Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Proverbs 3:3, AMP
Brief Background on Proverbs 3:3
I love comparing different versions of the Bible, and while pondering on Proverbs 3, the third verse kept sticking to my mind. I looked up various versions and loved how the Amplified Bible describes the importance of mercy, kindness, and truth. God defines us, so when it says to let mercy, kindness, and truth define you means these qualities are important to God.
God is so good! Not only did He give us the instruction on what we should seek, but also where to find them. Mercy, kindness, and truth are all located in Jesus. I appreciate that He never sends us out into the wild without first guiding the way.
Binding the qualities around our necks reminded me of going out into the woods as a child. Before going deep into the forest, we would gather the safety kit and compass. While the safety kit went into our backpacks, the compass was worn as a necklace to help keep us from straying from the direction we were going.
God doesn’t want us to get lost, so we are to bind the things of Him around our necks to keep us from veering off the path to the good things He has in store.
Did shivers go down your back like they did mine?
How it Applies to Motherhood
The more I seek out God; I see that His greatest concern is the condition of my heart. Initially, I felt that the rules and commandments were there to show me just how far I was from God. Don’t get me wrong; we must examine ourselves to better understand what actions to take to seek God.
But, I was missing a very vital point of the guidance God put in place for us. I believe we see the very first act of parenting and disobedient children in the Garden of Eden. God gave the rules, and we know what happened next.
Though children may not appreciate the boundaries and rules we put in place, they’re there for a reason. So be encouraged!
Returning to the verse at hand, we know that mercy, kindness, and truth are essential parts of following Jesus, but looking at the reason from a maternal perspective, I began seeing things I didn’t see as a child.
God wants us to show mercy because it frees us from bitterness and anger. It allows us the chance to not misuse our power and authority over those weaker than us.
He wants us to live in kindness because it safely takes us away from greed and jealousy and helps us learn to be loyal and steadfast.
Then there’s the truth. This one is my favorite because truth is the Word, and like John 1:1 says, “the Word was with God, and the Word is God” (NIV). Staying in truth gets me closer to the One who loves me. The One that I want to love more.
God has shown us the traits that He wants to define us as believers, and by walking in His steps, we display the heart of Jesus, not just in words but in our actions. It reminds me of a saying I heard as a kid, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
I’d love to be the kind of mother that my kids could follow as an example, and by doing so, they get to have their own intimate and loving relationship with the Lord, who loves them more than I do.
Prayer
Lord, your kindness and mercy are never ending towards me! Thank you for coming after me and not leaving me lost in the dark. Father God, may your wisdom guide me through life’s unknowns and help me remember the goodness You’ve shared so I may share it with others. I want to be defined by your qualities rather than what the world has. You are so worthy of praise, and I thank you for calling me by name. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Find more Wisdom in Proverbs for Moms devotions here.
Guest Blogger Bio
Veronica blogs at A Worshipper’s Devotional (aworshippersdevotional.wordpress.com) where she shares daily devotionals, biblical truths, and the journey of worshiping God. She wants others to know that they can have a deep, intimate connection with God through worship.