This year I want to fear the Lord….
I want to fear Him enough to listen to Him and follow where He leads.
I want to fear Him enough to avoid being a fool.
There is a little fool in all of us and if we are not careful it becomes easy to give into the” little fool’s” thinking…
which rejects God’s instructions…
and when those are rejected…
we wind up acting foolishly. ( 1:7)
This year I want to fear the Lord and avoid all of that.
The fact is, this year we will all have times of anguish, rejection, and calamity…
I just want to fear the Lord enough for those times not to be a consequence of something stupid I decided to do that went against God’s righteous instruction. (1:29-31)
Also, this year will be filled with celebration, laughter and good times…
I want to fear the Lord enough to rejoice and give Him praise during those positive moments.
That’s what hit me today in Proverbs 1
What did you see in the passage today?
phillipbrande.com 
Praying for the wisdom to identify the path of the wicked and the ways of the flesh, to not follow those ways and desires. To listen to wisdoms cry.
a few things struck me. one that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. I really paused and thought about what does “fearing the Lord” mean? because I really want knowledge. I thought about how growing up I “feared” my parents…I feared displeasing them, I feared making the wrong choices and the consequences of poor choices. I was afraid of what would happen if I were ever disrespectful to my parents. And I realized that fearing the Lord is much the same – I fear displeasing Him, I fear making wrong choices and the consequences of those choices! I fear that my disobedience is a direct affront to my Savior! And that helped me truly grasp how fearing the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Because if I truly want to please my Lord, if I truly want to make the best choices, if I truly desire to obey and respect my Savior, then that fear of failing Him drives me to seek Him and what He requires of me!
I also realized that I feared my parents because I had a relationship with them. And it’s because of the relationship with my Heavenly Father that I fear Him!
I was also struck by evil is right there enticing us…and how it leads only to death…
I want to hear Wisdom, which in verses 20-22, we are told shouts at us, raises her voice to us, calls us to turn away from wickedness- so that verse 23 “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;I will make my words known to you.”
I got a few things from this. Agreeing with what Phillip said, do not be a fool. Listen to wisdom and instruction. Then verses 8-9; listen to and cherish your parents. As I get older I realize my parents are getting older as well. This year I want to spend more time with them, listen and take in every word. Then with verse 19; do not be greedy to gain. I want to be grateful for everything I’ve been so blessed to have. Not wanting more and more. Just content and thankful for what I have.