Growing up, my dad told me that "A Proverb a day will keep the Devil away." He encouraged us to read one chapter of Proverbs each day of the month since there are 31 chapters and 31 days. I often begin the month well. But mid-month, life gets super busy and my reading slacks off. Guilt usually kicks in a week later so I have time to at least catch the last few chapters of Proverbs before a new month begins. Recently, I encountered two women who handwrite the Bible. At first, it seemed really odd but they stressed the sheer amount of concentration and discipline that is required to write out God's Word. They read it and then say it in their mind as they are writing it and then reread the entire chapter. They shared how copying the Bible awakened them and transformed their relationship with God with each book they copied. The more I learned about it, the more I wanted to try it...but next month. Then next month became the month after and so forth. However, today, September 1, seemed like a good day as any to try the Proverbs challenge.
My main goal with the Proverbs challenge is to cultivate a spirit of priority and discipline. It's easy to read through a few chapters of the Bible every day and to pray while on the go, but it's harder to slow down long enough to internalize God's Word and to have those extended prayer times without any distractions. I have been in a rut and want something fresh rather than study through another devotional. I want God without all the extras and nothing gets one back to the basics like copying straight from God's Word.
Proverbs is one of those "hindsight is 20/20" type of books for me. It is filled with wisdom that I wish I had put into practice because it would have saved a lot of tears, heartaches and mistakes. I tend to cross-reference Proverbs with life lessons so there are notes and dates of painful life lessons in the margin next to their corresponding Proverbs so I don't forget those lessons learned (it's like a diary of sorts). However, there are so many vital lessons in Proverbs that spare a person of trouble if heeded, so I figured this would be my chance to learn without all of the hard lessons time around. There was no other place to begin aside from time in prayer and simply sitting down with a fresh notebook and my Bible.
As I began copying Proverbs 1, I was waiting for this big, huge life-altering revelation to jump out at me. Instead, I got distracted by what it must have been like to be Solomon, David, Moses, Paul or Peter. They were close enough to God to hear Him and to pen the facets of His heart. It almost felt too sacred to continue writing out Proverbs 1 because I know how unholy, how human I am. At that moment, God reminded me that He chose imperfect beings to write down His Words. These men were human in every way yet God redeemed them and had a plan to use them despite their imperfections. He had a relationship with them and used them right where they were at. But the key is that these men were living in such a way that they were attuned to God's voice. Very thought-provoking.
About halfway through Proverbs 1, I thought about all the things my child and I have read together over the years in our missionary studies. We've spent a lot of time talking about the 10/40 window and just how many unreached people groups there are that do not have a Bible in their own language. I couldn't help but echo some of the prayers we've poured out for these people groups. I kept thinking of the Bible translators who have a vision and calling from God to learn a new language so they can copy not only Proverbs but the rest of the Bible, word for word, in a language that has never seen the Word of God. What a responsibility and challenge for these translators especially as they feel the urgency to spread God's Word but are confined to a slow, tedious process.
After handwriting Proverbs 1, I read it in Matthew Henry's commentary only to be reminded of the truths and the why behind the Book of Proverbs. I have a feeling that this handwriting journey is just a beginning--a place to rediscover the wonder of the Scripture with each word that is written down and an opportunity to reconnect with God in openness and hunger. As it comes to mind, pray that God will speak to me through this challenge and that I may learn discipline through this process.
