INTRODUCTION

The Proverbs of King Solomon are extremely powerful and impactful, especially when they are implemented into our daily lives. I have made it a personal goal to read at least one verse, or as much as a whole chapter, from the Book of Proverbs daily. This little book you hold now in your hands is the result of this goal. I will let you in on a little secret though, this book was not easy to write, nor did it come quickly, but has been several years in the making from the day I took on and started the challenge of reading a proverb a day for 31 days. Why is this, why take so long on what seems a rather small writing project?

For starters, I am a family man, so when and only when I have free time away from work and family do I write, and I spend a lot of time with my family, growing together, experiencing life together, and simply trying to be the best family we can be together.  Second, my full time job, as I am not a full time author or writer at this point in life, makes it harder to write in short time frames.  Third, Church involvement.  Fourth, because I want my writing projects to be and come out naturally as they grow in my heart and my mind.  I dread the idea of a six month or even one year deadline for a writing project at this time in life because that means some percentage of my writings will probably be forced mechanical writing for the sake of writing and quantity.  This kind of writing can very much hurt the quality, authenticity, personal styling and wording of a book project.  If, however,  you are a fast writer and can do so naturally, I commend you because I am unfortunately not one of those. 

So why write a book, a devotional, whatever you may consider it, such as this one?  It’s a challenge.  It’s a calling.  It’s personal development in the making.  It draws, at least for myself, us closer to God’s heart for people.  I heard and listened to a pod-cast sermon by Louie Giglio from Passion Church, Atlanta, Ga., where he challenged his church gathering to read through the book of Proverbs in 31 days, and to highlight a verse from each chapter that stuck out above the rest and to use these verses through the year as guiding principles.  So I took on the challenge, I made it about two thirds of the way through and then lost track and fell slightly off the challenge because of other life events going on at that time.  This was back in and around 2014 or 2015 that I can remember to the best of my ability right now.  Then, out of nowhere, 4 or so years later, I happened upon the notebook that I had started the challenge with.  So, what did I do?  I finished the challenge, but then continued the challenge, and have not stopped since.  What has come of this is the desire to help other people see the life changing insights, wisdom, and knowledge that the book of Proverbs holds and contains within, for all of us.  Proverbs is rich, full of life, and more than helps us connect the Old Testament to the New Testament.

So I Am Challenging You Now! I want you to read the book of Proverbs in one month, a chapter a day, and after that, continue the challenge, either a chapter a day, a verse a day, however much you feel a day, but make the book of Proverbs a part of your daily life. And to add to the challenge some edge, try connecting at least one verse from the Old Testament and New Testament to your daily verse and see how God transcends the Bible from cover to cover and beyond; then, grow your knowledge of God’s word through being intentional with learning Proverbs; and last, grow in your desire to know more about God each and every day.