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Here we are in the middle of the week, let’s take a little time and see how good you are on old sayings. This is fill in the blank, but I like your chances.

• Get off your _____ horse.
• Go the extra ______.
• Getting your _______.
• Happiness is a _____ of ______.
• Once in a _____ ______.
• You’re still ____ behind the ____.

Old sayings have a lot to say; they are the proverbs of our day. Wise words that relate a truth in a simple and understandable way. Let’s see how you did with the old sayings above.

• Get off your high horse.
• Go the extra mile.
• Getting your goat.
• Happiness is a state of mind.
• Once in a blue moon.
• You’re still wet behind the ears.

I enjoy these sayings; each has a message of their own. One says don’t think too highly of yourself, the other says do that little extra, and another talks about someone pushing your buttons. The last couple talks about happiness being in your mindset, the other talks about something that does not happen very often and the last talks about someone who is inexperienced. Simple statements, easy to understand.

I looked up on the internet and found a site that had 1916 of sayings such as these. I laughed at all of those old sayings and the thought that someone took the time to compile them all. That led me to another book of Proverbs one that was written thousands of years ago, one much more helpful but just as easy to understand. One with 31 chapters in it each with many verses of sound Godly thoughts and easy to understand, this book stands in the middle of your Bible.

Let’s take a look at some of these Proverbs for just a moment:

Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all time, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the hear sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Wisdom right from the word of God; one speaks to true friendship, the other speaks to hope, one speaks to the foolishness of man going his own direction and the last speaks to our words. It does not take a theologian to glean truth from these words.

Today there are many places to go to, many places to hunt for wisdom but there is only one place to go to find the wisdom of God. Go to His word, find His wisdom and seek to live life his way.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to look to your word for truth and the direction for our life. Help us to discern real truth from old sayings. We thank you for your word and thank you for sending it to us. In Christ Name, Amen.

* Side note to this devotional would be that if you are looking for a way to jump start your Bible reading simply to go Proverbs and read one chapter a day. By the end of the month you will have read the entire book and gather much wisdom for your life. An easy plan that gives great rewards.