Monday... It is so much better to impress.

We really don't like being looked down upon, do we? It is so much better to impress.

This verse caught my attention in my reading this morning. Proverbs 24:12 (MSG) says, "Someone is watching you closely, you know - Someone not impressed with weak excuses." But it can be so easy to make weak excuses. But they really don't impress, do they? And the one who is watching us closely is God, and for sure it doesn't impress him.

Now verse 10 (NLT) says, "If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small." And there is a great excuse in there. The Amplified Bible says, "If you are slack (careless) in the day of distress, your strength is limited." We need to be at our best during distress. In other words, not making excuses.

But let's go back to verses 3-4 (NLT), "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables."

The Amplified Bible says, "Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, and family] is built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], and by knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches." And 5a (NIRV) says, "Wise people have success by means of great power. Those who have knowledge gather strength."

Verse 16 (AMP) says, "For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumbles in time of disaster and collapse." Micah 7:8 says, "Do not rejoice over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy! Though I fall, I will arise; Though I sit in the darkness [of distress], the Lord is a light to me."

Verse 7 (MSG) says, "But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what God will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me." Now that is impressive and wise and really makes sense. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

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