Devotions – Rhizoo Ministries

The Key to Life

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. Proverbs 4:13 (NLT) It’s useless having or possessing something you can’t open or operate. So having the key and using it to unlock what’s locked is what takes you from possessing to using and enjoying. This applies also to life. There’s a key to opening up, functioning in, and enjoying life. Taking hold of and guarding instructions is the key to walking in all that life has to offer. Just as every designer, and manufacturer gives instructions for the proper running and maintenance of his product. God who is the origin and designer of life has given instructions for the best way to live. When we hold and guard the Lord’s instructions, life opens up and fully functions for us. For example, when Scripture instructs us to obey our parents so it may go well with us and so we may live long [Ephesians 6:1-3], the wisdom in that is our parents have been around longer, they’ve learnt what works and what doesn’t, so we can learn from them without first experiencing the consequences of going down the wrong route. We can take hold of and guard our life by taking hold of and guarding instructions. The Bible, Scriptures, or the Word of God, it’s all about instructions from God the source and designer of life telling us how to live to the fullest. Take hold of what God says, guard it and you will live.

August 24, 2026 1 Comments off

Never held back, never stumbling

When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. Proverbs 4:12 (NLT) You can walk in life, never held back and never stumbling. How’s this possible seeing there are so many things as well as people that hold back and cause one to stumble? When you prize and embrace wisdom, she will make you great and honor you – Proverbs 4:8. This means wisdom lifts you above everything that holds back and causes to stumble. Concerning your health it’s possible to never be held back nor stumble because of sickness, infirmity, weakness or dysfunction. In your relationships it’s possible to never be held back by hurts, mistreatment, rejection, or betrayal. In your aspirations, work, ministry, business and finances it’s possible to never be held back or stumble over failure, setback or loss. All this is possible when you learn wisdom’s ways which are straight paths – Proverbs 4:11(NLT). You learn wisdom’s ways by listening to and doing what the Lord says – Proverbs 4:10 (NLT). For those who love the Lord’s instructions have great peace and do not stumble – Psalms 119:165 (NLT)

August 23, 2026 3 Comments off

The Most Important Thing

Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) Principal means most important. Wisdom is number one for even God Himself started with wisdom in creating the world – Proverbs 3:19 (NIV) By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations. Desire and prefer wisdom above riches, power, influence and even life itself, because wisdom gives all those. Since Christ is the Wisdom of God – 1Corinthians 1:24, set your heart and mind on knowing Him and living in Him. Above all else set your heart and mind on what Christ accomplished in His crucifixion death and resurrection because this is the greatest demonstration of the wisdom of God.

August 22, 2026 7 Comments off

Be a good example to your Children

3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. 4My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. Proverbs 4:3-4 (NLT) You shouldn’t stop at looking for your child’s tuition and leave all your child’s education to schools and teachers. The writer of our Scripture says his father started teaching him when he was a child. This is Solomon and his father was King David. A king of a great nation had time to teach his child. He taught him words and commands to live by. He instructed him to get wisdom; develop good judgment, not forget the father’s words or turn away from them – Proverbs 4:5(NLT). It worked out the best because when later God appeared to Solomon and told him to ask anything, he asked for wisdom which pleased God so much that He gave it to him together with riches and honor. His father had taught him from childhood the most important things in life. Talk to your children as their foremost influence. Tell them that to hear and follow the ways of God is what life and success is founded on.

August 21, 2026 9 Comments off

God gives Grace to the Humble

Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 3:34 (NKJV) God created us to live and walk with Him and that’s only possible if we can live and walk like God. But we can’t do that in our own human strength and effort. In Christ Jesus God came to live in us, and live through us. Grace is God living in us, working in us, walking in us. In order for God to do that we have to let Him by giving up our own human efforts and totally depending on His ability. This is what it means to be humble, this is how we receive and live in God’s Grace. But when we refuse to depend on God and insist on relying on our human strength and effort then we are scornful towards God. Because human works are imperfect and dead works, they can’t please God, depending on your self-effort is scorned by God. We can’t live right by sheer determination of avoiding sin. But when we believe that Jesus took our sin, gave us His righteousness – 1Peter 2:24, so now we are righteous, we end up living righteous effortlessly. Now God is living His Righteous Life in us. We are now rightly living and walking with Him. This is Grace.

August 20, 2026 13 Comments off

Always Practice Doing Good

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do [so.] Proverbs 3:27 (NKJV) God is the one to whom good is due. He is the one from whom we shouldn’t withhold good. Now God who created and sustains everything isn’t served by human hands as if He needed anything Acts 17:25. So the good we ought to do to God we should do to people. We do good to God by doing good to people He created in His image. Loving God is tied to and expressed in loving people. Whatever God has placed in your power to do, go ahead, do it to help and empower others. Whatever good deed you can do, now is the time to do it. Don’t keep on postponing doing what’s good, right, and helpful. Proverbs 3:28 (NLT) If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.” Do not withhold giving, serving, forgiving, helping, supporting, and encouraging. Don’t put it off to later or into the future. Do it now.

August 19, 2026 15 Comments off

The Lord is Your Security

25You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, 26for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 3:25-26 (NLT) When we read that disaster or destruction comes upon the wicked, we may ask that what about the good people, the young innocent ones to whom also disaster and destruction come? Are they also wicked some way? Another translation says do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes – Proverbs 3:25 (NKJV). So not only does disaster or destruction come upon the wicked but it also comes from them. It comes from the chief of wickedness, the devil. But thank God we don’t have to be afraid because the Lord is our security. He’s our protection and defense against all evil. Know that the Lord is your security, have confidence in the Lord your security, declare that the Lord is your security, expect Him to keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

August 18, 2026 22 Comments off

God’s Wisdom offers Everything

13Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Proverbs 3:13,16 (NIV) The wisdom of the world cannot offer you everything. In the world’s way of succeeding, you may get rich and famous but most of the time at the expense of your life, health, and relationships. Success and riches gained without God come with fear and worry. You fear and worry that you may lose it, that it may be stolen. Now you become restless. You work harder to maintain and safeguard your possessions. So, you have no time to take care of your health, no time for your loved ones, no time to enjoy life itself. Then you lose it all before it is actually lost because it has become meaningless. But the wisdom of God offers it all – long, healthy, stable life, riches and honor. The wisdom of God is the holistic blessing which makes rich and there’s no sorrow with it. You’re blessed in your mind with peace, in your body with health and longevity, loving relationships, financial and material prosperity, because it’s God who guides and empowers you.

August 17, 2026 31 Comments off

The Lord’s Discipline

11My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. 12For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT) Some Christians think the Lord’s discipline, chastening, training, or correction means hardships, trouble, and even tragedy including sickness, accidents and death. But that’s a fallen nature mindset and it’s not true of God’s character. All the hardships, pain, and suffering in the world are the result of the fall of man and not in any way connected to God’s ways. God disciplines us with His Word and Holy Spirit. They are our God given and ordained teachers and trainers. Responding positively to what God tells us even in the midst of fiery trials is the discipline of the Lord in action. When we read the account of Joseph the son of Jacob, we only focus on what he suffered but Scripture points out and emphasizes that the Word tested him or proved him true – Psalms 105:19. The things Joseph suffered from people wasn’t the real discipline of the Lord. The Word God had given him through dreams and his holding onto it was the discipline of the Lord. What he went through was the work of men – Psalms 105:18, but it served as the ground where the Lord disciplined and trained him with His Word. If trouble or trials were the discipline then everyone who suffers would be disciplined, but it’s not like that. It’s the Word and Holy Spirit who teach, remind, encourage, warn, and strengthen us. It’s the Word and Holy Spirit who even in the midst of suffering and pain discipline us to be patient, confident, kind, faithful, godly, honest, forgiving, understanding and loving.

August 16, 2026 35 Comments off

Health and Strength

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 (NKJV) Being wise in your own eyes means having more confidence in what your reasoning and feelings say than what God says. Evil is not only the obvious like murder, adultery, robbery but every way of thinking and acting that contradicts what God says. When Jesus told a man that his sins are forgiven, some people questioned it in their minds and Jesus called that evil thinking – Matthew 9:2-4. Most of the time our senses contradict what God says and that’s evil – Romans 8:7 Departing from evil is choosing to put what God says above what we think or feel. This is life – Romans 8:6. This is what brings health to our flesh and strength to our bones. For example, when God says with long life He satisfies you – Psalms 91:16, choose that above what nature and science say that your life expectancy is already determined by certain physical, geographical, and social aspects. When human experience says that the older you grow the lesser your strength, reject it by choosing what God says that as your days so shall your strength be – Deuteronomy 33:25.

August 15, 2026 36 Comments off