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Day 47 Proverbs 11:27 Proverbs 11:27 He that diligently seeks good procures favor: but he that seeks mischief, it shall come unto him. You all know people who seem to have it all. Everything goes right for them. They always smile and have a good word for you and everyone they meet, and you can’t recall ever seeing them angry. You also know the people who are forever in trouble. You open the newspaper and see their name again in the police reports and you shake your head and make some comment about what you read. Solomon said that when you seek to do good in your lives, you will receive favor from everyone you meet. The opposite is also true. When you go about with mischief on your mind, you will find it, in fact it will come to you. You won’t need to look very far before trouble comes knocking at your door. How do you go around with a smile on your face all the time? How do you get the favor Solomon referred to? He said you need to diligently seek it. It doesn’t come easy, but you need to work at it. When I became a Christian, I had the wild idea that everything would be good from then on. I was wrong. In fact, I had more trouble than I knew what to do with because I made Satan angry with me and he made my life miserable. Being a Christian isn’t an automatic ticket to the good life. Paul showed what it was like to be a Christian. 2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. However, Paul also had this to say regarding all he suffered. Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (KJV) Paul knew where his strength came from. He knew where his joy and hope came from. It was in serving Jesus Christ and telling the message of salvation to everyone he met. When you know where your strength, joy, and hope come from, you too will have a smile on your face and a good word to everyone you know. Mischief will not find you home when it comes knocking. You will have the favor of God on your lives, but you need to be diligent and not let your guard down for a moment, or Satan will come in and take advantage of your momentary weakness. When Israel was victorious over their enemies, Nehemiah had this to say to them. Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. (KJV) When we have the joy of the Lord, Satan can’t touch us. Let’s pray: Father, help me be diligent in seeking you every day of my life so Satan can’t come knocking bringing mischief and grief with him. Help me give an encouraging word to everyone I meet, and let your joy rise up in me to overflowing. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 23 October 2016 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay