v 2 "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the hearts."

as i read this verse it was just a really in-the-face reinforcement of something 3 friends (separately) said to me today. how often do we fight to take control of our lives and all that is in it? so often that we forget to let Him take control. He weighs our hearts!

v 5 "The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty."

v 25 "The desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labour"

in my bid to learn diligence in seeking the Lord and reading the Lord's Word, how amazingly apt!

v 21 "He who follows righteousness and mercy,
Finds life, righteousness and honor."

when i read this, i thought of the following two verses-

"...what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" -Deuteronomy 10:12-13

"He has shown you, o man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justly,
to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God?"
- Micah 6:8

i remember how awestruck i was when i read micah 6:8 for the first time. and how incredibly challenged i was when i was introduced to deuteronomy 10:12-13 as a more comprehensive statement of the verse in micah. that is all He requires of me. to follow Him with all my heart and soul. what a simple commandment, yet i find it so hard to follow.

the concluding verse of Proverbs 21 truly crowned my day with goodness! the most striking reminder, and i was again reminded of this by 3 different friends today.

v 31 "The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but deliverance is of the Lord."

this immediately made me think of Elisha and this wonderful, wonderful account of God's power and goodness-

2 Kings 6

13 "Go, find out where he is," the king ordered, "so I can send men and capture him." The report came back: "He is in Dothan." 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.

16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

this is how it is. He surrounds me, everyday of my life. He protects me and guards me, I am not alone. and i am reminded that the battle is the Lord's, not mine. i have lost count of the number of times that i have faced discouragement in the face of adversity, in the face of doubts as to the existence of God/ Who God is and oh, the doubts are countless. but then i remember, the battle is the Lord's, and He will bring the victory at the end of life's day. i am but the messenger. i am responsible only to present the truth of the gospel in whatever way i can, the choice to accept it or reject it is yours and yours alone. also, a friend reminded me about prayer today. for wit and argument never won a man, but only by prayer and conduct and the nudging of the Holy Spirit.

Amen to that! may we never forget. and always bask in the joy of what it means to part of His special people. (: