The Way of the WiseНамуна

Day 9: Choose Carefully:

Today is about invitations. Both wisdom and foolishness are calling—Proverbs 9 asks: which voice are you following?

Life is full of invitations. Some call us toward wisdom, life, and purpose. Others call us toward foolishness, destruction, and regret. Proverbs 9 reminds us that every day, we are choosing which invitation we will accept—and those choices shape everything about our future.

Wisdom isn’t passive. She calls to us clearly and urgently. Proverbs 9:6 (NIV) pleads: "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight."

Choosing wisdom requires action. It’s not enough to simply admire it from a distance or occasionally acknowledge its value. We must leave our old ways behind and walk in the ways of insight if we want to experience the full life God offers.

And the starting place for that wisdom is crystal clear: Proverbs 9:10 (GNT) teaches: "To be wise you must first have reverence for the LORD. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding."

True wisdom begins with awe—reverence for God’s holiness, His greatness, and His authority. Without that posture of humility, wisdom will always seem optional, negotiable, or out of reach. But when we honor Him first, everything else falls into proper perspective. Still, Proverbs 9 warns us: wisdom must be chosen. It’s a gift offered freely, but it’s never forced upon us. Proverbs 9:12 (NLT) reminds us: "If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer."

God doesn’t coerce. He invites. The benefits of wisdom—or the consequences of rejecting it—belong to us based on the choices we make.

Proverbs 9 shows that while wisdom is available to all, so is folly. Both voices call out. Both spreads are laid before us. Both paths look appealing at first glance. But only one leads to life.

Today—and every day—you are making decisions that either pull you closer to wisdom or closer to destruction. There is no neutral ground.