Today's Verse: Proverbs 16:19

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What is your source of significance? This proverb challenges us to view the world upside down compared to the rest of our culture. It's similar to how Jesus taught us to live in the Sermon on the Mount - to not live for the here and now, but to live for the Kingdom of God here and now because we know our Father in heaven sees us and values what we do (Matthew 6:1-4, 6, 17-18). God values humility and our willingness to be identified with the lowly and oppressed - again, similar to how Jesus lived. Abusive power and arrogance are not pleasing to God. God didn't just give us this proverb; he sent us his Son to demonstrate it (Philippians 2:5-11). Now, if we will only choose to live this truth. And Jesus challenges us to display it when he says, "Follow me!" For...
Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

My Prayer...

Father, I do recognize my weakness and vulnerability to temptation, to the lure of my culture's facades, and to the pressure to be like the "popular crowd." Thank you for Jesus: You had power but displayed humility, and you had position but identified with the abandoned, forgotten, and rejected. Please use me to be a difference-maker in my world by including those who are left out, forgotten, and disenfranchised. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Proverbs 16:19 — Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, August 23, 2025

The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
"What a veil is lifted up by these words, and what a disclosure is made! It will be humbling and profitable for us to pause awhile and see this sad..."
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, righteous judge, Who could argue against your righteous judgment? Who would claim that those who refuse to see truth should not be left...."
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
"[Jesus, the Word] came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him."
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"Don’t say that you are only a boy. You will go wherever I send you. You will say whatever I command you to say. Don’t be afraid of people. I am with...."

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.