Tag: understanding

Wisdom Comes from God

Wisdom Comes from God

If anyone needs wisdom, ask the Lord to give it to you, for all wisdom comes from our Heavenly Father. 

Wisdom, especially spiritual wisdom, is not just about knowing what’s good for you, but it’s about applying that knowledge to your everyday life circumstances.

The Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  (Pro 2:6 CEB)

17 I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. 18 My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and you will understand the hope given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all God’s people.  (Eph 1:17-18 CEV, emphasis added)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  (Jas 1:5 ESV)

We increase wisdom by walking with God.  As we revere and respect God, live in awe of His presence and power, make our choices based upon His Word, and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, His wisdom grows and matures within us.  Reading the Bible regularly and memorizing Scripture passages plants wisdom in our hearts and nurtures it.

And of course, if we need God’s guidance or direction in a specific circumstance, all we need to do is pray and ask Him for His wisdom, and He will hear and answer us.

The Wise Bring Calm

The Wise Bring Calm

Those who serve the Lord Jesus Christ, who are gaining spiritual maturity, exhibit the spiritual gift of wisdom.  Wisdom is a highly valued trait according to Biblical values. 

Wisdom may be called by various names, such as:

  • Insight
  • Perception
  • Astuteness
  • Prudence
  • Understanding

Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.  (Pro 29:11 NIV, emphasis added)

A wise person, led by the Spirit of the Lord, will bring peace, quiet and tranquility to any circumstance or situation.  Such a person ushers into the atmosphere the presence of the Prince of Peace.  Glory to God!

Wise people keep what they know to themselves, but fools can’t keep from showing how foolish they are.  (Pro 12:23 NCV)

One of the attributes of wisdom, is that a wise person knows how to be discreet and how to be responsible with information that they have.  This type of person uses good spiritual judgment and discrimination.

Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.  (Pro 14:33 ESV)

A wise person who finds themselves in a presence of imprudent, thoughtless people will still be able to exert a positive, calming influence upon the environment and bring a sense of serenity into it.  This is a result of the godly influence of spiritual wisdom authored by the Holy Spirit, which is resting upon the spiritually wise person.  Their words and actions will bring a positive, unseen change into the atmosphere.

Based upon these Bible verses and today’s meditation, we can understand why pursuing the gift of spiritual wisdom is vital in the life of a mature Christian.  For those who yearn to deepen and mature their relationship with the Lord, this is a worthy spiritual goal.

Wherever you are in your walk with the Lord, His grace and His love overshadow and surround you.  He hears and answers your prayers.  So rejoice!

Reject Anger

Reject Anger

As followers of the Lord Jesus, we have to make a decision to reject anger as an option in our dealings with one another and with the Lord.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.  For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.  (Ps 37:8-9 NKJV)

Anger and wrath only cause harm and heartaches.  But all who wait upon the salvation of the Lord will inherit the earth. 

He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.  (Pro 14:29 NKJV)

A person who hardly ever gets angry is called understanding by the Word of God.

You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.  (Jas 1:19-20 NASB)

Our human anger doesn’t bring about the righteousness of God, so it is a weapon that we need to abandon.  A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence.  (Pro 19:11 ISV)

In every way, it is best to seek the Lord and to rely upon Him to lead us and guide us in our responses and our reactions. Glory to God.

It’s Never Too Late for Peace, Part 1

It’s Never Too Late for Peace, Part 1

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.  (Pro 16:7)

And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  (Rom 5:11)

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  (2 Cor 5:18, 19, emphases added)

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.  (Pro 19:11)

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.  (Rom 14:19)

It’s never too late to make peace with estranged friends, family members and loved ones.  Reconciliation is the very crux of Jesus’ work for the Kingdom of God.

Whenever something has happened to cause a breakdown in a relationship, it’s best to pray about it and literally bathe the event in prayer (after it has happened).  Ask God to give you supernatural wisdom, insight, and understanding in the matter. 

If you’re the offender, respectfully approach the person whom you’ve hurt, and indicate that you would like to make peace.  This might involve you sending a “thinking of you” card in the mail (or a text message or an email, etc.) saying that you’d like to make things right between you.  Share your sincere apology for the offense (briefly say what it was), and that you would like to resume a relationship.  Indicate how important the other person is to you.

Now, whatever the response is—you’ve done your part.  Your mind and conscience can be at peace, even if the offended person doesn’t reply.  Or they may say that they forgive you, but they don’t want to resume the relationship.  Again, that’s their prerogative, and you’ll know that you did the responsible and godly thing.  At least you have participated in establishing peace between you and the other person.  (Rom 12:18)

Our next article will cover Part 2 of this subject.

The Living & Active Word

The Living & Active Word

For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective].  It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.  (Heb 4:12 AMP)

I really appreciate this version of the above Scripture passage.  It amplifies our understanding of what the writer may have been thinking as this was written. 

It makes it clear that God’s Word is alive and powerful; that God’s Word can read us, and it can reveal us to ourselves!  Most of us keenly need God to do that for us, because we don’t truly know ourselves. 

This is why the Bible tells us that the Word is like a mirror.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.  (James 1:23-25)

Let us read the Word and allow it to introduce us to ourselves!  As we come to know the Word more thoroughly, we will come to know ourselves more honestly.  And we’ll experience the incomparable love of God, without which, we could not have been saved! 

Love the Word; read the Word; embrace the Word—and LIVE!

God’s Word: PRICELESS!

God’s Word: PRICELESS!

Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.  (Jer 15:16)

This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.  (Ps 119:50)

How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  (Ps 119:103)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  (Ps 119:105)

I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.  (Ps 119:162)

Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.  (Ps 119:169)

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.  (John 17:17)

The Word of God should be so important to each one of us believers that it is irreplaceable to us.  The Bible speaks about itself in order to teach us the path of righteousness, and to help us to stay on the path. 

God’s Word says about itself that it:

  • Is the joy and rejoicing of our hearts.
  • Comforts us in affliction.
  • Gives us life.
  • Is sweet in our mouths!
  • Is a lamp and a light for our path.
  • Is great treasure.
  • Gives us understanding.
  • Sanctifies us.
  • Is our truth.

This list is not complete; there is much more to learn about the Scriptures and their incomparable value to us.  There’s only one way to do that:  study them!  Love spending time with the Lord by studying and meditating upon His Word.  It will enrich your life, and open rich stores of wisdom and understanding to you and in you.

You’ll wonder what you’ve been doing with your life prior to this, and why you waited so long to delve into the inestimable Word of God!  Enjoy every truth you discover and rejoice in it.  You’ll be able to feel God’s pleasure resting upon you as you do.

Blessings upon you in the New Year and always.