In my daily scripture reading yesterday, I came across Proverbs 19:20 and it really struck me as something that I truly needed to meditate more upon.   Reading out of the Amplified version the scripture says, listen to council, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come.  After 24 hours I thought I'd put a blog together of my thoughts on this passage.   

Council is interesting and after digging into a few more versions of the Bible for that particular scripture, I learned that council is actually reading/studying the Word of God.   From the time I was little I learned that Bible stood for, basic instructions before leaving earth.   Sadly, though, reading and studying and mediating on God's word has not been a constant for me and that's probably one of the biggest reasons my life as a whole has been so up and down emotionally and spiritually.    But over the past few months, I have really dedicated a large portion of my day to scripture reading, mediating, watching sermons, listening to worship music, and I can honestly say, my life is on the uptick.   I know that's not a coincidence.   

The importance of getting into God's Word and reading it and meditating on it cannot be overlooked and especially overemphasized.   For in God's Word is wisdom that cannot be obtained by merely experiencing things.   In knowing that what God said is true and it will work in my life regardless of the circumstances I'm facing at the moment.  It's really the only thing that truly works.   It's worked from the beginning when it was written and applies to modern day situations, and it will continue to work as the years and decades tick by.   It's a habit worth getting into and sustaining throughout the course of one's life.   Bible reading, meditation, prayer, seeking the kingdom of God first is not only wise council but it's also commanded in scripture itself.     The reason for it is simply that the basic foundation of becoming wise, because Godly wisdom is more precious than gold!

I encourage anyone to listen to council, seek instruction, and accept the correction that it brings so that you will become wise in the future.   Future wisdom is what we all seek.   Most go about obtaining it through hard work and self-determination, but scripture clearly states that will not sustain you.   Only Biblical council and instruction will help you in the days and months ahead as the devil will seek to knock you off track.   

God did not create you to suffer from one event to another.   He states in John 10:10 that He came so that you may have life to the full (abundantly in some versions).   So how to we obtain this "life to the full and abundance?"   By following the Lord's council in scripture.   Read it, believe it and do it!  Because wise is the man to come who follows the Lord's prescribed order of things!