walK with THE Wise ~ Stuck in a Snare

The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;

the cords of their sins hold them fast.

For lack of discipline they will die,

led astray by their own great folly.

(Proverbs 5.22-23)

Satan lays subtle snares to trap those who do not think - aka the one who lacks discretion and discipline, otherwise known as "thoughtless." 

Thoughtless is a funny word. We typically use it to refer to someone whose words or actions (or lack thereof) indicate little or no consideration for the needs of others. It also refers to someone who does not reflect on the potential consequences of his or her comportment. But if you look at it very literally, it means someone without thoughts - or with fewer thoughts - than others. It is someone who, as far as thinking goes, falls on the negative side of the scale. It isn't very complimentary. I know I don't want to be described as thoughtless.

Yet, when I do not demonstrate discretion, discernment and discipline in my daily life... 

I might as well be...

...totally stuck in a snare.

It isn't a good place to be.

But what about all those "D" words? What do I mean by discretion, discernment and discipline? Funny thing - they all seem to be related.

Discretion? It includes discernment in the definition.

According to Webster's, discretion is a person, place or thing characterized by: separation, wise conduct and management, cautious discernment - especially as to matters of propriety and self-control, prudence, circumspection, wariness, discrimination - as in the ability to distinguish good from bad, AND/OR the freedom to act according to one's own judgment including the unrestrained exercise of choice or will.

One of my all time favorite Bible verses is 2 Timothy 1.7: "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." Another translation puts it this way: "For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of wise discretion."

Thus, it would appear that discretion, discernment and discipline are all more or less synonymous... What words oppose discretion? What words can result in us ending up ensnared? Timidity... cowardice... fearfulness...

That's a thought to ponder.