Today’s reading: Proverbs 12:20

“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy” (Proverbs 12:20).

The final few words of Proverbs 12:20 seemed to jump off the page at me this morning. As we start out each day, we all have some sort of plan in mind. We know when we need to get up, we have a routine of getting ready for work or school, we know how we’re getting where we need to go, and once we arrive at our destination, our day is structured with routine until it’s time for us to once again fall into bed so we can do it all over again the following day. Sounds pretty mundane and boring… but it doesn’t have to be, which leads me to Proverbs 12:20.

What Proverbs 12:20 shows us is that in the midst of all of our daily schedules, routines and plans, we should also be thinking about and planning how everything we do can be accomplished with God’s peace–speaking kind and encouraging words, having a loving approach, maintaining a generous and helping attitude, thinking about the needs and interests of the people around us. When we’re intentional to make living with God’s peace part of every detail of our daily lives, the result will be having joy in and through all of our circumstances.

How have you experienced the words of Proverbs 12:20, “but those who plan peace have joy”? Who do you know whose lifestyle models this verse? What’s one thing you can/will do to “plan peace” into your schedule this week? Tami

Source: Tami’s Blog