Daily D – Proverbs 17:24

by | Jul 18, 2020 | Daily D | 0 comments

Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. PROVERBS 17:24 (NLT)

_____________________________________________________________________________

The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here. (MSG)

Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool’s eyes roam to the ends of the earth. (CSB)

We see what we focus on. We see what we are looking for rather than what is right in front of us. A buddy of mine was in a meeting last month. He collected information for a coworker who would participate in future meetings of the same team. However, when my buddy searched for those papers, he could not find them anywhere. Until yesterday morning, that is. 

There sitting on his desk was a binder with the papers he had been searching for. It’s always the last place you look. I cannot tell you how many times I have done something similar. 

The Message paraphrase of this proverb says, “The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard.” Turn to Prov. 6:6-11 and you will see what this means. The ants crawling around in your grass provide powerful lessons. I dare say no Ivy League school can improve on those observations. 

You can learn a lot by paying attention. 

  • How can you learn people’s names? Pay attention when they tell you who they are. 
  • How can you learn something new every day? Read broadly, but not so deeply that you develop tunnel vision.
  • How can you master a new subject? Learn, review, and teach someone else what you are learning. 

Attention is a gift, like self-discipline, we give ourselves. How many times have you walked away from meeting someone new and thought, “What was his name?”

How many times have you remembered how you read something one time about a particular topic, but it now eludes your grasp? 

How many times have you attempted to master a new subject but gave up because there were too many details to hold in your mind at the same time?

Attention is a refusal to allow distractions to disorient us. 

One of the finest gifts you can give someone is full, focused attention. When I speak somewhere or lead training events, there are always people before and afterward who want to talk. I like talking. I like making new friends and deepening existing relationships. However, when I am talking to one person, I give him or her full, focused attention even when someone else tries to interrupt. 

People tend to save the most important thing they will say until the last thing they say. If I open myself to interruption halfway into a conversation, I may as well have not listened at all. 

Perceptive people find wisdom everywhere because they are looking for it and recognize it when they see it. They do not need to waste time, money, and energy on a world cruise to “find themselves.” 

Where will you discover wisdom today? Look first wherever you are. Then you will not waste time searching for what is right on the corner of your desk.

_____________________________________________________________________________

I will seek wisdom wherever I am.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Our Father, you instruct us to ask for wisdom. You promise you will give it to us abundantly. You do not look down on us for our lack. Instead, you joyfully increase what we have and provide all we need. How good you are! Give us wisdom for this day and all that is before us. Amen.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

          Church Unique Logo          Auxano Logo

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – Job 1:9-11

Job 1:9-11 Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

Daily D – Psalm 145:17

Psalm 145:17
The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.

Daily D – Psalm 139:1-6

Psalm 139:1-6
O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, LORD.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

Daily D – Psalm 130

Psalm 130
From the depths of despair, O LORD,
I call for your help.
Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.

Daily D – Psalm 125:4-5

Psalm 125:4, 5
O LORD, do good to those who are good,
whose hearts are in tune with you.
But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O LORD.
Take them away with those who do evil.
May Israel have peace!