Today's Verse: Proverbs 19:15

Monday, October 3, 2011

Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

I was raised in a family with three boys. Dad had a theory: A certain amount of testosterone had to be burned off by each boy every day. If it weren't burned off daily, the house would quickly become unlivable, so he always had hard work for us to do outside. Dad didn't have to memorize Proverbs 19:15 - it was embedded in his DNA! Growing up, I didn't appreciate the importance of hard work. They didn't call it "hard" in our neck of the woods by accident! In those boyhood years, I would have been content to be a lollygagger (in "Cornbread English," that's what Solomon's ol' lazy, "shiftless man") without my dad's imposed work requirements as a boy. As I've grown older, I've found that working hard with my hands has many redeeming qualities, while being a lollygagger has NONE. Lollygagging should never be confused with genuine rest to honor God and help us prepare to do a week of hard work!

My Prayer...

El Shaddai, God over all things, please teach me the balance between work and rest. Help me to balance both so that I can bring you honor and display your gracious rule over my heart and my time. Help me be productive, hard-working, and honorable. In the name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Proverbs 19:15 — Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, October 3, 2011

A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
"Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" He was....."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"I speak the truth in Christ — I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit ..."
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, giver of bread and wine, When we come together as your family to partake of bread and wine, let it truly be "the Lord's supper" which we..."
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
"O God, we meditate on your unfailing love ... As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.