Esteem Wisdom

Proverbs 3:15 (VOICE) No gem is more precious than she is— your most extravagant desire doesn’t come close to her.

Beloved, the earthly things you value pale in comparison to wisdom that comes from Me. For true wisdom brings freedom and hope, power and life, so resist the urge to marginalize it or treat it as something you can lightly choose not to embrace.

One who is wise embraces wisdom. Those who do not, cloak themselves in foolishness and bring ruin upon themselves. I desire that you choose wisdom because I understand the the negative consequences if you do not. And though I want you to choose well, the choice still belongs to you. So choose wisely, beloved.

Proverbs 3:13-20 (VOICE) How fortunate are those who discover Lady Wisdom and those who understand her ways! For her worth is greater than the most expensive prize you could win. Her profit is greater than the finest thing you could buy. No gem is more precious than she is— your most extravagant desire doesn’t come close to her. She holds the secret of a long life in one hand and riches and fame in her other hand. Her ways are pleasant; all of her pathways are peaceful. She is like a tree that produces a satisfied life for anyone who can wrap their arms around her; happiness waits for any who hold her tightly. It was by wisdom that the Eternal fashioned the earth and by understanding that He designed the heavens. Through His knowledge, the deep was divided into seas and sky, and the clouds understood when to let down the morning dew.

Positioned to Receive {Moments with God}

Proverbs 3:9 (VOICE) Pay tribute to the Eternal in all of your affairs. Honor Him with the best of what you make.

{Speaking to God} I want to honor You with all that I have. It all comes from You anyway, so I owe all I have to You. But to give You my first and my best, seems like a small way to give thanks and honor for the abundance of love and grace You have for me. It also helps me resist the urge to be in fear that you’ll suddenly reject me and be mindful of my needs. So I choose to honor You first because You are worthy.

{He smiles as He replies} I receive your heartfelt offering, for I know you give it with joy. I receive the honor you’re bestowing on Me, and I value the trust you place in Me. You are My beloved, and I love to lavish you with goodness, so I love that you are intentional to keep your heart rightly positioned to receive.

Proverbs 3:9-12 (VOICE) Pay tribute to the Eternal in all of your affairs. Honor Him with the best of what you make. That way you will prosper to the fullest and have plenty of food to eat and wine to drink. My son, do not ignore the Eternal’s instruction or lose heart when He steps in to correct you; Because the Eternal proves His love by caring enough to discipline you, just as a father does his child, his pride and joy.

Act with Care and Wisdom

Proverbs 3:2 (VOICE) If you do, they will be your guide to a long, healthy, prosperous life.

Beloved, My Word sustains you, for it brings forth life. If you would walk in blessing, it is wise to choose that which brings forth blessing. For you cannot sow one type of seed and then expect to bring forth another type of harvest.

Be intentional to choose that which brings forth blessing, and to eschew things that which bring forth curses. For negative outcomes of bad choices are not a punishment from Me, they are simply consequences. So walk wisely. Act with care and wisdom that you might prosper and live a long and beautiful life.

Proverbs 3:1-4 (VOICE) My son, always remember what I have taught you; keep my instructions dear to your heart. If you do, they will be your guide to a long, healthy, prosperous life. Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth; engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck; meditate on them so they are written upon your heart. In this way, you will win the favor of God and others, and they will think well of you.

Choose Wisely What Your Character Reflects

Matthew 5:44-45 (VOICE) …Pray for those who torment you and persecute you— in so doing, you become children of your Father in heaven…

Beloved, when someone wrongs you, you do not have to return it in kind. Instead of stooping to their negative behavior, respond with a heart that reflects Me. One filled with compassion and mercy. For any ill they’ve done or said against you is a greater reflection of them and their character than it is of yours.

Choose wisely what you want your character to reflect. If you want to reflect Me, respond to those who wrong you with forgiveness (even if they haven’t asked) and love (even if they don’t want it). For in reflecting godly behavior, you bless and honor Me, so let that be enough encouragement and resist the urge to rely on any human response.

Matthew 5:44-48 (VOICE) But I tell you this: love your enemies. Pray for those who torment you and persecute you— in so doing, you become children of your Father in heaven. He, after all, loves each of us—good and evil, kind and cruel. He causes the sun to rise and shine on evil and good alike. He causes the rain to water the fields of the righteous and the fields of the sinner. It is easy to love those who love you—even a tax collector can love those who love him. And it is easy to greet your friends—even outsiders do that! But you are called to something higher: “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Hard Choices

Matthew 5:44 (VOICE) But I tell you this: love your enemies…

Beloved, if you choose to walk with Me, the path isn’t always easy. However, it is beautiful – sometimes poignantly so. Making the hard choices and dying to your flesh are key parts of the journey. How can you love someone who is your enemy? Seek to understand them. Seek to understand what motivates them. Strive to remember who they are to Me – My creation.

You can love someone without agreeing with them. You can be “for” someone without agreeing with all their choices. Loving your enemies, beloved, is about wanting My best for them – even if you don’t think they deserve it, because you realize what they should or should not have isn’t your judgment call to make. So you choose to trust Me and yield to My perfect wisdom.

Matthew 5:44-48 (VOICE) But I tell you this: love your enemies. Pray for those who torment you and persecute you— in so doing, you become children of your Father in heaven. He, after all, loves each of us—good and evil, kind and cruel. He causes the sun to rise and shine on evil and good alike. He causes the rain to water the fields of the righteous and the fields of the sinner. It is easy to love those who love you—even a tax collector can love those who love him. And it is easy to greet your friends—even outsiders do that! But you are called to something higher: “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Grace-Filled Progress

Psalm 86:15 (TPT) But Lord, your nurturing love is tender and gentle. You are slow to get angry yet so swift to show your faithful love. You are full of abounding grace and truth.

Beloved, I’m not impatient with you. Nor am I frustrated when you’re slow to learn. I know when your heart is set on Me. So even in the moments you fall short, I see your imperfect progress for what it is: progress.

Resist the urge to become frustrated with yourself when you’re slower to change and grow than you’d like. For the energy is wasted, and much better spent helping you focus on continued progress – regardless of how slow you may find it.

I AM patient. I support you. I believe in you. I AM with you. I’m guiding you. Reflect the same grace to yourself that I do. And remember, I AM all you need.

Psalm 86:13-17 (TPT) You love me so much and you placed your greatness upon me. You rescued me from the deepest place of darkness, and you have delivered me from a certain death. God, look at how these arrogant ones have defied me. Like a vicious band of violent men they have tried to kill me. They wouldn’t worry for a moment that they were sinning against you! But Lord, your nurturing love is tender and gentle. You are slow to get angry yet so swift to show your faithful love. You are full of abounding grace and truth. Bring me to your grace-fountain so that your strength becomes mine. Be my hero and come rescue your servant once again! Send me a miraculous sign to show me how much you love me, so that those who hate me will see it and be ashamed. Don’t they know that you, Lord, are my comforter, the one who comes to help me?

Listen Well

Psalm 86:11 (TPT) Teach me more about you, how you work and how you move, so that I can walk onward in your truth until everything within me brings honor to your name.

Beloved, listen well. And don’t just listen, but hear. For I have much to share with you, and there’s so much for you to learn. But that requires a heart both open and desirous of learning – so choose well.

To be more like Me, you must know Me. To walk in My ways, you must know My ways. It’s not simply enough for you to do what you believe is right, for your human perspective is limited, making your judgment imperfect. But I see things rightly, for I see and know all. So trust Me to lead. Trust Me to teach. And choose to listen well.

Psalm 86:9-12 (TPT) Lord Almighty, you are the one who created all the nations; Look at them—they’re all on their way! Yes, the day will come when they all will worship you and put your glory on display. You are the one and only God. What miracles! What wonders! What greatness belongs to you! Teach me more about you, how you work and how you move, so that I can walk onward in your truth until everything within me brings honor to your name. With all my heart and passion I will thank you, my God! I will give glory to your name, always and forever!

Choose the Better Part

Luke 10:42 (TPT) Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet…

Beloved, dwell with Me. For to taste the sweet nectar of intimacy requires first partaking in the fruit. Make our time together a priority. Even if all you have available are stolen moments – find them. In doing so, you demonstrate your priorities. Refuse to let the busyness of life keep you away, for there will always be something or someone calling for your time.

Choose the better part: time with Me. For in My presence you find necessary refreshing for your soul. Indeed My love will look forward to you, and that joy then brings you strength. Indeed time with Me is vital to your well-being, so make it a priority. I AM calling, beloved. Come and dwell with Me.

Luke 10:38-42 (TPT) As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”

Note: this Prophetic Nugget was featured on a Lunchtime Live on the Dyed4you Ministries Facebook page. You can watch a recording of the livestream by visiting: Lunchtime Live: Choosing the Better Part

Currency of Time

Luke 10:41 (TPT) The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important?

Beloved, pause to ponder what keeps you from Me. Are they things that are truly important? And if not, what need or desire are they filling? Is it one I can fulfill? There is no shame in having activities in your life, for I AM with you even as you “go and do”; however, it’s easy to be drawn away from the things that truly matter by fruitless, time-killing activities, or things of high urgency, but low importance.

Each moment of your life is a gift, and only I know the number of your days. So spend your currency of time wisely and intentionally. Moments of silly fun can be beautifully refreshing, and yet if that is the fullness of your life, it’s like dining on cotton candy alone. It lacks in substance and sustenance. So choose wisely, for the days are short, and time “wasted” on Me is never wasted. So press in, beloved, and find your life in Me.

Luke 10:38-42 (TPT) As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”

Welcome Me

Luke 10:38-39 (TPT) As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary…

Beloved, the first step to intimacy is creating room for it to occur. Just as a couple cannot experience intimacy if they never spend time alone together or are constantly allowing interruptions to disturb them, so we cannot experience an intimate relationship if you do not make room for Me.

Welcome Me, beloved. Invite Me to tarry with you just as I’ve invited you to dwell with Me. In life you have many choices of where to spend your time. Choose Me. Welcome Me. Then keep welcoming Me. It is not a one-time occurrence, but rather an ongoing relationship. So create the space, make room, and abide with Me.

Luke 10:38-42 (TPT) As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”