Deal With Your Junk

Proverbs 13:16: “Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.” Today’s Episode: Deal With Your Junk I was in my mid-thirties, working with Josh McDowell’s ministry, doing ministry at a hundred miles an hour. We had an opportunity to do a series of youth ministry events in Trinidad and Tobago. Man, I was ready to go! Except my paperwork wasn’t quite…ready. My passport needed attention, and I had speeding and parking tickets I hadn’t dealt with…which kept me from getting my passport and… I could prepare a whole message for somebody else’s life while my own business was tore-up! My boss and mentor Paul Jackson looked me straight in the eyes and, in that deep Southern drawl, said, “Fred, you gotta deal with your sh*t.” Let’s just say he didn’t use the church word. This older Southern white man was cussing me out! With love! And he was right! And I could hear it. He saw promise in me. He also saw how easily I could get in my own way. Proverbs 13:16 says it like this in the King James Version: “Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.” I don’t often reach for the King James, but “dealeth” gets me right here. Wisdom does something with what it knows. The proverb contrasts informed action with foolishness put on display. And here’s how that lands with me: knowing your business needs attention means eventually giving it some attention. You can pray about a bill. You still need to send them dollars in. You can know an apology is overdue and keep changing the subject every time that person comes around. Meanwhile, the thing you avoid dealing with starts dealing with you. My mentor’s words stayed with me because he cared enough to say what I needed to hear. Plus, just remembering him say it in that Southern Draw just makes me laugh to this day. Aren’t you glad for grace? It gives you room to face something you’ve neglected without deciding you’re a hopeless mess. Get help if you need it. Start where you are. What’s one thing you already know needs your attention? Don’t delay: dealeth with it. 🔥 REMEMBER The wisdom you know becomes useful when you put it to work. 🙏🏽 PRAYER God, give me courage to handle what I’ve been avoiding. 🎯 TODAY’S CHALLENGE Pick one unfinished task you’ve been avoiding. Set a ten-minute timer and take the first step: make the call, send the email, or open the paperwork. Write down what you completed before the timer ends. 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 📱 Experience Proverbs Daily by Subscribing! Ready to receive daily wisdom directly on your phone? Go to proverbsdaily.org for the app or just click that Subscribe button right now! Get full access to Hey Fred Lynch! at heyfredlynch.substack.com/subscribe