Lent 2024 | Day 18

By Janet Nygren
Day 18 (Tuesday, Mar 5)

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.¹

Pause and pray.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. (Prov. 12:1)

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. (Prov. 12:15)

Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. (Prov. 29:1)

Think about it.

Proverbs is a great place to go for wisdom on various themes. The ones shown today reflect wisdom on how the author views stubbornness about being corrected. In the world of Proverbs, there are two kinds of people–the wise and the foolish. Following the path of Jesus will always be walking in the way of wisdom. These proverbs make it pretty clear that insisting on being right falls in the category of the foolish, which does not end in a J-Curve, but rather destruction.

Consider.

Sometimes it’s easier to think about others before we think about ourselves. In your mind, consider various categories of people: people in the Bible, in your family, in the political realm, or in other areas of your life. In your list, who follows the way of wisdom–welcoming discipline, advice, even rebukes? Who follows the way of foolishness–hating correction, focused on their own opinion, or stiff-necked, insisting on their own way? How would you characterize yourself?

Pause and pray.

Jesus, help me trust you.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Notes

1. Prayer used daily in Lectio365 found at https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/