What Your Grandfather Knew That You Don't

I'm four days into my 40 Day Challenge. And it's already calling me out.

Yesterday was Proverbs 4—"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 4:23).

Cut deep because I used to follow my heart. I don't do that no more.

The Foundation: Understanding Proverbs 1-4

Chapter 1: The Invitation

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7).

Wisdom is literally calling out in the streets. And she's not whispering.

She's loud. Public. Unavoidable.

"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public square" (Proverbs 1:20).

The question isn't whether wisdom is available.

The question is whether you're listening.

Most of us walk past wisdom every day because we're too busy chasing what looks good instead of what is good.

Chapter 2: The Search

"If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:3-5).

This isn't passive. You don't stumble into wisdom. You hunt for it like treasure.

Most people want wisdom to find them. They expect insights to just show up while they scroll through life.

But Solomon says search for it.

Dig for it.

Make it your business.

The same energy you put into chasing money, relationships, or success? That's the energy wisdom requires. It's not enough to want it. You have to work for it.

Chapter 3: The Foundation

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Here's where it gets personal. Your understanding is limited. Your perspective is narrow. Your heart? It lies.

But God sees the whole picture. Trust Him with the process. Acknowledge Him in every decision—not just the big ones. The small choices matter too.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops" (Proverbs 3:9).

This isn't just about money.

It's about priorities.

What gets the first and best of your attention?

Chapter 4: The Legacy

"Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding" (Proverbs 4:1).

This is generational. What your grandfather taught your father. What your father taught you. What you're teaching your sons.

These speeches from father to son remind me of my grandfather. He used to give these long lectures. I hated it when I was 15. I remember he caught me coming out the shower one time. I mean I hadn’t even grabbed a towel yet and he’s talking…lol…by the time he was done 45 mins later I had air-dryed.

At 15, I only cared about my hair. Had the curls for the girls... Waves for the babes...

But grandpa was teaching me about class. How to carry myself. What should be important. I thought he was just talking.

Now I get it.

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble" (Proverbs 4:18-19).

Your character determines your course.

Not your looks.

Not your swagger.

Not your feelings.

Why Your Heart is a Terrible Compass

Used to think "follow your heart" was good advice.

But Jeremiah 17:9 says "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

Can't follow something that lies to me.

Can't trust something that changes with my feelings.

Your heart wants what it wants right now.

Wisdom thinks about where that leads.

The heart says "this feels good."

Wisdom asks "where does this go?"

The Father's Lectures Weren't Punishment—They Were Protection

"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you" (Proverbs 4:5-6).

Grandpa knew something I didn't understand: the lectures weren't about controlling me. They were about protecting my future.

He was trying to save me from learning hard lessons the hard way.

Now I give those same lectures to my boys.

The cycle continues.

But only if you guard what matters.

I'm going through this 40 Day Challenge—but it's more than just reading one chapter of Proverbs each day. It's seven steps of complete life transformation:

Rebuilding mindset through daily reflection and intentional thought patterns.

Spiritual feeding through Proverbs—letting God's wisdom reshape how I think.

Eating clean—no ultra-processed foods that mess with my mental clarity.

Moving daily because a disciplined body supports a disciplined mind.

Hydration—a gallon of water daily because even my brain needs proper fuel.

Accountability partner because lone wolves don't last.

Reflection at the end of each day to process what I learned.

This isn't about self-improvement.

It's about alignment.

Getting every part of my life moving in the same direction.

Maybe you're tired of following feelings that change.

Maybe you want wisdom that lasts.

Maybe you're ready to guard what matters instead of chasing what doesn't.

The 40 Day Challenge isn't just about reading through Proverbs. It's about letting Proverbs read through you.

One chapter. One truth. One day at a time.

But it's also about rebuilding everything—mind, body, and spirit—so that when wisdom speaks, you're strong enough to follow it.

The setup is simple. Seven steps. Forty days. Complete transformation.

Final Thought

Day 4 reminded me that the heart is a terrible compass but wisdom is a perfect guide.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23).

Your course is determined by what you guard.

Stop following your feelings.

Start guarding your future.

The setup is in front of you.

The transformation? That's on you.

Reflection:

• What "lectures" from your past are starting to make sense now?

• Where has following your heart led you astray?

• What would change if you made wisdom your primary pursuit?

That’s it for today

keep JOY, live Disciplined

P.S. I'm documenting this entire 40 Day Challenge on YouTube—uploading videos a day (or two) behind in full transparency. No highlights reel. Just the real process of what it looks like to rebuild discipline day by day. If you want to see the behind-the-scenes journey or follow along with your own challenge, subscribe to the channel.

The transformation is better when we do it together.