Of what use is money in the hand of a fool since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom? Proverbs 17:16, TLV

Are You Provoked?   There is a process of meditating on the Bible that I loosely call the “Provoke Method.” Over the years, I’ve always known it as “When Something Causes a Really Strong Emotion Method.” I like their name better.

As an author—and reader—I read a novel where the characters used this method. The story elicited such emotion from me. That emotion touched tender spots in my heart. After reading the book, I questioned why the emotion hit me so profoundly. That question became a lesson from the Holy Spirit.

Essentially, employing this method means reading a verse or section of Scripture several times — they recommend reading out loud, but I don’t think it is necessary — all the while paying attention to words or phrases that “provoke” us. These are the words or phrases that tug out emotions within us.

The wonder of that provocation or emotion is that it’s the Holy Spirit touching us — directing us to something deeper. Deeper inside us that might need some looking at, with Him.

If we choose to ignore that prompting, we’re really no different than the fool who has wealth in their hand, and no intention of pursuing where our Heavenly Father is leading us.

What does it look like?

What could the Provoke Method look like for us practically?

For me, with today’s Proverb chapter, I kept coming back to this verse. But I honestly couldn’t see the connection or what the Holy Spirit was trying to show me.

Full disclosure here: sometimes I’ll pray for guidance, but sometimes it is, “I don’t get why I’m feeling this one. How does this apply to me?”

I stepped away and in the middle of cleaning, I got it: When I ignore that provoking to dig deeper, I’m no less foolish than the fool. Ah!

So, then I grabbed my handy dandy journal and began writing.

As I wrote, I wondered if you had heard of the “Provoke Method.” Then I thought, maybe this information will be a blessing to you as well.

And because I love you all, I then transpose my random insights into this blog so I can get your feedback, too.

After over 20 years of reading the same passages each day, it’s awesome to know that the Holy Spirit is there waiting to take me deeper—deeper insights, healing, wisdom, knowledge, etc. Really it is pretty exciting, don’t you think?

Anything that draws me closer to Daddy, I’m game? How about you?

May we notice the provoking words, my friends.

Have certain passages provoked a surprising emotion in you? How did you handle it?

Thanks for stopping by for the read. You know I love your comments and insights, so please use the comments section to post your thoughts. And I also greatly appreciate your shares. Thanks again, and God bless.