Now, then Next

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Today's reading, titled Now, Then Next, was written by Dave Brannon. I recently attended a high school graduation during which the speaker provided a needed challenge for the young adults awaiting their diplomas. He mentioned that this was a time in their lives when everyone was asking them, what's next? What career would they be pursuing next?

Where would they be going to school or working next? Then he said that the more important question was, what were they doing now? In the context of their faith journey, what daily decisions would they be making that would guide them to live for Jesus and not for themselves? His words reminded me of the book of Proverbs, which makes many pointed statements about how to live now. For instance, practicing honesty, now. Choosing the right friends, now. Living with integrity, now.

Having good judgment, now. Speaking wisely, now. Living for God now by the leading of the Holy Spirit makes the decisions about what is next much easier. Proverbs goes on to tell us, the Lord gives wisdom.

He holds success in store for the upright. He guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. May God supply what we need for us to live by his guidelines now. And may he guide us into what's next for his honor.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Proverbs 2 verses 1 through 11. My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He holds success in store for the upright. He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair, every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you. Let's pray. Thank you for your guidance and your protection in our lives, Lord. We pray that you would give us wisdom for now and for what's next, so that we can live in a way that both pleases you and reveals who you are in us. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.