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Transcript

Find Wisdom, Find Life · Men's Morning Devotional

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Gentlemen, every day is a battle.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives, they prepare before it begins.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Men's Morning Devotional.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get into God's word.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: It's time to man up.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: Good morning, gentlemen.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Chris Muinya, and it's time for another Man Up Moment.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: This week I'm continuing through Proverbs chapter 8, with today's devotional being about finding life.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: I encourage you to share this devotional with someone who you think would benefit from it.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_01: And if you missed any day this week, go back and listen to it again.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_01: So Proverbs chapter 8, verses 35 says this for those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_01: Now that's encouraging right off the bat, but I'm going to try to break this down a little bit.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: Every man is looking for something.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: We're looking for success, we're looking for security, we're looking for purpose, we're looking for happiness, we're looking for something that makes us feel like our lives matter.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: And we'll spend years chasing those things.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_01: We work harder, we make more money, we buy better things, we pursue promotions, we build bigger homes, we try to create the perfect life.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_01: But Proverbs gives us a different answer.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: It says, Those who find me find life.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_01: Wisdom isn't simply about becoming smarter.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_01: Biblical wisdom is learning to live God's way.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_01: And Solomon tells us that when we find wisdom, we find life.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_01: And this is coming from the wealthiest man to ever walk the earth.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: Think about that.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: God's wisdom affects how you handle your marriage, how you raise your children, how you manage your money, how you handle temptation, how you respond when you're angry, how you treat people who disagree with you, how you make decisions when nobody else is watching.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_01: Wisdom doesn't just improve your life, it teaches you how to live it.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: And there's something else we need to understand about this verse.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_01: When Solomon says those who find wisdom find life, he's not promising that following God means you'll never experience hardship.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: Men who follow God still lose their jobs, they still experience financial pressures or difficult in their marriages, they still have health issues, they still face disappointment, but there's a difference.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_01: When your life is built on God's wisdom, your circumstances don't have to determine your identity or your peace.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: You can walk through difficult seasons knowing your life has purpose.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_01: You can lose something without believing you've lost everything.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: You can experience failure without believing you're a failure.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_01: You can face uncertainty without being controlled by fear, because your life is anchored in something bigger than your circumstances.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_01: Then Solomon says something else.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: He says this, and receive favor from the Lord.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_01: Now, favor doesn't mean God gives us everything we want.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: It means there is a blessing that comes from walking in his ways and living under his direction.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes God's favor looks like an open door, but sometimes it looks like protection from a decision that would have destroyed you.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: It could look like wisdom to know when to walk away.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_01: It could be that it looks like the peace in a situation that should have overwhelmed you.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes God's greatest favor is simply his presence with you.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_01: Men, don't spend your life chasing things that cannot give you life.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_01: Money can't give you life, success can't give you life, recognition can't give you life, possessions can't give you life, only God can.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_01: And here's the challenge: don't just admire God's wisdom.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_01: Go find it.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: Open the Bible, ask God for wisdom, listen to godly men, pay attention to correction, slow down before making decisions, choose obedience when it's uncomfortable.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: The world is full of men who are successful but empty.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_01: God is calling us to be men who are wise, grounded, purposeful, and alive.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_01: Because when you find his wisdom, you find the path to life.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: So here's your man-up challenge.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: Today, replace 15 minutes of entertainment with 15 minutes of God's wisdom.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_01: So put down the phone, turn off the TV, get alone with God, and read Proverbs chapter 8.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: Then ask him, Lord, where do I need your wisdom most right now?
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_01: Write down the first area that comes to mind.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: Then take one action today based on God's wisdom in that area.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_01: Don't just read it, apply it.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_01: Don't just ask for wisdom, walk in it.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_01: So let's pray.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_01: Father, thank you for offering us wisdom that leads to life.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_01: Help me to stop chasing the things of this world that promise satisfaction, but can never truly fulfill me.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_01: Teach me to seek your you first and to value your wisdom above money, success, recognition, and possessions.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_01: Give me wisdom for my marriage, my family, my work, my decisions, and my future.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_01: Help me recognize your favor and to trust your direction even when I don't understand the path.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_01: Make me a man who doesn't just know your word but lives it.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_01: Lead me into the life you created me to live.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_01: In Jesus' name I pray.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Now go live it.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: Share this devotional with another brother.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.