Insightful Musings on the Scripturesby
Ray Sparre, NU class of '67
Ray has a wealth of experience as a Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, and student of the Word. He believes and practices his faith where the rubber meets the road. You'll find his writings to be practical, insightful, and grounded in a truly Christ-centered world view.
Below are links to a printable daily Bible reading guide which Ray has followed, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010 and 2011.
| Sparre Home Page | Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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15 Dec 11
Good morning, dear people.
I’m hearing the rain on the roof. And I need to hurry and get out in it. I need to deliver some lumber right away. Of course, there’s a lot more on my list than that.
May you be blessed with a sound mind and an upward look as you process your day.
Love, Dad/Ray
15 December 2011
Proverbs 15
Focus: “The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.” Proverbs 15:26.
Read that statement several times. Think about it. Now, consider this poignant question: WHAT DO YOU THINK GOD THINKS ABOUT YOUR THINKING?
Please allow me to be repetitious and call your attention once again to a vital prayer that David prayed at the end of Psalm 19. “May the words of my mouth (verbal expressions that flow out of my thinking) and the meditation of my heart (thought patterns that form my attitudes, views, choices, and behavior) be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). I refer to this as a vital prayer because I cannot conceive of a disposition of heart and mind that could be any more important than this one. It makes a lot of sense for me to use my own thinker this way: If I honestly believe that God sees my thoughts as clearly as He sees my body (“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” Proverbs 15:3), and if I know that my thinking governs my course and quality before Him, why would I not do my utmost to seek Him, plead for His help, and draw from His resources for proper and pleasing thinking?!?! After all He monitors all my thoughts anyway, shouldn’t I also participate in monitoring? Yes indeed!
Be reminded that Paul had something to say about thought monitoring and management. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Norman Vincent Peale who wrote “THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING” would like this chapter of Proverbs. There are several verses that feature the importance of positive, optimistic, up-beat thinking. “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit” (v. 13). “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast” (v. 15). “Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil (stress)” (v. 16). “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred (negative thinking)” (v. 17).
Obviously, you are not responsible for the weather. It’s beyond your control. But if you are equipped with a reasonably sound mind and balanced chemistry, be reminded that the climate of your mind is largely your responsibility.
“Optimism: A cheerful frame of mind that enables a tea kettle to sing though in hot water up to its nose.”