This morning I read my daily chapter of Proverbs. Since it is the third day of the month, I read chapter 3.

Then I went to the New Testament to read the next chapter in my daily reading of the Epistles, which was James 4.

In James 4:6 there is a quotation from Proverbs 3:34.

James 4:6 – “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Proverbs 3:34 – “Surely He scorneth the scorners: but He giveth grace unto the lowly.”

Before reading this I was struggling with unrighteous thoughts. I was tempted to avoid reading my Bible. Instead, by God’s grace, I decided to read despite my thoughts and emotions. So I read Proverbs 3 out loud. That helped me to pray, to consider trusting the Lord with all my heart and leaning not to my own understanding, to acknowledge Him in all my ways so that He would make my paths straight, to even pray for help on a work related issue where my path is currently not straight and clear.

Then I flipped over to James. The first half of the chapter spoke directly to me in my exact current frame of mind as far as the unrighteous thoughts go. James cuts right to the heart.

James 4
1. From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye might consume it upon your lusts.
4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6. But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.

This passage was so mightily helpful to me this morning. The “coincidence” in my reading made me smile as soon as I saw it. The thought of being an enemy of God by being a friend of the world made me recoil from my unrighteous thoughts. The idea that friendship with the world makes me an adulterer made me think that I want nothing to do with such a shameful thing. Therefore, I prayed, I read more Scripture, I wrote this – instead of allowing worldly thoughts to dominate me first thing in the morning.

“God, grant me Your grace to carry on through the day on a straight path. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.”