“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” – James 1:5
Currently, my morning Bible reading is in the book of Proverbs. I’ve been reading a lot about wisdom and its importance in my life. One verse that I noted was Proverbs 9:9. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” I believe that the primary focus of Proverbs is to help us be wise in our faith and service to the Lord, but I also think it was written to give us wisdom in multiple areas of our lives as well.
The Bible says that “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” (Proverbs 1:4), and it is only through the Word of God that true wisdom can be found. For me, I have gleaned so much from my morning quiet times with God, both in His Word and through our time together in prayer, that I am more and more aware of how invaluable the Bible is to my well-being and my spiritual growth. Because of this, I believe that God expects the very best of me in every aspect of my life, and to be the best that I can be, I must be plugged in to His wisdom.
I need His wisdom to make the right choices in my life, both physically and spiritually. Proverbs 2:10-11 states, “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:” I am learning to make those wise choices in my life, and I am seeing how God is helping me do so. For me to be a servant of God, 100% willing to serve Him to the best of my ability in whatever capacity to which He calls me, I must have the wisdom to make choices in my life that will please and honor Him.
If you are following me in my health journey, here is my recent update. It has been 30 days, and I am excited with the success I have experienced in both the physical and spiritual aspects of my journey.
Regarding the physical, I have shed 16.2 pounds, and I have more energy and less pain in my hips and knees! I am learning how to cook with recipes, which makes me much more cognizant of what I am putting into my body, and I am learning portion control. How does this connect with wisdom? I need wisdom to make the best choices to achieve optimal health. As I work to make this “temple of the Holy Ghost” more acceptable to God, it will bring Him glory when it can be effectively used in service to Him. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Regarding the spiritual, I am learning to read the Bible for quality not quantity. This means that while I am following a yearly reading schedule, I am not bound by it. If I feel the need to dwell on a passage of Scripture and meditate upon it for an extended length of time, that’s okay. It is important for me to listen to and follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, He wants me to just read and listen as He speaks to my heart. Psalm 119:27 states, “Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.” This is how I can gain wisdom and grow in my faith.
The wisdom of God is not acquired passively. The Bible states, “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” (Proverbs 8:35) I must be actively involved in its acquisition, and then I will be able to be wise in how I act toward others, to make the most of every opportunity the Lord brings my way, and to know how to respond to others. (Colossians 4:5-6) This will enable my testimony to point others to Christ, and help me serve Him faithfully all the days of my life.
Where can one look for wisdom? Where understanding find?
Man does not grasp its value— More than can be mined.
It can’t be bought with finest gold, silver, or jewels so rare.
Priced far beyond all rubies, nothing can compare.
Where then does wisdom come from? Where understanding dwell?
God comprehends the pathway, He alone knows well.
He views the ends of all the earth; He sees the world He formed.
He has established wisdom, tested and confirmed.
Fear of the Lord is wisdom; seek it and you will find.
Cry out for understanding; let it fill your mind.
Search as for hidden treasure; look for it every day.
This is the path to wisdom; follow all the way.
(from “Where Can One Look For Wisdom?” by Susan H. Peterson and Lowell Mason)
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17
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“The chief means for attaining wisdom, and suitable gifts for the ministry, are the Holy Scriptures, and prayer.” – John Newton