Proverbs 13:19
A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools abhor turning away from evil.
Journal Entry: July 13, 2025
Got up early today to work on my Proverbs Daily episode and do some behind-the-scenes work to get the podcast up on Spotify and Apple (Google, YouTube you’re coming next!). I made some good progress—felt solid about that—and even though it made me late for work, I’ve come to see these devotionals as part of my life’s work.
After Ubering a few hours, I had an oil change scheduled. So instead of sitting around in the shop, I walked across the way to the park to do what I do: sit in the grass, breathe, meditate, and pray.
And that’s when it happened.
I got centered with some deep breathing, and started tuning into the sound of the cicadas. You know it’s summer in Texas, so they’re LOUD—so I used their buzz as my rhythm. I Thought: “Why not worship the Creator to the cadence of creation?”
So I’m about 10 minutes in, humming with the cicadas—in a deep flow state… and I felt a little tickle on my knee.
So I peeped my eyes open…and there it was.
A cicada.
Not just singing in the trees.
But baby girl had some way climbed up my leg and was just chillin’ on my knee!
And before I could even process it—
SWAT!
Reflexes kicked in.
I smacked that little poor choir member twelve feet across the park.
Instantly, I felt bad.
I said, “Lord! I’m not on that level yet!”
Here I was, trying to be “one with all things,” and when nature came to fellowship—I flinched. I’m not St. Francis… I freaked out!
At that moment, I just cracked up at myself! And I felt heaven laughing with me—and at me.
Not with shame. Just love… and a gentle reminder:
🧠 “Know yourself—the good, the bad, and the twitchy reflexes too.”
Now what you just heard was an excerpt from my diary…my journal.
Proverbs 14:8 says,
“The wisdom of the prudent is to understand their way…”
One of the most powerful tools I’ve found for understanding my way?
Journaling.
Journaling helps me see myself over time. Often through retrospection.
It gives me a view of myself that I can’t always catch in the moment.
When I’ve played the fool in the past, I notice that I stop journaling.
I didn’t want that type of mirror.
I ghosted feedback. I ran on autopilot—mistaking momentum for meaning.
And that’s where the second half of the verse hits:
“...but the folly of fools is deceit.”
See, self-deception is when you cosign comfort and discount clarity.
But every time I’ve sobered up, walked out of a fog, or tried to make sense of a mess—journaling helped guide me.
It’s become a kind of internal GPS for my spiritual journey.
Not perfect. But personal. Honest. And Real.
🛠 Either You Self-Correct… or You Self-Deceive
Fools keep doing what feels right, even when it's wrecking them.
But the wise build a system that sees the patterns, calls out the drift, and turns back.
🪩 Remember this:
The first step toward wisdom is learning to tell yourself the truth.
Prayer
Teach me to recognize myself—and not run from it.
🎯 Today’s Challenge
Start, or start back up your own self-correcting system:
Journal one honest moment from today.
Ask: What happened? How did I react? What can I learn?
End with a sentence of grace. Then laugh with God… and grow.
About the Author
Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch