Topic: Divine Counsel [Friday April 7, 2017]
Text: Proverbs 19:21-29
Key Verse: “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:21).
The May 2009 edition of Readers Digest shared a story of a couple who asked a pastor to perform their marriage ceremony. He proceeded to tell them that he used to give several sessions of premarital counseling before performing weddings and would want to do so for them. The couple replied, “We don’t need counseling. We’ve both been married several times before.”
Guess who needed counseling most! Someone said that the trouble with good advice is that it usually interferes with your plans. How true! We need the counsel of God because it is always dependable. You cannot do without His opinion in your life. The passage under study opens our eyes to the advantages that will come our way when we accept and exalt the counsel of God in every area of our life. It will influence our desire so that we will be honest in our dealings.
When we abide by His counsel, we will fear Him, enjoy a contented life and be preserved from evil. His counsel will guide us against slothfulness. We will easily take correction and in the process, receive understanding. God’s counsel will influence those we associate ourselves with and will guide us in rejecting misleading counsels from people. It also discloses that divine counsel will help us in escaping the anger of God. It is neither wise nor safe for anyone to reject the counsel of God. The best of us with the clearest vision is shortsighted. Our vision of tomorrow is blurred at the best.
It is only the One who knows what is ahead who can rightly guide and direct. The wise thing to do really, as we proceed as pilgrims to heaven is to repose less trust on ourselves, but more in God’s counsels and admonitions.
Thought for the day: Many receive advice, only the wise profit by it.
Bible Reading in one Year: Deuteronomy 13-16
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
