January 1, 2024 - Proverbs 1:1-7

“These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:1-7 NLT

Lord, we thank you so much for the wonderful wisdom you so freely give to us. The book of Proverbs is such a beautiful gift and source of wisdom. As we start this new year, we want it to be a year marked with growing in your wisdom. You said in James 1:5, that when we ask for wisdom, you would give it to us in abundance. We come before you today and ask that you would impart to us more of your wisdom for all we are going to face this year. As we spend each day of January in a chapter of Proverbs, we ask for you to highlight to us what you want us to see and take away. Open our hearts to see things we need to allow you to change in us. Grow us in wisdom, in discernment, in the fear of the Lord, and in our relationship with you. Grow our characters.

Lord, teach us how to live disciplined and successful lives. Not only successful in this world, but successful in your Kingdom’s ways. We want to always do what is right, just, and fair. As we walk through this book with you this month, align anyplace in our lives where we are not living in those three things. We want you to establish more of the fear of the Lord in our lives. Guide us through this journey, Lord.

In Jesus name, amen.