My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.   Proverbs 2:1-5

A. Growing in the Fear of God: Prayer and the Word

1. Our attitudes and the Word of God

a. We must be receptive and retentive
Proverbs 2:1, Luke 10:38-39

b. We must remember the target is our inward lives
Proverbs 2:2, Luke 8:15, Hebrews 4:12

2. Our prayer lives and the Word of God

a. The burden to pray
Proverbs 2:3a, Psalm 119:18

b. The perseverance in praying
Proverbs 2:3b, Ephesians 1:17-19

3. Our diligent study and the Word of God

a. Diligent study begins with our esteem of the Word
Proverbs 2:4a, Job 23:12

b. Diligent study is to be a continual effort
Proverbs 2:4b, Jeremiah 29:13