Proverbs 1:33 “but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster”
Several years ago when we had already moved to Australia as a family, I had a role in a Company in Tasmania. As a couple we were both working and had been saving up for some time to have a family cruise, it was to be the family holiday of a lifetime.
The business I was working for was going through a tough season, and for the last year, I had been asking the Board of Directors in the UK to change strategy and take proactive action. They said everything was ok and they were 100% committed to supporting the business in Tasmania, and they recognised it as a cyclic business that had seasons of huge profit and then other seasons of steady loss. I agreed that was the case, but shared my concerns that the global picture was unique and we should consider our strategy.
The week before our holidays the UK Parent company sacked the MD and appointed a new MD. Two days before our holiday the new MD called to say that the Head Office was removing support for the operation in Tasmania, and were calling in the receivers. They forbade me to say anything with a threat of legal action against me if I spoke to anyone. As I genuinely cared for the team I worked beside this was a horrible situation.
On the day of our holiday, the team at the UK Head Office sent in the receivers to the business in Tassie, with no opportunity for me to speak to the team there. My salary was stopped immediately and I was told there would be no reparation for me as I was a director. I had taken the directors role to help the Company out as they needed an Australian Director by law and I had my Residential status. As a result, the 21 years I had worked for this Company were not recognised and we as a family were left with a huge hole in our income overnight, and the loss of any redundancy. It was the first day of our family holiday of a lifetime.
There was a battleground in my mind, to choose to trust God in the face of these circumstances. It was a bit of a struggle at times. I made time to speak to the staff that I could speak – from the cruise ship. Wendy kept encouraging me and I kept choosing to trust God. We enjoyed a great holiday, we prayed a lot and God led us through the season step by step. He is faithful.
KNOWLEDGE
We finish chapter one with a striking positive note – there is a remedy to ruin, and a prescription for peace. Listen. Just listen. And then obey.
This simple response to God changes everything – from facing disaster we are fulfilled and dwelling. Rest instead of restlessness. There is no fear, no dread, no disaster that can overtake us. We are moving in with God, settling down for a long stay, laying down on the sofa, making ourselves comfortable and at home with Him. We are satisfied now, no matter what is going on, no matter what the circumstances of our lives we no longer live in fear, lack, mistrust or suspicion. We have no foundations now for complaints.
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 “listen” in Hebrew is pronounced “sama” and is mentioned 1165 times in the Old Testament. The fuller meaning of this word could be described as “to listen with the pre-decided intention of obedience”.
WISDOM: how do you practice listening to God, and what was the last thing you did in obedience?
Strengths Thought: Futuristic – you can see the future clearly and help others glimpse it for themselves. You ask questions about the big picture items, creating momentum, hope and optimism. You gain insights from history, but they don’t shackle your vision for the future. Others can gain hope and vision just from being with you.
Be careful not to miss the journey while focused on the destination, or drift away when in the company. Last-minute thoughts can unsettle others so be considered.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version: [when we listen to God with a heart to understand and obey we discover safety and rest with no anxiety of dreadful outcomes.]
Prayer: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to position myself close to you so that in every season I can have a thankful heart and a peace-filled mind.
Great to hear how you and Wendy went through that season!
God has brought you to Australia transitioned to accomplish His plan.
We are so blessed that God has blessed and positioned you and family for greatness! “Best is yet to come !”
“GOD IS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS PROMISES “
We must trust Him always!
When my husband passed away I was left with mortgage, tax and business debts… I was at retiring age. I had no idea how it will work out for me!
God has blessed me immensely according to His promises. He has led me through this season with His wisdom and strategies!
Now I have seen with my eyes how precious is Our Lord who promised that He will be with us always!
The Lord is FAITHFUL ALWAYS!
All glory to God.
Thank you Ps Allan and Wendy for helping us to see the Lord and His goodness and Truthfulness!
Appreciate you greatly!
This is such a beautiful end to Proverbs chapter1. Having learnt that failing to listen to wisdom can have disastrous consequences, we can now rest assured that God is in control. All we have to do every moment of our lives is to listen, trust and obey His voice. No matter what is thrown at us. And be at rest.
Thank you for this last verse, and your own personal story, Pastor Allan.
Despite speaking of wisdom, the truth is it is Godly wisdom we are after. As we pay attention and follow this Godly wisdom things will be alright in the long run. I remember as a young Christian being pulled over for speeding on my red p’s, long story but I was doing a few kms over the limit and was quite disappointed as I knew it meant a loss of license. After getting the ticket the presence of God came upon me and I knew everything was going to be alright. Some months later I went to court and lost my license for 3 months! Here’s the alright bit, during that time myself and group of young Christian friends were dependant on one person to get us to church, a friend who unknown to us was slipping back to old ways and using heroin. During this 3 month period he got his life back with Jesus and today he’s still walking with and serving God. It was alright! I do love perspective!
This concept of abiding In him is one that has always been a struggle for me. As someone with Futuristic as one or their top strengths, I find it incredibly difficult to live in the moment, and find rest with God in the now, my mind is so focussed on tomorrow and it’s worries. Love this passage today, thank you, such an incredible reminder to STOP!
I love this metaphor – “We are moving in with God, settling down for a long stay, laying down on the sofa, making ourselves comfortable and at home with Him.” At a point in the chaos, it becomes a choice to be still and trust with so much uncertainty !
In the waiting we must trust Him. When we are concerned we must tell the lord. He wants are concerns our fears our panic. Keep our eyes on Him and speak trust in Him . And remember ALL He has done for us thus far. He never leaves us nor forsakes us when we abide in Him.
Listening to Him can be difficult when we are afraid or panicking. And He knows that. So in this verse He is explaining the way we need to live. Give it all to Him and relax , keep taking steps , keep moving forward with reassurance.
Thank you Allan
Finally! Reassurance. This is so comforting to know that He is there for us no matter what disaster might come upon us. I have noticed that I respond more eagerly and am far more motivated to do my best for Him with encouragement. The harsher Warner’s are needed but they have the opposite effect.
Such a very comforting scripture particularly in this day & age of uncertainty! God is our ever present help & refuge when we cry out to Him & He can be SO trusted in good times & bad as we draw close to Him & hide under His wings of security comfort & peace. He does know the plans for us & they are good even though at times we may suffer hardship along the journey. There are always lessons He wants us to learn & which if we are teachable & listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit we will become more Christ like to be His faithful witnesses on the earth.
What a powerful and reassuring verse !
Thank goodness for God’s favour in our lives. To have Him beside us at such critical times in our lives, where it seems everything and everyone was against us. One of my favorite verses in Psalms “Be still and know I am with you”. I am so grateful that God sent His son Jesus as hope for us. Thank you Pastor Allan for encouraging me each day with messages of hope. Blessings.
I could do today reading the proverbs, will make everything else irrelevant is,
not to be anxious and angry with circumstances, people around but to learn diligently listen to holly spirit and trust (come to peace with) that God will take care of every situation.
Thank you Ps Allen
Blessings
Thank you pastor Allan for taking us on the journey of Proverbs .
It was very interesting and helpful to study these scripture in depth.
Thank you for also sharing your personal experiences, with us
In conclusion to be assured that when we live according to God’s instruction ,we find total peace in Him .
Thankyou for sharing Allan. I can totally understand the season you went through after being in my last role for 23 years and having only the lord to put my faith in when all around me was falling apart. My trust in him has been rewarded ten fold.
Oh how painful an experience that would have been Ps Allan and the unfairness of the whole thing. Thanks for sharing. Such a powerful testimony your life and experiences you have shared.
Finishing on a ‘high’ note and encouragement knowing that there is rest in Him
Trusting God when everything is falling apart is a challenge and that is when Trusting him is put to the test and it goes from theory to real practical..
Listening is always crucial in our walk with God.
When I go for walks I am asking one question of the Lord and the rest of that walk I will praise while waiting for His response. Sometimes I feel I know what is required of me and others not. But the act of listening and trusting him to come through is powerful.
Reading God’s word is an act of learning to listen for what he will say
Worship music while I do my daily work, I listen to what He might say. This is not always conscious but sometimes I find myself actively listening as I pray.
Trusting, forgiving, and listening while going through painful experiences is hard.
I have enjoyed this study and it has got me thinking through The rest of my study of the Bible.
Thank you so much for this transparent and powerful personal stories you shared in relation to the proverbs. How amazing is God in all the life experiences.
Appreciate you Ps Allan.
I believe In God protection and provision
After losing our home a good job and left my family to find a job to support them
I couldn’t be with them and had to trust God to look after them one of the hardest things I had to face not been there for them but God wanted be to listen to him the season lasted a few years but God new everything so He provided a job at home just before the fires in Sydney and in Melbourne I didn’t have to go trough the fire anymore literally God protected me and send me home and the new job started just before the sickness attacking our world but God also new I had to be with my family in WA before all of this and miracle after miracle I can testify of His goodness I may not have the richest of thus world but I have a mighty God that knows every need every thought and He has protected and provide when we more needed it even putting the right people with a massive heart for the Lord line ps Allan
Also I can say listen to Jesus specially when it hurts search Him find His heart cause you are His child And He is there with you in the fire and out of it and all He wants is our heart so we know that even if He doesn’t gives what we ask it’s because He knows better and when the day come we will receive our blessings in His Kingdom.
Love you Jesus
This scripture is like honey to the soul. The Passion translation days “Free from fear, confident and courageous, you will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.”
Listen to the Lord and obey. Today I will practice stillness and listening. Confidence in knowing when He speaks is an area I desire most to grow in. Thank you Pastor Allan! Today’s devotional was encouraging!
Prov 1:33 is a great promise to hold on to. That we will be secure and at ease when we listen to God. That is a great question to ask myself: how do I practice listening to God? I know I do listen to God, but the next step I should take is to make it a daily practice. Thanks Ps Allan for this devotional 🙂
A word in season for me today Allan. Thank you.
I love the truth that God the Father wants to make peace with me. The firm relationship with the one who is in control makes me feel secure even when things are uncertain. I want to continue to learn how to listen to his voice clearer as a lifetime journey, not settling down for less 🙂
Reminds me of this old hymn “trust and obey, for there is no other way. To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”