Grace Restoration Ministries

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you. (Proverbs 22:17-19 ESV). These verses in Proverbs tell us that when we submit to and confess the Word of…

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;…

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a…

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! (Proverbs 20:6-7 ESV) Talk is cheap. Boasting is worthless. Your history is irrelevant. True character is known by present actions and results, not by self-praise, past events, explanations, or excuses (cf. Proverbs 20:11). Yet fools talk more than wise men (cf. Proverbs 14:33; 29:11), and sluggards talk…

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 ESV). Today we come to one of the most famous, well-known Proverbs. At this point in our journey toward wisdom it is a good time to think about friends in our life. Friends we might have now. Friends we might have had in the past. And the value of friends who love us and people who love us, who walk…

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. (Proverbs 16:31 ESV). I’ve had gray hair since my early 40’s. I did not count myself among the elderly or wise. I have managed to get to 74, which does indicate I am a part of the group known as “elderly.” Today’s reading is much like it’s counterpart found in Proverbs 20:29, which adds a contrast between young men and people…

A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,…

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. (Proverbs 15:1-4 ESV). I have skipped ahead in our study of the Book of Proverbs.…

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your…