Think about the imagery of God as a shield. Make a thank-you list of the issues & problems that he has protected you from in the past.

Is there an area (or areas?) of your life where you feel weary/fed up/exhausted? Spend some time honestly talking to God about it today.

Have you ever ridden in an airplane and looked in wide-eyed wonder at the clouds? I remember the first time the kids flew; it was a joy just to witness their enraptured expressions as we ascended to cruising altitude. They pretended that they could climb out onto the wings of the airplane, sleep on the clouds, jump from puff to puff and fly around like birds. I enjoyed watching their silly imaginations soar.

Even as logical (and perhaps less imaginative) adults, don’t you sometimes wish you could roll down the airplane window and graze your fingers through the weightless fluff suspended in the sky? It would be pointless, of course … you can’t hold the clouds with your fingers. Proverbs 30:4 reminds us that we cannot collect the winds in our hand or contain water in our clothing.

Although much of the book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, chapter 30 is an insert from a man named Agur. He starts off sounding like most of the typical Monday morning posts on Facebook: I’m tired; I’m exhausted … Is it Friday yet? Agur is having a rough time, and he is feeling down in the dumps. He complains about having such little understanding about life that he might as well not be human.

But then, Agur gets an attitude adjustment and shifts his focus to the One we ought to be thinking about from the get-go, instead of complaining so much. He recognizes and acknowledges God’s awesomeness. He goes on to say that God’s words are without blemish, and if we seek his protection, he covers us like a shield (v. 5). What a beautiful illustration of our loving and caring heavenly Father!

Like the idea of playing amongst the clouds, sometimes our dreams and goals may seem silly. Sometimes we may even feel overwhelmed like Agur and can only cry out to the Lord: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail” (Proverbs 30:1b, NIV). Just remember that our God is a shield, if only we will seek refuge in him.

What are some ways in which your trials/problems/poor choices have made your faith stronger, in the long run?

Flattery gets us nowhere, but a sincere compliment can make someone’s day. Seek out ways to encourage someone today.

Maybe your issue isn’t a parent-child relationship; perhaps it’s something else. Is there an area where you need to redraw boundary lines?

Proverbs 28:13 talks about trying to cover up our sins. Why do we attempt such pointless things to try to hide from responsibility?

It is so hard to let a child fail or watch a friend/spouse/etc. reap the consequences for their actions. Give those situations to God today.

Are you a “helicopter” parent (or friend/spouse/etc.)? Do you hover over every little detail? How might you loosen up and let go of control?

Lord, please help me to be mindful of my choices today. Show me how to bring you honor through the way I live my life.