Listen and Pray through Proverbs 14:29-30

Click the button below to listen and pray through this passage. This practice will take about 8 minutes.

Prepare

Today we are going to soak up some of God’s wisdom. So before we begin, let’s take a few moments to empty our minds of our own insights and opinions. After all, proverbs 3 tells us not to trust our own understanding.

Spend a few moments, centering your heart. As you sit quietly, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with wisdom and understanding. Open yourself up as a willing vessel to receive from Him today.

Today’s passage is just a few quick verses, so we’ll read them a few times to let them sink deeper into our thoughts and hearts. This first time, simply let the words wash over you. Don’t feel the need to jump right to application. Just sit with them for a minute.

Read

Proverbs 14:29-30

People with understanding control their anger;
a hot temper shows great foolishness.

³⁰A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;
jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Proverbs 2:1-6

My child, listen to what I say,

and treasure my commands.

²Tune your ears to wisdom,

and concentrate on understanding.

³Cry out for insight,

and ask for understanding.

⁴Search for them as you would for silver;

seek them like hidden treasures.

⁵Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,

and you will gain knowledge of God.

⁶For the Lord grants wisdom!

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Listen & Reflect

Is there a word or image that the Holy Spirit is bringing to your mind?

Read the passage again and allow it to speak to you personally. What might the Holy Spirt be trying to bring to the surface today?

I think we all can attest to the truth of these verses. We all have experienced how a hot-temper and quick anger has let to great foolishness and words we wish we could take back. Proverbs tells us the key to controlling our inevitable anger is understanding…not our own, but God’s divine wisdom.

Let’s ruminate on another passage of Proverbs for a minute as we seek this type understanding. Read Proverbs 2:1-6

As precious as it is, God does not hold back his wisdom from those who earnestly seek it. Spend a few moments asking the Lord to grant you wisdom and understanding so you’ll react to unfavorable circumstances with grace and patience rather than quick-tempered anger.

If there’s a specific situation coming to mind, bring it before the Lord and cry out for insight. Leave some space for him to respond and download his understanding upon you.

Read our original passage one more time. Allow it to sink deeper and even solidify in your memory so you’ll be able to recall it in a time of need.

Even before the science of psychology, the Lord knew the connection between stress and the health of our physical body. A healthy body comes from a heart and mind that is at peace. What has been robbing you of your peace recently? Perhaps is as proverbs claims…the thief of our peace is comparison and jealousy.

Take a few moments to open your heart to God and allow him to replace your striving and your discontentment with HIS peace. Let go of those stressors and things that are causing affliction in your body.

Fill me with your peace, Lord.

Pray

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the wisdom of Your Word. Teach me to be patient and to seek understanding rather than reacting in anger. Calm my heart when I feel frustrated or anxious, and give me the grace to respond with kindness and peace.

Lord, help me to guard my heart against envy and comparison. Let my contentment come from knowing You and trusting in Your plan for my life. Fill me with a peace that brings life and strength to my heart and mind.

I surrender my impatience, my anger, and my jealousy to You. Replace them with Your peace and wisdom so that I may walk in the fullness of life You desire for me.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.

Amen.