength, patience over passion, and will over want. Although it was an exercise, it was not treated as such. Slipping into the freezing waters over the side of our raiding craft, not one sound made, equipment attached perfectly for night exercises. One clink of an ammo magazine against the boat, one loose webbing splashing in the water as we silently swam ashore was all it would take for the exercise to be undone.
Once ashore our role was to ensure the safe extraction of the agent, back to our base camp. We had to guard the extraction route with all we had.
When I think of all that went into those few minutes on a remote beach, the training, the resources, the planning and the execution, my understanding of what it means to have discretion and to truly guard something is expanded.
There are small moments of choice in our lives that lead to big moments of destiny.
KNOWLEDGE
The outcomes from obedience to God’s instructions are made clear. We find the secret garden, the lost valley, the hidden fountains, and the private place. Wisdom resides with us, we are sure-footed in slippery conditions, we can see in the darkest caves, we are agile in the densest jungles and we are safe in the greatest danger.
We carry a secret treasure with us wherever we go, it sustains us, equips us and empowers us. We have fuel for the toughest journey, patience for the longest waits, strengths for others in need, and wisdom for every situation. God is with us.
We have invited the maker of the universe to come and dwell with us in the very centre of our being, we have opened every door in our heart to allow free reign to the King of Kings, and we are in a place of attention and readiness for immediate obedience to his whisper of love and growth. We hear him say “come away with me my lovely” and are caught up in the adventure and relationship of a lifetime. We are confident in him, his confidence is in us and we know when to speak when to be silent, when to ask a question and when to wait. We are generous and careful in equal measure, and we allow the flow of life that comes to us, to go onwards through us, to others.
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 “knowledge” in Hebrew is pronounced “da’at” and appears 88 times in the Old Testament. In the ESV it is translated into the English words, knowledge; unintentionally; unknowingly; skill; and, know. In our verse here we can see the inclusion of understanding, learning and skill all intertwined with the idea of knowledge.
WISDOM
Q – What does your adventure look like today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Input can easily gather discretion and knowledge and apply it across all areas of life. Engaging with others and sharing your values brings you alive.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [watch, observe and have guard over your purpose and your speech, keep the boundaries and the way to your secret places with understanding and ability.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to know your boundaries well and to establish these in my heart, mind and lips. Thank you!
I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to bless me?
“We carry a secret treasure with us where-ever we go, it sustains us, equips us and empowers us. We have fuel for the toughest journey, patience for the longest waits, strengths for others in need, and wisdom for every situation. God is with us.”
What a privilege and blessing. My day has just got better! Amen
Allan what resonates with me is,’ We are confident in him, his confidence is in us and we know when to speak, when to be silent, when to ask a question and when to wait‘. This wisdom is priceless , it’s value to me you cannot put a price on but the freedom it gives is the reward of being disciplined and walking in the spirit. Being spirit lead and silencing the flesh for the purposes of God’s glory and not our own.
Preserve Discretion and our lips guarding knowledge . Knowledge of Him and knowledge of others is what I felt said in my spirit today . Using wisdom to protect to guard and respect . Using discretion when we speak . Life and death are in the tongue .
Thank you Allan
Great thoughts Allan. Guarding anything is hard work but our lips! The old saying, “Loose lips sink ships”, comes to mind.
There are small moments of choice in our lives that lead to big moments of destiny. Love that.
Love that I have said yes to opportunities that allow me to grow and challenge me.
This is beautiful – We hear him say “come away with me my lovely” and are caught up in the adventure and relationship of a lifetime. We are confident in him, his confidence is in us and we know when to speak, when to be silent, when to ask a question and when to wait.
Hi ps Allan ; thx u for God words; I will repeat wa do u say up in the notes ; is true and agreed
We carry secrets of treasure
Have fuel x the toughest journey
Patients for long wait
Strengths for other in need and wisdom for every situation.God with us ( with me)
Thx u
God bless
Tks Allan
Your experiences bring back vivid memories of my life in the army but indeed God is with us. Emmanuel, God with us and He is always with us.
Thanks Pastor Allan for stressing the importance of determination & grit in the face of tough times to press through to the finish line!!
We all face difficult challenges from time to time some harder than others but to have that knowing that God is with us – leading training & teaching us life lessons where we have a choice to learn discretion & knowledge are so worth commanding our full attention. . Learning these positive habits well will enable us to gain good sense & we will not depart from what is right. Discretion will show us when & where in our life we need to put up boundaries & give us the knowledge to guard & keep our ways & keep watch over our words which speak either life or death.
Thanks Ps Allan.
Wow love this – We were training to be the best, which meant we went where others would not. If we just kept doing what others would not, eventually we would do what others could not.
Great question on what my adventure looks like and a great way to check myself if God is still part of my adventure.
This is so true when engaging with others and sharing your values brings you alive but it also encourages others.
Wow! Love this – there are small moments of choices in our lives that can lead to big moments of destiny .
Thank you so much Ps Allan. Blessings 🙏
It is indeed a treasure like no other that we carry within us when we invite God into our hearts. The knowledge and understanding we receive will carry us through any situation we are placed in. We are reminded to speak wisely as we share the knowledge we gain as we travel through each day.
‘If we just kept doing what others would not, eventually we would do what others could not.’ Heard sportsmen say similar things about their training, and it applies to anyone. Do things others won’t and we get to see things others won’t.
Thanks Allan
Thanks for today’s message Pastor Allan. 🙂
Our secret treasure=JESUS
He sustains us
Equips us and empower us.
When life throws us into unexpected situations,God is our treasure.
‘His wisdom guides us to make wise choices for our lives,and these choiceslead us to big moments of our destiny”
Thank you for the insight pastor Allan .