What I Desire

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
WHAT I DESIRE
Prov 1:3
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
NIV
The lack of discipline is by far one of my greater issues to deal with. My mind travels in so many different directions, and my actions generally follow my mind. This daily devotion time has been one thing I have been able to discipline myself to do. Reading and studying the Scripture surely has to be one of the best disciplines to work on. Spending time, not so much talking to God, but listening has proved to be a good discipline as well. But there are still so many areas, I need to work on. As far as being able to decide the right time and place, the right choice to either say or respond, act or not act, requires a large decree of prudence. I know I have said, “it wouldn’t be prudent at this juncture,” in jest at times, but that is truly the case in many situations and I have to be more aware of when that prudent situation is. Of course living a prudent life is a life of discipline in a certain sense. I have to ask myself if I am able to govern myself using reason. Do I just act, or do I reason through the situation and govern myself accordingly? With the mind God has given us, that may only take a millisecond or so to reason through and respond in a governed manner, than just from the instinct of self. If I am able to discipline myself and use the power of reason, being prudent, than I think I would also be doing what is right and just and fair. Who would ever say to themselves I am doing what is wrong, unjust and unfair? But I think if I am would be honest with myself I might find at times that is either my action or reaction. Instead of doing what is right I do the wrong, instead of being just, I am unjust, and rather than be fair, I am unfair. But that is not all the time, but just when that old self screams so loud it drowns out that still small voice of God. Keeping that voice quiet in order to hear God requires discipline and prudence. This is the goal here, the aim of the exercise. Being disciplined, living a prudent life, doing right, being just and fair is what I desire.