The Proverbs Challenge - Day 4

Hi Woman of God

Today was a challenging day for me. I started my time of the month and the cramps tried to knock me out. Doing anything productive has been a fight but I mustered up the physical strength to sit with my Bible and study today’s chapter. It’s truly amazing how I could feel the strength returning to me as I studied this chapter. Nothing happened when I just read the chapter, but as I began to study it (actually interacting with the verses, writing my thoughts and completing the SOAP) I was energised again. The Word of God is so true: it will literally strengthen your physical body, and this evening has been a personal reminder of that.

So keep going woman of God, your breakthrough is on the other side of your commitment to studying the Word!

Let’s dive into chapter 4 in all its glory ✨

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs Chapter 4, verses 1 and 23.

OBSERVATION

There are two themes that always jump out to me from this chapter: fatherhood and guarding your heart.

Verse 1
From the start of the chapter, Solomon highlights how his father taught him lessons about wisdom when he was young. Now he’s passing those same lessons to his children. This reminds me of how important fathers are in shaping their children’s values and guiding them in life. It’s heartbreaking to see how many people there are without strong father figures or any connection to their dads. In the UK where I’m based, the statistic is approximately 1 in 5 children growing up without a father figure in the home. That doesn’t even count the children who may have fathers physically present but are mentally, spiritually and emotionally absent. The damage from absent fathers can last for years if not dealt with spiritually and I truly believe it is the root cause of some of the brokenness in our generation. But God, in His all-consuming love offers Himself as the ultimate Father - a Father to the fatherless. Relationship with Him is the cure to the father-wound, and in His perfection He never leaves or abandons us. He is a faithful Father.

Verse 23
This verse hits me every time I read it: everything in life flows from the condition of our hearts. It’s a powerful reminder that what we allow into our hearts - through what we watch, listen to, and focus on - shapes how we live. The earlier verses in this chapter even tie it back to our senses: what we hear, see, and think about affects us. This truth has changed how I approach my daily habits and made me more intentional about what I let influence me.

APPLICATION

Verse 1
Thinking about the role of fathers, I feel called to pray consistently for the men in my life and men in general. I’ll pray that God strengthens them to lead with love and wisdom, reflecting His character in their families. I’ll also pray for women, including myself, to seek God’s guidance when choosing future spouses, understanding that we aren’t just picking partners to ourselves but also the future fathers of our children.

Verse 23
I want to live out this verse by making three practical changes:

1. Friendships: I’ll pay close attention to the people I spend my time with. I will continue to be intentional about building relationships with those who encourage and inspire me in my walk with God.

2. Media and entertainment: I’ll continue being selective about what I watch, listen to, and read. I’ll ask myself if these things align with God’s values and help me grow spiritually. Philippians 4:8 is my guide for this; focusing on what is pure, true, and uplifting.

3. Daily devotion: I’ll commit to spending time in God’s Word regularly to renew my mind and learn wisdom. This is how I’ll stay aligned with God’s truth and let it shape my life.

PRAYER

Father God, thank You for being the perfect example of a loving Father. I lift up the men in my life and men as a whole and I pray that You guide them to reflect Your love and wisdom in their homes and relationships. Strengthen them to stand firm against any attack on their roles as fathers and leaders. I also pray for us women, that we would seek Your wisdom in choosing partners who honour You. Help me to guard my heart, Lord, and keep my focus on things that bring me closer to You. Protect me from influences that don’t align with Your truth, and give me a renewed desire to follow You every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🩷

See you tomorrow for Day 5 sis ✨

With my love

Tochi