January 1, 2023 - Proverbs 1:17-19

“If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.” Proverbs 1:17-19 NLT

Lord, as we start this year off, I want to focus on Proverbs for the month of January. I ask that you impart your wisdom from this book into our lives and let it be a foundation on which we start this year. Lead us to the verses that you want us to focus on incorporating into our lives this year. Allow this month to help us align our lives to your kingdom ways. We want to see this year be a year where we see growth in our life as we become more like you. Guide us in the journey and help us to be intentional on spending time with you daily and allowing you to work in us.

Lord, as I read Proverbs 1 today, these were the verses that you were highlighting to me. I am challenged by how destructive greed is in our lives. It so quickly leads us down a path that sets us up for devastation. So often when we think of greed we think of money or possessions and that is a big area in which we can have greed, but we can see it in a lot of areas in our lives. We can also see it in our desire to be in control or have power. Lord, we want to take a moment now and ask you to highlight any place in our lives where we have given greed a place. It truly is like setting a trap for ourselves that robs us of life. Please forgive us for allowing greed to have a place in our life. Please help us uproot it. Teach us how to be generous with our talents, resources/possessions, our time, our family, or whatever else you have highlighted to us. Help us to fully surrender control of our life over to you and trust you with our everything. Let generosity be a highlight of our year. Let it be a year of seeing our trust in you flourish.

In Jesus name, amen.