“Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” Proverbs 4:13 (NIV)

I walked out of the café, clutching that piece of paper like it had the power to change my life.

A few months earlier, my husband and I had graduated from college and embarked on an overseas move. We’d taken a crash course in a language we didn’t speak, secured housing in a city we’d never visited, and embraced jobs with cultural challenges we’d never faced.

And we were floundering.

We were navigating the biggest transition of our life — and we found ourselves sinking beneath the weight of everyday decisions. We longed for help, but we didn’t know where to find it.

Chances are … you know that longing too.

Life can feel like an endless string of choices to be made and options to be weighed. Sometimes the heft of it all kidnaps our confidence and saps our strength.

But when I met up with a co-worker at a local café, she pulled a piece of paper from her purse and laid it on the table between us. “I remember how overwhelmed I felt when we first moved here,” she said with a kind smile. “So I wrote down everything I could think of that might help you.”

I scanned her blue-inked scrawl through a haze of tears and marveled at the generous gift. The page held answers to questions I’d yet to ask and directions for decisions I hadn’t known how to make.

I was so thankful for this friend's advice. In fact, her well-timed words reminded me of an even more important source of help for the daily challenges that come my way.

God’s Word is full of enduring guidance for our everyday lives. The Bible isn’t just filled with age-old stories to inspire us; it’s packed with practical wisdom to counsel us. And if we ask God to reveal His Truth to us as we meet Him in the pages of His Word, we’ll find direction for our everyday decisions.

Perhaps that’s why Proverbs 4:13 urges us to “hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”

The words “hold on” paint a picture of clenching something tightly so it doesn’t slip away, much like I clutched that faintly lined paper when I left the café long ago.

If we take hold of Scripture with this kind of intentionality — clinging to its Truth as we move through our days — we’ll be armed with wisdom for the challenges we face, endowed with confidence for the choices we make.

Because God’s Word doesn’t just point us to the glory of heaven; it equips us to walk across the grit of earth too.

And when we allow the Lord’s guidance to direct our everyday steps, we discover the Bible really does have the power to change our lives, one word of wisdom at a time.

Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Please mentor me with Your wisdom and show me how to align my steps with Your Truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

If God has felt silent as you’ve sought His wisdom and direction, we have good news: There is a way to hear His voice in His Word, giving the guidance you need. That’s why we created our next study, Proverbs: Everyday Guidance for Making Everyday Decisions, which starts May 27 in the free First 5 mobile app! Through the book of Proverbs, we get to see real-life examples of what it looks like to live in a way that honors God. Click here to order your study guide now.

ENGAGE

If you’re looking for a way to connect with God in His Word, check out Alicia’s digital devotional, Encounter. Or meet Alicia on Instagram for more biblical encouragement.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Proverbs 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” (NIV).

How has God’s Word directed your steps lately? For what decision or daily challenge do you need wisdom right now?

Consider setting aside some time this week to read your Bible and invite the Holy Spirit to equip you with practical guidance. And don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments!

© 2024 by Alicia Bruxvoort. All rights reserved.