Today’s Blog: What Will We Take Into Our “New Normal?”
TODAY’S PROVERB: You are repulsed at my rebuke. Behold, I pour out my heart to you. I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23, TLV
Can you believe we’re nearly halfway through 2020? Since it’s a new month, it is time to roll back to the beginning of Proverbs. With the year we’ve experienced thus far, we can all use new revelations, deeper insights, and reminders of GOD’s truth — and His love.
Today’s proverb is a bit tough on us. As I read the pericope (vss. 20-33), I was struck by Wisdom’s pleading for us to pay attention to her warnings.
There’s a lot of rhetoric out there about the pandemic. Everything from doom and gloom to claims that COVID-19 is nothing but a hoax. I won’t enter these debates or give my opinion. What I will say is that I now know how Wisdom felt in these passages.
As restrictions lift, the sweet sense of unity — that we were all in this together — seems to be evaporating like a single raindrop on a blistering sidewalk. Arguments have escalated into criticism, judgment, name-calling, and people questioning other’s faith in GOD. And that was before the rioting and violence across the nation.
What will we take into our “new normal” life? Have we learned anything useful to our day-to-day life? Remember compassion? Concern? Intercession? Respect and honor for those who risked their life for ours? What was poured into our heart?
We have a choice . . .
The way I see it, we have a choice of what is poured into our heart. The good things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, virtuous, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8), or mistrust, doubt, accusations, judgment, and whatever is deemed worthy of criticism.
“After the earthquake a fire, but Adonai was not in the fire. After the fire there was a soft whisper of a voice. As soon as Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then all of a sudden, a voice addressed him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'”
1 KINGS 19:12-13, TLV
What are we doing here?
Do we trust that our Heavenly Father will show us the truth when we need it, or do we accept the loudest words we hear? If we’re listening to the clamorous speech around us, how can we hear our Father’s still, small voice?
What will we take into our “new normal?” Whatever the wisdom our Father’s Holy Spirit has shown us? Wisdom that demonstrates His love and truth? Will we continue to bring soup to a sick friend, run errands, check on those who are alone, pray? Or, not.
Irrespective of what the last six or seven months were all about, we can be better people because of it. It’s our choice. Choose wisely.
May our “new normal” demonstrate who we have become, my friends.
Proverbs 1:23 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
