Proverbs 27:22Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.Proverbs Daily is reader and listener-supported. Every post is free, but if you'd like to help spread the message and make the sacred positively contagious, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Just look for the word 'Upgrade' and click it! Thanks in advance.The ancient world didn’t have food processors. They had mortars and pestles. (What are those???) Stone bowls and blunt tools used to crush, grind, and break things down. You didn’t cut grain—you crushed it. And that’s the image in Proverbs 27:22.“Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.”On first read, it feels a little harsh. Like an old man ranting,These youngin’s just wild today, you can’t even beat the foolishness out of em’!And honestly? That was me.As a preteen I got caught in Sausalito California for stealing a car…(don’t ask) But it landed me in Juvy—and as hard as I was trying to be, at twelve years old hearing that jail door clink broke me!I still remember the prayer I prayed that night in the cell.“Lord, if you get me out of this mess…” (you can probably finish it right??) “I’ll never do it again.”And to God’s credit—He did. I got out the next day as a minor. Joy riding–and we promised never to do it again (boy the 70’s right? It was different back then) But guess what? Within 30 days, I was trying to boost candy bars from a corner store–all over again. Why? Because the real solution wasn’t to scare me into straightening up. The true solution was about getting my heart right.See the difference?Just going through a grinding process doesn’t guarantee growth. You can be crushed by consequences and still cling to your old mindset. The mortar can grind the grain—but it can’t change the seed.Here’s the key phrase hidden within that Proverb: "His foolishness. "Once again: Grind a fool with the hardest process, but you won’t remove (what?) HIS FOOLSISHNESS from him.The Hebrew word is אִוַּלְתּוֹ ('iûeleṯ)—which generally translates to folly or foolishness. But the suffix used is the 3rd person masculine singular possessive pronoun, (which is Bible Nerd talk that basically means “his folly.”)So, not just foolish behavior. This is ownership of the foolishness. This is ‘doing dumb and thinking it’s cute’ It’s making foolishness your identity.That’s why the process doesn’t work. Because until you choose to change your nature, even the fire won’t refine you. It’ll just burn you.But Ohh one other night, I prayed:And instead of praying “God, if You get me out of this mess…” I changed the prayer to a sincere request:“God, if You get this mess out of me…”The moment I prayed that better prayer— the moment I said, That’s when everything began to change.Here’s the point:Your breakthrough doesn’t start when your situation changes. It starts when your heart does.🙏🏽 PrayerGod, take this mess outta me–I will be free💡 Today’s Challenge:Think of a habit or mindset you’ve clung to for too long. Ask yourself honestly: Is this still part of who I want to be? Then take one step today—pray, call someone, confess, change course—About the AuthorFred 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!Be Wise and Be Well...peace.Thanks for reading Proverbs Daily! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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