1. What word or phrase in today's reading speaks to your heart?
(v. 1) "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."
(v. 10) "Each heart knows its own bitterness."
(v. 12) "There is a way that seems right to a man."
(v. 13) "Even in laughter the heart may ache."
(v. 23) "All hard work brings a profit."
(v. 26) "He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress."
2. How does today's reading directly relate to your life right now?
(v. 1) Life and my present inconsistent walk with God.
(v. 10) Emotional instability
(v. 12) Personal Agenda
(v. 13) Unrequited Crush
(v. 23) Life at home and school/career.
(v. 26) Personal relationship wit God
3. How is God calling you to respond to what you've read today?
(v. 1) Be aware of how your decisions effect your life.
(v. 10) Besides God, only I can understand how I feel to a certain extent.
(v. 12) Don't do things on my own without God.
(v. 13) Even the good times can't erase or be 100% free from emptiness/sadness.
(v. 23) Work Harder
(v. 26) Never forget my roots/source of strength
4. Your own additional thoughts/meditations:
(v. 1) With my current state, I'm a roller coaster. There are times when I do spend that quality time with God and "build [my] house." But there are also those times when I'm the "one [who] tears [it] down." I'm my own worst enemy. I can make or break my own self.
(v. 10) In this world (excluding God), we're the ones who know ourselves the most. We are aware of our current state. We cannot fool ourselves. We are in tune of who we are.
(v. 12) The keyword is "SEEMS." When we venture and follow our own will, we assume that things will turn out okay; nothing too terrible. When we do that, we're basically setting up ourselves for FAILURE since it doesn't coincide with the PERFECT Will God ALREADY has prepared for us.
(v. 13) Just because things maybe okay doesn't mean there's 0% room for pain or hurt. The two opposites are capable of coexisting at the same time. For example; like this Unrequited crush situation, I enjoy his company and there are many instances where there is a frequent exchange of jokes and laughter BUT it doesn't suffice. It's very restrained/torn at times because he is unaware of my feeling and at the same time, I don't ever plan on telling him since God's purpose for this is still unknown.
(v. 23) I'm still lazy or lacking the motivation to really wake me up so I can start putting more effort in these major aspects of my life. There has never been a time when my room has been completely clean and there has yet to be a semester where I have given 100% of my efforts. I can NEVER leave this stagnant phase in my life without me working harder.
(v. 26) God and my relationship with Him is the foundation of my life. The only reason I'm sane and still compased at this point. Forever GRATEFUL
