Raychel Writes

Wisdom from the Word Day 16

January 16th, 2026

Proverbs 16 – When Repetition Becomes Formation

By the time we reach Proverbs 16, the contrast between the righteous and the wicked can start to feel repetitive—almost like we’ve heard all this before. And we have. But repetition in Scripture isn’t filler. It’s formation.

God knows we’re slow to learn and quick to forget. So He keeps pressing the same truths into our hearts until they sink below knowledge and become wisdom.

This chapter keeps circling back to one central theme: we may make plans, but the Lord establishes our steps. Motives matter. Posture matters. Humility matters more than outcome. Wisdom isn’t loud or flashy—it’s steady, disciplined, and rooted in the fear of the Lord.

There’s a verse here that made me smile:

“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

I only have a few gray hairs, and I don’t dye them. Partly because I’m stubborn—but also because they’re a small reminder that wisdom is earned over time. Not rushed. Not manufactured. Formed through obedience, restraint, repentance, and choosing God’s way again and again.

Proverbs 16 reminds me that righteousness isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction. And God is far more concerned with shaping my heart than validating my plans.
Wisdom from the Word Day 15

January 15th, 2026

Proverbs 15: What Your Words Reveal About Your Walk

Proverbs 15 is a chapter that doesn’t rush you. It feels less like a lecture and more like being gently sat down and reminded of what truly matters. It doesn’t shout instructions—it exposes posture.

This chapter gives significant attention to speech, but not in a surface-level way. Proverbs 15 treats words as a reflection of the heart.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, NASB)

A gentle answer is not weakness. It requires restraint, humility, and trust that we do not need to defend ourselves at every moment. Harsh words usually come from fear—fear of being misunderstood, fear of losing control, fear of not being heard.

Wisdom does not need to be loud to be firm.

Words Reveal the Heart That Formed Them

Throughout Proverbs 15, speech is consistently connected to what is happening inside us.

“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,

But the mouth of fools spouts folly.” (v.2, NASB)

Wise speech is not accidental. It is cultivated. What we speak is often what we have been rehearsing inwardly. If resentment is fed, it will eventually speak. If humility is nurtured, it will shape our tone.

Righteous speech flows from a heart that fears the Lord.

The Righteous Listen; the Fool Resists

Proverbs once again draws a clear contrast between two paths—not to condemn, but to clarify.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” (v.12, NASB)

Wisdom is not independence. Wisdom is teachability. The righteous person remains open—to counsel, to correction, to God’s shaping.

The fool resists instruction because pride has already decided it knows better.

Fear of the Lord Orders Everything Else

This chapter anchors wisdom where Scripture always anchors it.

“The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,

And before honor comes humility.” (v.33, NASB)

Fear of the Lord is not terror—it is alignment. It is living with the understanding that God sees rightly and orders life well.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Watching the evil and the good.” (v.3, NASB)

That truth should steady us. No quiet obedience goes unseen. No faithful step is overlooked.

Laziness Complicates Life

Proverbs 15 also addresses diligence in a way that is both simple and sobering.

“The way of the lazy one is as a hedge of thorns,

But the path of the upright is a highway.” (v.19, NASB)

Laziness is not neutral. It creates unnecessary difficulty. Avoidance grows thorns. Obedience clears the road.

The upright path is not free of effort—it is free of needless resistance.

Correction Is an Act of Love

One of the most important reminders in this chapter is how Scripture frames correction.

“He who neglects discipline despises himself,

But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.” (v.32, NASB)

Correction is not rejection. It is care. God disciplines those He loves because He intends growth, not harm. Receiving correction keeps our hearts soft and our steps aligned.

Proverbs 15 Invites Daily Examination

This chapter does not call us to dramatic change—it calls us to faithful awareness.

How do I speak when I feel threatened? Do I listen when I am corrected? Am I diligent or avoidant? Is the fear of the Lord shaping my daily decisions?

Wisdom here is quiet. Steady. Formational.

And like a loving parent, Proverbs 15 does not merely instruct—it invites us to walk the better path.
Wisdom from the Word Day 14

January 14th, 2026

Proverbs 14: When Wisdom Stops Nodding and Starts Examining

Proverbs 14 feels different.

Not louder. Not harsher.

Just… heavier.

Earlier chapters of Proverbs often read like instructions we can nod along with. They warn us away from obvious pitfalls and toward choices that sound wise. Chapter 14, though, doesn’t settle for agreement. It presses closer. It asks whether we’re actually living what we say we believe—especially when it comes to where we’re headed.

This chapter feels more grown.

Not because the wisdom is new, but because it assumes we’re no longer beginners.

Proverbs 14 isn’t primarily about what to do—it’s about who we’re becoming while we do it.

“The wisest of women builds her house,

but folly with her own hands tears it down.” (v.1)

This isn’t about construction. It’s about trajectory. About daily decisions that either quietly strengthen a life or slowly unravel it. Wisdom here is not flashy. It’s faithful. It shows up in consistency, restraint, and long obedience in the same direction.

And then comes one of the most unsettling truths in the chapter:

“There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.” (v.12)

That verse doesn’t accuse rebellion—it confronts confidence. The kind that assumes good intentions are enough. Proverbs 14 keeps reminding us that sincerity doesn’t equal safety. Feeling right isn’t the same as being right.

This is where planners feel the tension.

Because Proverbs 14 keeps returning to outcomes. Consequences. Endpoints.

Joy that looks like joy but carries sorrow underneath. Laughter that doesn’t last. Gain that costs more than it gives. Paths that feel secure until suddenly they’re not.

It’s wisdom that looks ahead and asks, Where does this actually lead?

“The simple believes everything,

but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” (v.15)

That word—thought—matters. Proverbs 14 isn’t content with reactive living. It calls for discernment, for pause, for a sober assessment of reality. Not fear-driven planning, but God-aware foresight.

This chapter also pulls back the curtain on emotional maturity.

It speaks to restraint instead of reaction. Patience over pride. Quiet strength over loud certainty.

“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,

but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” (v.29)

Wisdom here isn’t measured by how much we know, but by how we respond—especially when pressed.

Proverbs 14 feels like wisdom for people who’ve lived long enough to know that life isn’t theoretical anymore. That choices stack. That habits compound. That the future doesn’t usually change in one dramatic moment, but in thousands of unnoticed ones.

And maybe that’s the shift.

Earlier chapters tell us what wisdom is.

Proverbs 14 shows us what it costs—and what it builds over time.

It’s not asking, Do you agree?

It’s asking, Are you paying attention?

Because wisdom, here, is no longer abstract.

It’s already shaping the house we’re living in—and the road we’re walking toward tomorrow.
Wisdom from the Word Day 13

January 13th, 2026

Proverbs 13: Little Choices, Long Roads

Proverbs 13 is one of those chapters that feels less like a lecture and more like a quiet sit-down at the kitchen table.

It isn’t loud.

It isn’t flashy.

It’s steady.

This chapter reminds us that life is shaped far more by small, repeated choices than by big, dramatic moments.

One verse sets the tone early:

“A wise son hears his father’s instruction,

but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” (v.1)

Wisdom begins with humility.

Not intelligence.

Not experience.

Not age.

Just the willingness to listen.

Proverbs 13 keeps circling this idea: what you do consistently will eventually show up in your life.

Words matter.

Discipline matters.

Who you walk with matters.

How you handle correction matters.

None of these things feel urgent in the moment—but they are quietly forming us.

There’s a warning here for those of us who want the fruit without the process:

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” (v.4)

This isn’t about hustle culture or grinding yourself into the ground.

It’s about faithfulness.

Doing the right thing when no one applauds.

Showing up when it would be easier to quit.

Choosing obedience even when progress feels slow.

And then there’s this gentle but sobering reminder:

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (v.20)

Proverbs 13 doesn’t say you become like the people you walk with.

It says you become what you walk with.

Over time, habits rub off.

Attitudes shape us.

Values transfer.

This chapter asks us to take an honest look—not just at where we want to be, but at the direction we’re actually headed.

Because the road you’re on today determines the place you arrive tomorrow.

Proverbs 13 teaches us that God cares deeply about the everyday.

The ordinary.

The unseen.

And He promises that diligence, humility, and wise choices—though often slow—are never wasted.

Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is pause long enough to ask:

What am I becoming if I keep going this way?
Wisdom from the Word Day 12

January 12th, 2026

Proverbs 12: Loving Truth Enough to Be Corrected

Proverbs 12 is another chapter that’s easy to read and quietly agree with. We nod along because the wisdom feels familiar. None of it sounds outrageous. And that’s exactly where the danger is.

This chapter isn’t asking if we like wisdom.

It’s asking if we are teachable.

Right out of the gate, Proverbs 12 draws a sharp line:

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but he who hates reproof is stupid.” (v.1)

That word is blunt on purpose. Scripture isn’t trying to insult us—it’s trying to wake us up. To reject correction isn’t just a personality trait or a preference; it’s a refusal to grow. And as a mother—and someone who doesn’t love correction at first either, because no one enjoys realizing they’re wrong—I recognize that resistance well. Correction rarely feels good in the moment, but when it’s given rightly, it is always rooted in love.

Proverbs 12 keeps circling back to the mouth.

Words matter here. A lot.

We’re told the righteous speak life, but the wicked use words like weapons. That should make us pause—not because we speak intentionally cruel words, but because careless words count too. Tone counts. Timing counts. Silence counts. Wisdom isn’t just about saying the right thing—it’s about knowing when and how to speak it.

Another theme woven through this chapter is diligence versus ease.

Proverbs 12 doesn’t glamorize laziness or excuse half-hearted effort. It tells us plainly that the faithful, steady worker—often unnoticed—is the one who stands firm. There is dignity in consistency. There is honor in doing the small, ordinary things well, even when no one is clapping.

And then there’s honesty.

Truthfulness isn’t presented as a moral badge we wear once and move on. It’s a daily choice. Lies don’t have to be dramatic to be destructive. Exaggeration, avoidance, and half-truths all erode trust over time. Proverbs 12 reminds us that God delights in truth because truth reflects His character.

This chapter gently—but firmly—teaches us that wisdom is not proven by agreement. It’s proven by submission. By receiving correction. By guarding our words. By working faithfully. By choosing truth even when it costs us something.

So today, Proverbs 12 invites us to ask ourselves a simple but uncomfortable question:

Am I teachable… or just agreeable?

Because one leads to life.

And the other only feels like it does.
Wisdom From the Word Day 11

January 11th, 2026

Proverbs 11: Slowing Down Long Enough to Walk It

Proverbs 11 comes with a warning of sorts—a steady contrast between the righteous and the wicked.

It’s easy to read straight through a chapter like this and think, yes, of course… this all makes sense. The danger isn’t misunderstanding what’s being said; the danger is assuming agreement equals obedience. These verses aren’t difficult to grasp, but they are difficult to live.

Proverbs 11 forces us to slow down because it doesn’t simply describe two types of people—it lays out two paths. And the question isn’t which one we prefer, but which one our everyday decisions actually reflect.

Scripture begins by grounding righteousness in something surprisingly ordinary:

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

but a just weight is His delight.” (v.1)

God starts with integrity in the small things. Not dramatic sins. Not public failures. But honesty when no one is watching. This tells us that righteousness is not built in moments of crisis—it’s built in consistency. The path of righteousness is marked by faithfulness in details we’re tempted to excuse or overlook.

That contrast sharpens when Proverbs turns its attention to posture:

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with the humble is wisdom.” (v.2)

Pride doesn’t always look like arrogance. Often it looks like certainty, self-reliance, or refusing correction. Humility, on the other hand, keeps us positioned to receive wisdom. This isn’t about thinking less of ourselves; it’s about thinking less of ourselves as the authority. Proverbs reminds us that wisdom requires submission—first to God, and then to truth.

The chapter presses further, revealing what actually guides a person’s life:

“The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” (v.3)

Integrity is not passive. It actively leads. It shapes decisions before temptation ever arrives. The wicked are not undone in a single moment; they are slowly destroyed by what they choose to excuse. Proverbs makes it clear that character doesn’t just influence outcomes—it determines direction.

And then, as if to strip away every false sense of security, we’re reminded:

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.” (v.4)

This is the heart of the contrast. There are things that appear powerful, protective, and sufficient—until they aren’t. Proverbs confronts us with the truth that only righteousness stands when everything else fails. Not status. Not preparation. Not self-made security. Only right standing before the Lord endures.

Proverbs 11 doesn’t allow us to remain casual readers. It exposes the quiet places where belief and behavior drift apart. It calls us not just to recognize the path of righteousness, but to choose it—again and again—through ordinary obedience, humility, and trust in the Lord rather than ourselves.
Wisdom from the Word Day 10

January 10th, 2026

Proverbs 10: Learning to Slow Down for Wisdom

When we arrive at Proverbs 10, something changes.

Up to this point, Proverbs has taken its time. We’ve listened to a father instruct his son through extended teaching (Proverbs 1–7). We’ve also heard Wisdom herself speak—calling out in the streets, warning the foolish, and inviting the teachable to life (Proverbs 1:20–23; 8:1–36; 9:1–6).

Those chapters lay the foundation.

Then we come to Proverbs 10:1:

“The proverbs of Solomon.”

This is not accidental or repetitive. It marks a shift in form, not authorship. Solomon has been present all along (Proverbs 1:1), but here we move into what are often called the Solomonic proverbs proper—short, compact sayings meant to be remembered, revisited, and lived out.

These are the words of the same Solomon who, when God promised to give him whatever he asked, requested wisdom rather than riches or power (1 Kings 3:9–12). What follows is not theoretical theology, but wisdom that has been prayed for, received from God, and tested in real life.

The danger with Proverbs 10 is that it looks easy to read quickly.

But wisdom is not gained by skimming.

The Tongue as a Measure of the Heart

One of the most dominant themes in Proverbs 10 is speech—what comes out of the mouth and what it reveals about the heart.

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (Proverbs 10:11)

A fountain gives life continuously. It refreshes. It nourishes. Solomon is teaching us that righteous speech doesn’t merely avoid harm—it actively brings good.

In contrast, the wicked mouth may sound smooth or controlled, but underneath it conceals violence. Not always physical violence, but relational damage, manipulation, pride, or contempt.

Jesus later affirms this same truth plainly:

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)

Proverbs invites us first into self-examination, not judgment. Before asking whether others speak wisely, wisdom asks whether we do.

When Fewer Words Are Actually Wiser

Solomon presses this lesson further:

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” (Proverbs 10:19)

This verse is not condemning conversation, teaching, or encouragement. Scripture itself is full of words. What Solomon warns against is unchecked speech—talking without thought, restraint, or humility.

The wise person understands that words have weight.

Sometimes wisdom speaks.

Sometimes wisdom listens.

Sometimes wisdom holds silence because restraint protects both the speaker and the hearer.

This is deeply countercultural—and deeply Christian.

Wisdom Uses Ordinary Life to Teach Us

One of Solomon’s most relatable images appears in this chapter:

“Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

so is the sluggard to those who send him.” (Proverbs 10:26)

We don’t need an explanation for this metaphor.

Vinegar hurts the teeth.

Smoke stings the eyes and clouds vision.

Both are irritating and disruptive.

Solomon is saying that unreliability doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It affects employers, families, communities, and relationships. Laziness is not merely a personal flaw—it becomes a burden to others.

Wisdom gently presses us to ask a hard but necessary question:

What is it like to depend on me?

Why Proverbs 10 Requires Us to Slow Down

Proverbs 10 is made up of short sayings, but they are not shallow. Each verse presents a contrast—righteous and wicked, wise and foolish, diligent and lazy—and asks us to consider which path we are actually walking.

Wisdom is not gained by collecting verses.

It is gained by pausing, pondering, and applying them.

This chapter teaches us that righteousness shows up in ordinary places:

in our speech in our work in our reliability in our restraint

And ultimately, for the Christian, wisdom is not merely a principle—it is rooted in a Person. The New Testament tells us that Christ Himself is “the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24), and “in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

To grow in wisdom, then, is to grow in alignment with Him.

And that kind of wisdom is never rushed.
Wisdom From the Word Day 9

January 9th, 2026

Proverbs 9 — When Wisdom Speaks for Herself

There comes a point in parenting when you stop narrating every decision for your child.

You’ve warned them.

You’ve taught them.

You’ve repeated yourself more times than you can count.

And eventually… you step back.

That’s what Proverbs 9 feels like.

For eight chapters, Proverbs has largely been framed as a father speaking to his son. My son… listen… keep… do not turn aside. It is pastoral, repetitive, and protective by design. This is covenantal instruction — wisdom being formed, not merely transferred. But in Proverbs 9, the voice shifts. The father recedes, and Wisdom herself takes the floor.

This isn’t subtle. It’s intentional.

Literarily, Proverbs 9 functions as a culmination and a hinge. Everything before it has been preparing the reader for this moment, and everything after it (beginning in chapter 10) shifts into short, distilled sayings. The long-form instruction gives way to choice. Formation gives way to responsibility.

Wisdom doesn’t whisper. She doesn’t hide in the private spaces. She builds a house — described as having seven pillars, a number that consistently communicates completeness and stability in Scripture. She prepares a feast. She sends out messengers. She calls from the highest places where her voice cannot be missed.

“Come,” she says.

Not after you clean yourself up.

Not after you mature a little more.

Just — come.

And what strikes me is this: by now, the reader is no longer being taught how to recognize wisdom. We are expected to already know her voice. The instruction has been sufficient. The warnings have been clear. Now comes the moment of response.

This mirrors spiritual maturity.

Early faith often leans heavily on borrowed voices — parents, pastors, teachers. And those voices matter deeply. God uses them. But eventually, wisdom must be encountered directly. The question becomes not what have you been taught, but who will you listen to when competing voices call?

Proverbs 9 makes that confrontation unavoidable by placing Wisdom and Folly side by side.

Folly is not subtle either. She is loud. She is seductive. But she is also empty. She does not build; she sits. She does not prepare; she steals. What she offers feels exciting precisely because it costs nothing up front. Stolen water. Secret bread. Hidden consequences.

And Scripture tells us plainly — her guests do not know that the dead are there.

Both women call to the same audience:

the simple,

the uncommitted,

the still-forming.

Wisdom offers life. Folly offers death. And neither disguises the nature of their invitation.

Then we arrive at the theological center of the chapter:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

This verse anchors the entire book. Wisdom is not intellectual achievement. It is not moral intuition. It begins with right orientation toward God. The fear of the Lord is reverent submission — recognizing God as holy, authoritative, and good. Wisdom does not originate in us. It is received through humility.

This is why Proverbs cannot be reduced to self-help. Detached from the fear of the Lord, its sayings lose their foundation. What remains may sound practical, but it will not lead to life.

And this brings me back to motherhood.

As mothers, we spend years shaping hearts and habits. We explain. We warn. We model. We correct. We hope that what we’ve poured in will one day stand on its own when we are no longer present to narrate the moment.

Proverbs 9 feels like that moment.

The father has spoken. Wisdom now speaks for herself. And the reader must choose.

So today, I’m asking myself the same question I’ve asked my children in a hundred different ways:

Who are you listening to?

Because wisdom is still calling.

She still stands in the open.

She still offers life.

The question isn’t whether she’s speaking.

It’s whether we recognize her voice —

and whether we’re willing to follow it when no one else is telling us what to do.
Wisdom from the Word Day 8

January 8th, 2026

Day 8
Proverbs 8 — Wisdom and the Voice We Choose

In Proverbs 8, wisdom speaks — not quietly, not privately, but out in the open. She calls from the places where decisions are actually made, inviting anyone willing to listen.

That alone is striking. Wisdom isn’t hidden or reserved for the elite. She is accessible.

As the chapter unfolds, we’re told that wisdom was present as the world was formed — as boundaries were set and order was brought from chaos. The picture is clear: the world God created is not random. It was shaped with intention, and wisdom is woven into the fabric of creation itself.

Proverbs consistently speaks of wisdom as “she,” which can feel unfamiliar at first. But within the book, this imagery makes sense. In Hebrew, the word for wisdom is grammatically feminine, and Proverbs personifies wisdom as a woman who invites, teaches, and leads toward life.

Later in the book, we meet another voice — the lady of folly — who also calls, also invites, and also promises something good. But her path leads somewhere very different.

Two voices.
Two invitations.
Two paths.

The contrast is intentional. This isn’t about gender; it’s about discernment. Which voice will we trust? Which invitation will we accept?

Proverbs never presents wisdom as separate from the Lord. It flows from Him, reflects His order, and leads toward life because God Himself is the source of life.

And as Scripture unfolds, we’re given even greater clarity. In the New Testament, Christ is revealed as the fulfillment of God’s wisdom — the one through whom all things were made and in whom the fullness of God’s purpose is made known (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:15–17). Paul tells us plainly that Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).

What Proverbs gives us in poetic form, the gospel reveals in full.

Wisdom leads to life because God leads to life. To reject it isn’t neutrality — it’s choosing a path that harms us. To walk in wisdom is to walk in step with Him.
Wisdom from the Word Day 7

January 7th, 2026

Proverbs 7 feels like a parent standing at the doorway of a world his son is about to walk into, repeating the warning because he knows how convincing temptation can sound.

As a mother myself, I know what that’s like — saying the same important things again and again, hoping our kids will hear our love inside the caution. The chapter returns to adultery as the example, yet I also see a picture of sin in general: appealing, persistent, and often disguised so well that it doesn’t even look like a trap.

The young man in the passage doesn’t go looking for death; he simply wanders near it at dusk. And just like those “older folks” told us when I was a teen, there’s a little truth to the line I laugh and repeat now: “Nothing good ever happens being out after dark.” Darkness conceals things from human eyes. It lowers defenses. It makes foolish choices feel safer than they are.

But Psalm 139 corrects my generational proverb with God’s eternal one.
No roof, no night, no secret ever hides a heart from the Lord. “Night is as bright as day” to Him (Ps 139:11-12). He already knows our paths, our weaknesses, and even the words we’ll speak before they reach our tongue (Ps 139:1-4, 13-16).

So the real issue in Proverbs 7 isn’t the time of day; it’s the posture of the soul. The father calls his son to bind truth to himself early — to keep wisdom close enough that when the voice of the seductress becomes relentless, the voice of God is already louder.

I want that for my children.
I want that for myself.

To live as the one who sees the snare and chooses the lamp instead.