MERRY MONDAY BY PARRIS-
“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee”
Proverbs 4:5-9
There is always a payoff as we apply our heart to the word and learn to listen to the voice of our shepherd. Although there are many voices and obstacles along the way God will see us through. I too learned the hard way that the way of the heathen is hard. Learning to trust and love the voice of the shepherd and learn his ways leads us to life of joyful surprises and hidden fountains.
A quote from Expositor Bible puts it beautifully:
“Holy conduct is the outcome of hidden fountains. All words are the expression of thoughts. The first thing and the main thing is that the hidden fountains of thought and feeling be pure. The source of all our trouble is the bitterness of heart, the envious feeling, the sudden outbreak of corrupt desire. When such a one is genuinely born again, the old hideous habits will appear like seams in the character; and temptations will send the flush along the tell-tale scars. With every step along the leveled road the light broadens and the air becomes warmer, -the dawn shines more and more unto the perfect day. As the character forms, as the habits become fixed, as the power of resistance increases, a settled strength and a lasting peace gladden the life. The rays of heavenly wisdom not only shine on the face, but suffuse the very texture of the being, so that the whole body is full of light. The graces of holy living come welling up from those untainted inner springs, and, be the surroundings ever so dry, the fountains fail not. The habit of single-eyed devotion to right avails even where there is no time for reflection; more and more the seductions of the senses lose their point of attack in this disciplined spirit. There is a freedom in the gait, for holiness has ceased to be a toilsome calculation, -the steps of the spiritual man are not straitened. There is a swiftness in all action, -the feet are shod with a joyous and confident preparation, for the fear of stumbling is gone.”
You will be crowned with days of grace and glory! Get wisdom! Stay in his presence.