Proverbs 19

Today I want to key on two verses.
Verse 2: It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. (NIV)
This made me think of when I was first saved. It was like a buzz. Actually, there is a set of addiction characteristics about religion but that, perhaps, is for another time. When I first got saved it was as if a large stone was lifted off of my shoulders. I felt peace and excited and nervous...I was on top of the world. That is the most vulnerable time for a new believer. Why?
Because the buzz wears off. The Bible doesn't promise a peachy-keen life full of happiness and no worries after we accept Christ. If anything the opposite is true. Life will get tougher as we try to live the lessons taught by Jesus...not easier. And the Bible does guarantee that.
So, the knowledge comes from reading the Bible, meditating on what you read and asking the Holy Spirit to come in you and give you discernment to draw every morsel from God's wisdom. Keep in mind all in the sentence above. It's not just reading. It takes quiet time alone with God to really hear the message of His Word. Oh, how long it took me to get that! I was full of head knowledge and read much scripture and many books without the quiet reflection. The reason is simple. Fear. See, the Bible tells us to examine our ways. In the quiet reflection and meditation time the doors hidden in the depths of our souls are flung open. I wasn't ready to deal with the hurt, sin and pain from my past life. It's still tough but it is a necessary process.
The other verse goes right along...actually follows verse two in number and thought.
Verse 3: People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord. (NLT)
Boy, I resemble that remark! I got saved. I had zeal. I lacked knowledge. I was hasty in gaining knowledge and missed the point. I made foolish mistakes. I blamed God.
I can laugh about it now but at the time I really thought it was God's fault. He told me the route to take and gave me a map. I went the other direction, fell in a home and blamed God!
I sometimes picture God looking down on me at those times and saying, "C'mon! Are you serious?"
Today I am working to not only have zeal, but measured zeal. To take both the knowledge in and the time to digest it. And, most importantly, when I do make a bad step based on my own foolishness, to not blame God.
This is the key to my peace. Truth, passion, self-actualization, ownership, grace.

Gods Speed,
Greg