Proverbs 17:1-3 were standout verses for me today. The first felt like Solomon was writing from a place of regret. It reminded me of the verse, a few chapters ago that talked about the amount of food that was consumed daily at his house. Sounded like daily feasting but with a lot of drama. Lil he may have wished all the wealth away at a point. The second verse reminded me about the parable of the wedding guest that Jesus told. God will open the doors for prudent servants to rule if the His chosen people decide to be disgraceful. He’s not a respecter of persons. The third verse emphasizes the good that comes with being tested. God uses it to bring out the best in us, just like the gold and silver in context. It’s why we’re told to count it all joy when we go through trials and temptations.

Proverbs 17:28 “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues’’. This is one of my favorite Proverbs ❤️ There are many instances in which we would like to air our opinions or have our voices heard concerning a matter. Depending on the situation however, sometimes silence is the best response. Reminds me of the saying ‘silence may be misunderstood but it can never be misquoted’. May the Holy Spirit give us the wisdom and discernment to know when it is ‘time to be silent and when it is time to speak’ Ecclesiastes 3:7b🙏🏾

Prob 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;the godly run to him and are safe” When I am under pressure,where do I run to?Sometimes my first instinct is to figure everything out on my own or look for human solutions before I even pray.I am being reminded that the real solution is found in God. Verse 21”The tongue can bring death or life;those who love to talk will reap the consequences “ Words are not just words. One word can either encourage someone or make the person commit suicide. There are words we say that leave wounds and it takes several years to heal. I am being reminded to be careful of the things I say so that people around me can feel lighter when they leave my presence and not make them sad. Vrs 24 “There are ‘friends’who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother” This makes me think of what true friendship mean. We live in a world that is so easy to get thousands of contacts yet feel alone. A true friend is someone that stays with you through thick and thin. They would literally die for you. I am being reminded to be a friend that does these things rather than ask if I have friends that are dependable. This verse is also a beautiful reminder that Jesus is that friend who never abandons us, never grows tired of us and stays with us even when everyone walks away. Jesus’ friendship is really the blueprint of how we should care and love our friends regardless. I am also being reminded of the friendship between David and Jonathan. I will leave you with this hymn as a reflection and reminder of who Jesus is to us “ What a friend we have in Jesus”

Prov 17:22.."A merry heart doest good like medicine"... We have to be delebrate about being happy and joyful as much as we can, even amidst life challenges,lets learn to laugh, also reminding ourselves of our past victories and what God has done in the past helps us to be able to still express gratitud even when our reality doesn't suggest that. When we are joyful ,it goes beyound us, the energy affects our environment and and people around us. Vs 27-28 also really stood out to me,We don't have to win every argument to prove we are smart, sometimes the wisest thing to say is nothing, you have more honor when you keep quiet most times. Also there is a high tendecy to sin when we talk too much, little exaggerating here and there which is actually lie and sin. In a world full of noise, the ability to speak wisely is rare,so lets learn to only speak when we really have to and let our words be seasoned with grace at all times.