Friday!

Proverbs!

Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

Proverbs 22:5 ESV

Thorns that catch on your clothing, grab hold, snares grab hold, hold us down, hold us captive.

What are the things that grab hold?

Take us captive, trapped?

This isn't about the deceitful actions of others that can trap us, this is about where we've  chosen to walk, and let our guard down.

The word here "guards" is "shamar" -  to keep, watch, preserve, guard, bodyguard.

This proverb is encouraging us to actively look out for our own soul.

Guards.

Bodyguards.

Keepers.

Watchers.

Preservers.

Of our souls.

Maybe it's people, conversations, places, thoughts, desires, things we read, watch, consume, think, dwell on, that grab us, snare us.

Your soul, you, your personhood is important.  Important enough for Jesus to enter the story and love. Important enough for him to go to the cross for.

So put up your guardrails to protect, keep, preserve, You.

Avoid, cut out of your life, have someone help to hold you to account, to guard your soul from those people, conversations, places, thoughts, desires, things we read, watch, consume, think, & dwell on, that snare and trap us, that are not aligned with God's character. 

#proverbs

#wisdom

#somethingtochewon