Author: Vanessa Moonkie

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is the foundation, the very essence and starting point of true understanding. Before we gather all the books in the world in pursuit of wisdom, we must first learn to fear the Lord. Without the fear of God, scripture says, you are not wise. There is a difference between wisdom and intelligence. You may be intelligent, yet still not wise. Why? Because there is only one divine formula for wisdom: fear God and receive wisdom.

What then is the difference between wisdom and intelligence? Intelligence is the ability to understand, analyze, to grasp knowledge. It’s of the mind , developed through study, experience, and reasoning. We now have Ai? Artificial intelligence. Systems built to overthrow human intelligence. It’s a mind game. Intelligent people can solve problems, make calculations, and excel academically or professionally. It’s a gift, but it operates mainly in the things of logic and information.

Wisdom, however, goes deeper. It is the right application of knowledge, guided by reverence for God and moral discernment. Wisdom is not just knowing what to do, but doing what pleases God. It’s rooted in the fear of the Lord, meaning a deep respect, awe, and submission to His ways. Wise people don’t just solve problems, they solve them excellently.

In short:

• Intelligence helps you navigate the world education and systems while wisdom can help you rule it and stand out.
• Intelligence is of the mind.
• Wisdom is of the spirit. It is a dimension of God Himself
• Intelligence can build systems but wisdom sustains them. It keeps them intact.

The principal part of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Anyone who doesn’t fear the Lord is termed a “fool.” Why? Because if you were truly wise, you would recognize that such a beautifully crafted world could never exist without the hand of God.

Do you know why intelligence alone is not enough? Scientists have studied countless things , they are intelligent, yes but without the fear of God, all that knowledge amounts to nothing. According to scripture, they are still termed fools. Foolishness has nothing to do with whether you are a professor or a president. If the fear of the Lord is missing, then all you are is a scholar.

Don’t you think there were intelligent men during Solomon’s time? Of course there were! They were the ones who built the temple and his palace. Yet among them all, Solomon was the wisest and that’s why he ruled over them. He was not just intelligent; he feared the Lord, and that was his greatness. How many intelligent people do you know? Plenty, I’m sure , the A-students, the high achievers. But how many wise people do you know? Did you notice how the number drops? There are many intelligent yet unwise people. That’s why we have countless “brilliant innovations,” but when it comes to implementation, there are mistakes and those mistakes bleed into the systems of life, families, and nations.

So, are you content with just being intelligent able to solve mathematical problems? What happens when you have to solve life problems? Will you apply formulas and equations? No. You must be both intelligent and wise. And wisdom begins here: with the fear and reverence of the Lord. Do you respect God? Or have you reduced Him to being just one of your buddies?

Solomon gives a powerful teaching. In the introduction of this book, he reminds us that it all begins with God. Do you want to become wise? Then start with God. God is not your age mate. He is not your colleague, nor one of your employees. He is GOD , the Creator, the Almighty, the beginning and the end. When you truly understand who He is, that revelation will birth reverence within you , the very fear of the Lord that marks the start of wisdom.

See you tomorrow. ❤️

This month of November, we are studying the book of Proverbs. If you missed the first post, you can find it at the foot of the page. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a wise woman. The Bible says that wisdom is profitable to direct , it helps us make sound decisions and live with purpose. But wisdom doesn’t come automatically; it’s something we grow into through learning and applying God’s Word. Let’s look at Proverbs 1:2–6 to understand why this book is so important. We will take one verse per time .

“Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He says this book is written to teach people wisdom and discipline, which means wisdom and discipline can actually be taught. So when you read this book, you are yielding yourself to lessons of wisdom and discipline. You’re saying, “Lord, teach me how to think, how to live, and how to make sound decisions.” It also means that if by the time you finish reading this book you are not wiser or more disciplined, then you didn’t really read it well, because this book carries power to transform the way you live. He also says this book will teach you to understand the insights of the wise. In other words, as you grow in wisdom, the things that once sounded “too deep” or “too complex” will start to make sense. You’ll begin to understand what wise people mean when they speak, because your spirit and mind are being trained in understanding. Now, let’s go to verse 3.

“Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Loveee this one! We are being taught discipline and success! Don’t you want to succeed? Because I dooo! This is exactly why it’s so important for us to study this book especially now, as we prepare to step into a new year. By the time we finish, we’ll have gained understanding that will propel us to go forward. Proverbs helps us to do what is right, just, and fair. It teaches us how to live in a way that pleases God. I don’t know any truly saved person who enjoys doing wrong , it’s just not in our nature anymore. So, this book becomes your friend and companion in the journey of living right and walking wisely. Now, let’s go to verse 4

“These proverbs will give you great skill to teach the immature and make them wise, to give youth the understanding of their design and destiny.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This is a skills book! It teaches the immature how to become wise and gives young people understanding about who they are, their design , and what their destiny is. That’s why it’s such a powerful read for the youth. Leave all the magazines alone for a moment and open the Book of Proverbs! It will teach discernment to the young. And if there has ever been a time when we, as young people, needed discernment, it’s now! So many don’t know who they are or what they’re called to do. But this book will point you in the right direction, helping you discover your purpose and identity in God. Now, let’s look at verse 5 I hope you’re learning something.

“For the wise, these proverbs will make you even wiser, and for those with discernment, you will be able to acquire brilliant strategies for leadership.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“I thought only the unwise or fools should read Proverbs.” You’re wrong. This book is also for the wise! He says, listen , if you are already wise, you can become even wiser. There’s no limitation! You are your own limitation if you’re comfortable staying on the same level of wisdom you’ve been operating in. He tells us that wise people can read and gain another dimension , another level, more, better, higher!

And to those who already have discernment, don’t say, “This isn’t for me.” No , you have the opportunity to acquire strategies for leadership. Where are the leaders? Read this book and receive divine strategies. It will give you the right ideas to implement and the guidance to lead with excellence. Can you see that we’re becoming what creation has been groaning and waiting for? Let’s stop here for today. Take some time to really reflect , are you interested in becoming wise, or wiser? Or are you content with being shallow and indisciplined ? Bring a friend tomorrow. ❤️

Greetings my people!

Shock of my life yesterday, I was somehow locked out of my account and couldn’t access it to write! But glory to God, it’s fixed now. Eh, I almost cried for 72 hours straight. 😭 Somehow, though, I just knew I’d recover it, because God knows how much I would’ve nagged Him to supernaturally intervene. That’s the kind of relationship I have with Him, personal, EXRA , and sometimes dramatic! They say, “wherever and whenever you see am, bill am!” 😂

Anyway, we are back, and I want us to take a journey of Wisdom together. We’re going to have a great time studying the Book of Proverbs! You have your Bible, don’t you? Let’s go!

I’ve read the Book of Proverbs a couple of times before, but this time, I came with curiosity. I found myself asking, how does one man carry such wisdom to write a book that solves so many of life’s problems, yet the very people facing those problems haven’t taken the time to study him closely? So I told myself, I’m going to study people who have what I want, how did they get it, what principles did they follow to keep it, and how did it shape their lives and the lives of those around them?

Take Solomon, for example: he was the wisest man who ever lived, so if I desire wisdom, he’s someone I must study carefully. There were also wealthy men in the Bible who walked with God and handled riches righteously, they too are worth studying. Even in real life, who are the people who have what you desire or are doing what you dream of doing? Humble yourself and learn from them. If they’re not within reach, follow their pages, read their books, study, and listen. We rise by revelation, and revelation is simply revealed knowledge.

Proverbs starts off with an introduction , Solomon presenting not just his book, but the purpose behind it. To every writer, this alone is a powerful lesson. Writing without purpose is useless. Never write a book just to add the title “author” to your name; you will not be impactful if your writing lacks intention. That’s the first lesson we learn from the book of Proverbs purpose must precede expression.

Solomon clearly defines what his book is about, who it is for, and what it aims to produce in its readers. The contents, the audience, and the desired outcome are all made plain. So before you write, teach, or build anything, ask yourself: Who is this for? Who will benefit? Why am I doing this? Solomon gives us a detailed introduction in Proverbs 1:1–6. We are bible people, lezz read.

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

So in verse one, Solomon introduces himself as the author. “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.” Let the world say what they want if you create something original, whether it’s a post, a blog, a design, or a business, tag it. Make sure your name is on it. If you check MPG posts, you’ll notice we always include our logo or our name. Imagine writing a whole book and forgetting to put the author’s name on it! Our generation sometimes confuses humility with hiding, but true humility doesn’t mean erasing your identity. My love, if it’s your original work, own it. This book is by you. That business is by you. Your name matters. Think about it , billionaires don’t just have money, they have names. Mention their names and you immediately know who they are and what they do. They built a name, a brand. So don’t shrink back because someone might laugh at you for branding your business or ministry with your name ,you’re going somewhere!

We’re learning from a wise man here. Solomon began his book by boldly saying, “This is my work.” It’s not the work of Moses, Peter, James, or even his father David. It’s Solomon’s work. That alone carries a lesson. There was a time in Zimbabwe when there was so much hunger that people sold both branded bread and no-name bread. The no-name loaf was cheaper and actually very nice, but the branded one was expensive and still sold well. To this day, I can’t tell you the name of the company that made the no-name bread because they never built a name. They even called themselves no name! That’s how some people are today. Your business or ministry exists, but there’s no logo, no identity, no mark. Yet Canva is free go design a logo! If you can’t, pay someone who can. Get a name. Build something that people can recognize and remember.

You won’t make a mark by simply existing you must be known for something. Imagine if Gucci said, “We don’t want to be known.” Then they’re not ready to sell! Today’s takeaway? Brand it. Put your name out there. Who knows you? What do they know you for? As Proverbs begins, “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.” And on that note , this is The Yielded Center, a blog by Vanessa Ziyambi, two-time author and professional counsellor. Have a great day and see you tomorrow! 💛

Introduce yourself in the comments , tell us who you are and what you do. Let’s get to know you and your brand.