Doyle Smith Daily

Proverbs 29:1 (God's Word) Originally published 01/02/2013 "A person who will not bend after many warnings will suddenly be broken beyond repair" Proverbs 29:1 (God’s Word).   Lord, you are telling me that you are speaking to me in the criticisms and advice that I get and that I must learn, grow, and change. Show me which of these comes from you and which from the Devil, because they often feel the same. Help me to grow and learn.

Proverbs 28: 9 (God's Word) Originally published 01/01/2013 "Surely the prayer of someone who refuses to listen to God's teachings is disgusting" Proverbs 28:9 (God's Word). Lord, this is really disturbing to think that when I pray it might disgust you. If I refuse to listen to your teachings, please make it clear to me, and if my prayer disgusts you, please tell me.

Proverbs 27:1 (God's Word) Originally published 12/31/2012 “Do not brag about tomorrow, because you do not know what another day may bring” Proverbs 27:1 (God's Word). Lord, help me to focus on this day and not to waste it doing ‘good’ things, but to do ‘good’ things that are important to you.

Proverbs 26:11 (God's Word) Originally published 12/29/2012 Why do the same bad things keep happening to me? “As a dog goes back to his vomit, so a fool repeats his stupidity" Proverbs 26:11 (God's Word). The Bible describes a ‘fool’ as someone who does what they think is right instead of doing what God thinks is right. Lord, please reveal my stupidity to me, and show me your way to think and live.

Proverbs 25:28 (God's Word) Originally published 12/28/2012 “Like a city broken into and left without a wall, so is a person who lacks self-control" Proverbs 25:28 (God's Word). Lord, I cannot control myself. I ask you to direct my life and help me obey your Spirit, which you promised would teach me self-control. 

Proverbs 24:3-4 (God's Word) Originally published 12/27/2012 How to build a home: "With wisdom a house is built. With understanding it is established. With knowledge its rooms are filled with every kind of riches, both precious and pleasant" Proverbs 24:3-4 (God's Word). Lord, I often do not understand, and I don't know what to do, and the choices I make are certainly not wise. Without you building a home is impossible. Give me what I do not have. 

Proverbs 23:12-14 (God's Word) Originally published 12/26/2912 God wants everyone to control their mind, will, emotions, and body. “Live a more disciplined life, and listen carefully to words of knowledge. Do not hesitate to discipline a child. If your spank him, he will not die. Spank him yourself and you will save his soul from hell” Proverbs 23:12-14 (God's Word). I have always been thankful that my parents taught me self-control. Lord, help me to do what I need to do today in the way it should be done.

Proverbs 22:1 (God's Word) Originally published 12/25/2012 When Jesus was growing up, what things shaped his life? I think this was a principle that really was evident in his living. "A good name is more desirable than great wealth. Respect is better than silver or gold" Proverbs 22:1 (God's Word). Lord, may my character be the most valued thing in my life. 

Proverbs 21:31 (God's Word) Originally published 12/24/2012 "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord” Proverbs 21:31 (God's Word). Lord, help me to plan and do the very best I can, but when the result and success come, help me to give you the credit. 

Proverb 20:24 (God's Word) Originally published 12/22/2012 It is hard for me to remember this: “The Lord is the one who directs a person's steps. How then can   anyone understand his own way?" Proverbs 20:24 (God' Word). I still sometimes get upset and agitated when something or someone interrupts my plans, only to discover that it was the hand of God directing my life. Lord, when something happens that I have not planned, help me to ask first if this is you at work.

Proverbs 19:11 (God's Word) Originally published 12/21/2012 The holiday season brings stress because it brings people into my life. This is a good reminder to me: "A person with good sense is patient, and it is to his credit that he overlooks an offense" Proverbs 19:11 (God's Word). Lord, give me patience with everyone; help me ignore anything that might offend me.  

Proverbs 18:24 (God's Word) Originally published 12/20/2012   "Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family” Proverbs 18:24 (God’s Word). I was thinking about people who have done things that hurt me and those that had believed in me more than I did myself. But then I wondered if anyone would see me as that person who stuck closer than family. Lord, make me a "loving friend."

Proverbs 17: 1, 14 (God's Word) Originally published 12/19/2012 God's direction for the Christmas holiday season: "Better a bite of dry bread eaten in peace than a family feast filled with strife" Proverbs 17:1 (God's Word). Then: "Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before the argument gets out of control" Proverbs 17:14 (God's Word).

Proverbs 16:20 (God's Word) Originally published 12/18/2015 God makes life simple, "Whoever gives attention to the LORD'S word prospers, and blessed is the person who trusts the LORD" Proverbs 16:20 (God's Word). Learn what God says to do, and do it, and he takes care of all the rest

Proverbs 14:34 (God's Word) Originally published 12/17/2012 “Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society” Proverbs 14:34 (God’s Word). It is easy to see how Mr. Lanza's behavior has impacted our nation, but God says that everyone of us has an impact. A big glob of dirt is composed of many small particles. We all contribute to the moral climate of our homes, communities, and nation. We have to ask God, "Does my behavior lift or disgrace my world?" Lord, give me the wisdom and ability to make choices of which you approve.

Proverbs 14:12 (God's Word) Originally published 12/15/2012 “There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it leads to death”  Proverbs 14:12 (God's Word). I have never met a person who was in deep trouble because of their choices who would not say they tried to make the very best choices at the time. We all think the choices we make are good ones even though they sometimes prove to be destructive. We can see the error in the shooter's thinking because it does not match what we see as "right." I wonder how many times God shakes his head at our choices and says, "What in the world were they thinking?" Our only safety in decision making is to check our choices against the clear instructions of God. Our wisdom is not reliable.

Proverbs 13:21 (God's Word Translation) Originally published 12/14/2012 Why do I have so many problems? Why me? "Disaster hunts down sinners, but righteous people are rewarded with good" Proverbs 13:21 (God's Word). Obedience to God brings good to your life.

Proverbs 12:1 (God's Word Translation) Originally published 12/13/2012 “Whoever loves discipline loves to learn, but whoever hates correction is a dumb animal” Proverbs 12:1 (God's Word Translation). Lord, I want to learn, so teach me to love discipline and to humble myself to love correction.

 Proverbs 11:3 (God's Word Translation) Originally published 12/12?2012 Proverbs 11:3 (God’s Word Translation). “Integrity guides decent people, but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin.” Lord, make the inside of my life the same as what people see.

Numbers 35:9-12 (ESB) Originally published 10/20/2015 Every human life is precious to God because he made that person, and to take a life is a serious offense to God. "And the LORD spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment'" Numbers 35:9-12 (ESV). God was protecting someone who accidentally killed a person and eliminate revenge killings. Lord, thank you for showing me that killing someone is more than breaking the law, but destroying someone you have made in your image. Remind me to think of each person I have contact with as someone who reflects your image and is precious to you.

Numbers 35:1-2 (ESV) Originally published 10/19/2015 The Levites took care of the temple, provided the music, taught the law, and assisted the priests. "The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 'Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pastureland around the cities'" Numbers 35:1-2 (ESV).  The Levites worked for God and served the people, but God did not give them land or any means of providing for themselves. God required the people that they served to provide for them. Lord, I give you thanks for all the people in the churches I have served who provided financially for me and my family. I was called to serve you, and you have provided for me through the churches you asked me to serve.

Numbers 34:16-17;29 (ESV) Originally published 10/17/2015 God's plan was that every Israelite family would have a permanent place to live and land to provide food. There were thousands of families, and the land was unknown to them. "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying 'These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance:...'" Numbers 34:16-17 (ESV). Then he proceeds to name the people who are to do this enormous job. "These are the men whom the LORD commanded  to divide the inheritance for the people of Israel in the land of Canaan" Numbers 34:29 (ESV). God did not ask the men if they would. He commanded them to do it, and they did the job, which had to be very difficult, time consuming, and filled with the potential of resentment. When we surrender our lives to Christ, he has the right to command us to do his work, and he expects obedience. Lord, when it comes to my mind that I should do something for you, remind me that it is a ...

Numbers 33:51-52, 55-56 (ESV) Originally published 10/16/2015 The people of Israel were ready to enter the land God promised to them. He said: "'When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places...' But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them'" Numbers 33:51-2, 55-6 (ESV). Idolatry and willful disobedience of God both show the rejection of God's authority. Lord, I know that I try to obey you in all that I know that you want of me. But sometimes things come to my mind to do, but they don't seem critical, and I put them aside to do them later. Some of ...

Numbers 33:1-2 (ESV) Originally published 10/15/2015 The people of Israel were getting ready to enter the land God had promised them, but before they faced this big battle, he asked them to remember the journey that got them to this place. "These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the LORD, and these are their stages according to their starting places" Numbers 33:1-2 (ESV). Lord, as I look back on my life, I can see that you have used every step to prepare me for the next step of service to you. I did not realize where you were leading me or what would result from those steps. I don't know what the future holds, but I know it reminds me that you are accomplishing your purpose for my life. I praise you for guiding my parents and myself to prepare every step of my life and service to you.