Answers and Assurance

"The chief purpose of prayer is that God be glorified in the answer."
- R.A. Torrey

Assurance comes in God's answers. We ask of the Lord and in the Lord's name. The expectation is that we have faith in Him for the answers. We may be on edge or at our wit's end. No matter what your situation may be, you need to see the Lord as the solution or at least the source of the solution. Otherwise, you may be apt to become tempted by sorcery and divination in the likes of zodiac signs and horoscopes.

Faith is not about fate. Grace isn't a gamble. The Almighty has all of the answers.

God gives us answers through numerous ways. He offers us a solution to our situation. He divinely sets us apart from others by how He supplies us what we need, even when He offers us something that confirms what we've read in His Word. He is full of answers. After all, He created everything as the Creator.

Having trouble seeing where He is leading you? Not sure of His reasoning or rationale?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding - Proverbs 3:5

With or Without God

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.- Judges 17:6; 21:25

Which way will we go? Will we go with God or go out on our own? Which way will we go? Will we stick with God or strike out on our own pathways? Which way will we go?

The Bible speaks of instances where the children of Israel lost their way and lost sight of God as their source and supplier, the sustenance of their very existence. In fact, the Bible assesses and addresses such attitudes as foolishness (Proverbs 21:2; 30:12). The prophet Isaiah simply said: All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him (Isaiah 53:6, NASB). The tendency to go out our own rather than going on with God results in us living wayward lives that are out of the very will of God Almighty.

When we go out on our own, we go in our own strength. The blessing of God is not with us. We find ourselves operating in our own strength and essentially gaining no ground. We experience detours, delays, doubt, drought, and even disaster and destruction. We take shortcuts and end up stumbling, straying and even struggling.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.- Psalm 23:1 (NIV)

Let God lead you. Position yourself as one led by the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14). Follow Him as one leading you to green pastures and still waters. Simply let Him lead you and follow in obedience.

Which way will we go?

Conversational Conduct

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

-Proverbs 15:2 (NIV)

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

-Proverbs 15:4 (NIV)

The Word provides a contrast between the wicked and the wise when it comes to conversation. Each conducts himself in a vastly different way. The wise and the wicked conduct themselves differently, especially when it comes to how they use their words. According to Proverbs 15, the conduct of the wise leads to one taking "the path of the upright" (verse 19).

• You have to remain composed
• You have to resist confrontation

Your conduct in conversation will reveal your character. You can turn people off or away by the way you speak to people. Think about how you say things to others. Even what you say can lose its message and meaning when you are not conscious of how you conduct yourself in conversation.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. - Psalm 19:14 (ESV)

Answering a Fool

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.- Proverbs 26:4 (NIV)

Yes, it is true that Jesus said that we are not to call our brother a fool. The caveat to that teaching is a study of context that speaks about the anger in which we use such words rather than simply inserting some euphemism that says what we meant in code. Jesus was teaching about judgment and anger in Matthew 5:22. However, the Proverbs are clear about identifying the foolish actions that separate the fool from the wise and prudent. Obviously, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, we see it as a duck. If it acts foolish and sounds foolish... It is what it is.

The words of Solomon teach us that fools act differently. In fact, Solomon teaches us through Proverbs that a fool is wise in his own eyes. Answering a fool according to his folly requires you to get on that fool's level. In other words, what you are doing is addressing the fool by the same foolish ways that he uses. I picture it like this: a wise man and a fool get into a verbal argument, hurling insults at one another and calling each other fools. How do you identify the wise man from the fool? Exactly! The precise problem is what it projects to others, especially the fool himself. You just justified his argument to some degree by what you did in response to him. Such actions on our part kill the power of our witness.

With those who choose to go about things foolishly, I say simply show them another way by example. If they are foolish, they'll keep doing what they've always done just for the sake of it. If they have any degree of common sense, they'll see how you go about things differently and at least inquire of what makes you different. Keep in mind that you can win someone over by killing them with kindness, showering and smothering them with lovingkindness. Catch more flies with the sweet honey of your lips rather than poisoning them with the venomous vinegar.

If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won't limp or stumble as you run.

- Proverbs 4:12 (NLT)

Do not do as the wicked do or follow the path of evildoers.

- Proverbs 4:14 (NLT)

We all need could use some good counsel. Our youth could use good counsel as well, especially those whose parents have been distracted or detoured with drugs, incarceration, substance abuse, and other issues. Some youth just haven't been disciplined by their parents in this day and age. They haven't been exposed to positive role models, especially by those adults who are supposed to take care of them day after day. Good counsel that comes from godly wisdom is the prescription for the condition that is ailing those who stand at the crossroads of life about to wander down the wrong path.

There is a way that will keep you from stumbling or falling prey to life's many obstacles and obstructions. Also, there is a way that is ascribed to the "wicked"and "evilddoers." You have the power of choice, a free will to choose your path in life. Your options can be viewed as limitless or limited, but you have the choice. Either you can accept good counsel and godly wisdom or you can reject it, going the way of the wicked or the foolish. No matter which you choose, the choice is yours.

Planning in Proverbs (Pro. 15:22)

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

Plan with wise counsel to avoid plans failing. Identify those who exhibit wisdom who can serve as wise counselors to you as you plan your next venture. Let these people serve as a sounding board where you can bounce new ideas off them and see which way to go with your plans. Avoid negative people who tend to have a pessimistic view on most things. They may do more damage than good when it comes to moving forward. Allow people who have experience and expertise in a given area to share what they think about your ideas and adjust your plans when necessary.

Behind a Blessed Man

Someone will say it before they're done reading this piece, so let me put it out there now. Behind every good man is a good woman. Some will argue about whether that is the mama or the wife, but I would like to focus on the wife for the purpose of this article.

Behind every blessed man is a special woman who does special things. The man is considered blessed because of what he represents and presents to all of those who observe him, but he is actually blessed because of what and who he has behind him and on his side. What is behind him is usually a relationship with God that is full of faith and trust. Who is behind him is that special woman who offers special support for her man.

This man is blessed because of 4 specific and special things that his woman does:

1. She believes in him and his dreams.
2. She builds him up with support and strengthening.
3. She binds together with him as one in unity.
4. She brings out the best in him every step of the way.

Brother, if you have not found her, I suggest that you open your eyes and look around. If she isn't doing these four or doesn't even show the potential to do so, you are on the wrong course. The Word is clear on the fact that finding her brings him favor with the Lord. This is not the hip-hop advice of Cash Money and Marvelous that says: "... Cause you're all she has, and you're all she can get. So run out and find yourself an ugly chick ..." The truth is that you need to go beyond the "beauty's only skin deep" sisters who never make it to Bible study, Sunday school or prayer meeting and don't do much in worship other than lifting holy hands. The Lord may not favor you when you have a woman more aligned with Proverbs 7 rather than Proverbs 31.

Make it your business to be certain of having a solid relationship with your mate. You need a solid relationship. You need a strong relationship. You need a supportive relationship. You need a superwoman relationship. When you find her, love her and trust her, treating her like a rare jewel that's hard to find.

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Woman of the Night by Bruce Jackson

Her mother must be proud
Because she's the type
That only a mother could love.
With those wide hips of temptation
And those supple, sultry lips,
I would have thought her to be more of woman than a lady.
Her ringlets of curls
Dangle down in streams of brown
And her curves seem just enough to catch a man's eye.
To see her is to seek her,
But she's not one to be taken.
She smiles with the subtle smoothness of a serpent.
This temptress of the night
With her eyes aglow
Never seems to let her guard down
to the slightest invitation.
A night with the girls
And out on the town
She may be found
Wrapped in something tight
Only to show her beauty.
She lives for the night
And gives little signs of life,
But she rarely sleeps these days.
Her bed has been made,
Although it be messy,
And she rarely uses it to sleep.
One man by day,
Maybe another by night,
She makes her way
Like a cat on the prowl.
Her smile is as empty
As her heart seems to be
With just enough life to only live for the night.

A poem from the upcoming book Words from the Underground