‘Above all and before all, do this: get wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get understanding. Throw your arms around her – believe me, you won’t regret it, Never let her go – she’ll make your life glorious. She’ll garland your life with grace, she’ll festoon your days with beauty’. Proverbs 4:7-9 MSG

The King James Version of today’s scripture starts by saying ‘wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom’. Make it your priority to obtain the mind of God concerning everything before you act. If you would soak your heart and mind with the way God thinks about every issue of life, you will have the mind of God and will be able to build your life on wisdom. Your life will be made glorious and certainly you will be very glad with the result.

The entire world was formed by God’s wisdom (Ps 104:24).

Take time to think through on your ideas and the different decisions you need to make. Base your thoughts on the principles of the word. Give all it takes to get God’s mind before you act. This was what Solomon’s father told him when he was young;

‘When I was a boy at my father’s knee, the pride and joy of my mother, He would sit me down and drill me: ‘Take this to heart. Do what I tell you – live! Sell everything and buy wisdom! Forage for understanding! Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch! Proverbs 4:3-5 MSG

‘Honour the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; so your bans will be filled with plenty, and our vast will overflow with new wine’. Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV

This scripture states clearly the way to have abundance. I like the message version: ‘Honour God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst; your wine vast will brim over’. You now have in your hands the blueprint for the path to increase and great wealth. This is the lifestyle of the kingdom of God. It is God’s way of doing things with regards to wealth creation and sustenance.

Gen 8:22 says ‘while the earth remains, seed time and harvest … shall not cease’. The way to have is to give. This is a number one principle of the kingdom. This principle actually applies to every aspect of life. You need a friend, be friendly; you want to be loved, give love; you desire to be respected more, give respect; etc. So, for you to enjoy God’s abundance this year, make up your mind to live a lifestyle of giving. Faithfully pay your tithe and give offerings, and your barns will be filled with plenty and your cruse of oil will never run dry. Think through and make sure you Start NOW.

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones’. Proverbs 3:5-8 NKJV

At the beginning of a new year, new job or a new phase of life; say a fresh marriage relationship, for example; we are filled with fresh hopes. New beginning presents fresh opportunities & aspirations. On the other hand, they are also characterized with the concerns of the unknown. As you begin this New Year, our scripture for today is well spelt out in the Contemporary English version:

With your heart you must trust the Lord and not your judgement. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow. Don’t ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the Lord and stay away from evil. This will make you healthy, and you will feel strong’

Do not depend on your past experiences. No matter what you see, feel, think, or hear. Determine to trust God and allow him lead you. You are set for a peaceful and prosperous year, in Jesus name.

“My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of a life (worth living) and tranquility (inward and outward and continuing through old age till death), these shall they add to you”. Proverbs 3:1-2 Amp

I would like us to meditate on these two verses of scriptures. It gives a very simple but precise key to a good life! I like the contemporary English version; ‘My child, remember my teachings and instructions and obey them completely. They will help you live a long and prosperous life’.

The key here is to completely obey God’s teachings and instructions. The word of God addresses every issue of life; your health, marriage, business, etc. If you would take these instructions to heart and obey them, you will enjoy your every day on this earth.

My prayer is that you will live a long, strong, and fulfilled life in Jesus name, amen. Have a great day.

Other scriptures: Deut. 28:1-14

 ‘My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; …Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God’ Proverbs 2:1-5

The scripture makes it clear to us that ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Pr. 1:7). Many times the concept of ‘the fear of the Lord’ sounds mysterious and scary. In today’s scripture, the Lord has laid it plain to us how to walk in reverential fear of God.

1. Receive God’s word, and hide it in your heart (verse 1). Do this daily and deliberately. You will know God’s opinion about every life issue.
2. Determine to make God’s word the basis of your opinion and decisions on every life issue.

When you do this, you will be able to give heed to, or pay attention to God’s wisdom for your daily life. Verses 3 & 4 of proverbs 2 states clearly that we should place emphases on the both study and obeying God’s word. This seems to me that we cannot be flimsy when it comes to reading and studying and living by the word.

When you give daily attention to the study of God’s word (not so much about volume, but about consistency and adequate proportion), and put it into practice, you will naturally get to know God, and you will find it normal to walk in reverential fear of Him. The result is that your way will be marked with riches, honour and good life (Proverbs 22:4). 

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life” Proverbs 22:4

Everyone desires a satisfying life, marked with riches and honour. My prayer is that this year will be such for you, in Jesus name. The question is; ‘how do we get that kind of life?’ Today’s scripture gives us the answer – by humility and the fear of the Lord. So, determine to cooperate with God so that this year will be characterised by riches, honour and complete satisfaction.

Humility is generally defined in the dictionary as ‘the quality of not thinking that you are better than other people’. So, humility is in the heart and nobody may ‘see’ it ordinarily. In the contest of this scripture, it more so refers to your relationship with God. Simply put, ‘you do not think your idea is better than that of God’s’! Maintain a humble attitude toward every man and more importantly, toward God. No matter what you think about anything, God’s view wins – God’s word is final!

Maintain this attitude at home, at work, in church, and in the community. In addition to this, walk daily in reverential fear of God. You will be amazed how you will walk into riches, great honour before God and man, as well as a fulfilling long life.

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction’                                          Proverbs 4:7

The message version says ‘start with God – the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning’. The truth is this; the more of God you know and the more you imbibe God’s ways, the more wisdom in dealing with all life’s issues you possess.

Job 28:20 – 28 in Message version is a very interesting read…

“So, where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live? It can’t be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly. If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, ‘we’ve only heard rumors of it.’ God alone knows the way to Wisdom; he knows the exact place to find it. He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven. After he commanded the winds to blow and measured out the waters, arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning, He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready. Then he addressed the human race: ‘Here it is! Fear-of-the-Lord-that’s Wisdom and Insight means shunning evil.’”    

The fear of the Lord here means the reverence for God, based on your knowledge of Him. Determine to walk in reverence for God as regards every aspect of your life today and you will discover that you will find it easy to know the right thing to do each time; you certainly will walk in all-round wisdom.

‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting, get understanding’                                    Proverbs  4:7

After you have committed your way to the Lord in the New Year; you need the wisdom to navigate your way through the entire year. Our scripture today makes it clear that your principal pursuit should be for wisdom, and I believe it is available otherwise God would not say we should ‘get it’.

Eccl 10:15 says ‘The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them; because he knoweth not how to go to the city’. The foolish labour quite all right, but it leads not only to his frustration, but everybody with him is wearied! Wisdom gives you ‘the how’ to do all that you have to do, in order to see your prayers come to pass through the year. That wisdom is available as you seek God in prayer and as you look daily in His word. Make that your pursuit this year; determine to daily seek God and meditate on His word. Do this and you will daily find the light and direction to your path of success.       

Remember this: God has all the wisdom you need to handle every issue that you will be faced with this year. Determine to seek God and His word daily to get the wisdom you need. Start today.

Begin with God

 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth    Gen 1:1

At the beginning of all things, we see God. He is the origin and the creator of all things. All things found their start in Him. The scripture says all things hold together in Christ (Col 1:17). At the beginning of every phase of our lives, it is an opportunity to establish God at the helms of our affairs, and commit all things to His hands afresh. It has become a tradition for people at the beginning of a new year to make new resolutions and new plans, purchase new clothes, prepare special delicacies and of course have special gatherings.

At this time, I would want to encourage you to review your past year and put the new in clear perspective. Today gives you an opportunity to rekindle your hopes of achieving your God given dreams and aspirations. You can ‘begin life again’ as it were. Take advantage of this day. Make today your fresh beginning. Decide to give God priority in every affairs of your life. Decide to approach your life with fresh hope and vigor. Decide to go for the best that God has for you in faith. Decide today to live your life pleasing to the Lord.

Take your relationship, business or career to the next level with God. Commit your ways afresh to the Lord and make up your mind to follow His views, instructions and guidance every day of this New Year. Acknowledge Him and He will surely direct your path and perfect all that concerns you. Do have a peaceful and fruitful New Year, in Jesus name.