I have received some most encouraging words.
Wednesday 15th September.
I finished work as usual and came home. Sat myself down with a mug of tea, and instead of rushing through my reading of the Proverbs… although I don’t really rush… I spent some time instead just in sitting, meditating and thinking. It was really nice just to stop and think during the week, instead of leaving it until the Sabbath day. I then felt strongly inclined to finish my reading of Proverbs – chapter 15 – at verse 23 today, and one thing that struck me here was the exclamation mark at the end of verse 23. I had never noticed one before in the Bible.
After spending quite a bit longer than usual at the Word this day, I turned on my pc to catch up on my emails, the news and various other worldly distractions, and was immediately overcome with an email I received. Just a short message, but full of the most encouraging words I have heard in such a long, long time. Joy washed over me as I thought on how to respond. I had so many thoughts about abounding in the work of the Lord, how the hearts of men are in His hands, about encouraging words, and of the providence of God.
I have been trying for some time now to update this blog with a suitable entry combining these thoughts, and was led to several verses including; Proverbs 5v21, Proverbs 21v2 – (which incidentally was the headline in my Daily Light this morning) - and Proverbs 21v1, which spoke to me most about the message I received – but somehow it still didn’t feel quite right.
Getting a little frustrated at this point, I remembered somehow the exclamation mark at the end of the 23rd verse earlier, and so did an online search for exclamation marks in the bible. After searching now, I am aware that there are in fact quite a few exclamation marks throughout the Bible. A quick re-read of verse 23 and my eyes were opened. These were the very words I needed, the very words that I had read earlier, but thought nothing of bar the exclamation mark!
“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Proverbs 15. v23)
A word spoken in due season, how good is it!
How good indeed. I pray that many will give and receive their own encouraging words this day.
