‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to him.

You have made other gods for yourself and have made me furious with your gold calves.

For David had done what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and had obeyed the Lord’s commands throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.

So Judah defeated Israel on that occasion because they trusted in the Lord, 

Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!”

The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you. 

Lord God my Father,

Protect me from good intentioned lies, keep me on your path and reveal the deception do I may avoid it. Help me to know the sin in my thoughts so I can turn from it. I want to only do what is pleasing to you, but am at war with my sin nature. Only you can help me, help me to trust in your plan without doubt.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

 Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.

‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jeroboam.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to remember all the struggles you carried me through. Help me to remember how I used to control my place in the world and how trusting that you are Lord has transformed me. Keep me close so I don’t stray from your path and put me back on it when I wonder. Help me to allow your wisdom to rest on me and not fight your battles for you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life. 12Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.

So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.

ust as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb,11:5 Some manuscripts read Just as you cannot understand how breath comes to a tiny baby in its mother’s womb. so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

Lord God my Father,

Allow your wisdom to grow in me and give me courage to do what I can to gain financial independence. I wish to serve you better with recourses available to me. Thank you for your wisdom and allow me to hold it. I can’t understand your plan and that’s ok with me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

 That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.

When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 

To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. 20God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to live a life pleasing to you, give me only what I need. I trust your plan, yet I struggle to trust it. Give me obedience that acts on your desire now and doesn’t wait. Help me to enjoy every moment weather it is hard or easy and leave me content.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. 3He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to be aware of my compromised desire and protect me from acting on it. Restore me to your original design.

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy8:6a Or its passion. as enduring as the grave.

Lord God my Father,

Your love for me is beyond my understanding. Help me to accept it as you desire and help me to learn to love as you designed me to, not so much as I desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, 25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. 4Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

Lord God my Father,

Protect my spirit and surround me with delightful people. Give me wisdom to speak only with your desire behind my words and lift those around me. Allow your discernment to guide me in how to engage others in this place.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.

Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.

No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.

A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.

Lord God my Father,

Give me your understanding, help me to be still. Give me focus on doing your desire above my laziness. Your plan is perfect, keep me from thinking too much and the discipline to be courageous.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.

Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me still and listening to you and protect me from poor decisions. I wish to only live as you designed it without straying from your plan. Keep my emotions in your Peace and punish me when I try to control.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen