I Need Wisdom Please!

I don't know about y'all but I have been in some situations where I have a decision to make and I have no clue what the right choice is.  In fact, in a lot of ways I feel like I am the prime decision maker in my family.  My husband, bless him, is very easygoing and often says, "whatever you want babe."  Now this was great when we were planning our wedding, and it's super nice when I have a specific place I'm set on going for dinner, but when we have to make a choice that will affect the future of our family it can be overwhelming.  About a year ago we had a really big decision that we needed to make and the path was not at all clear.  At that time I turned to my Bible for answers and began to read about the importance of the wisdom that only God can give us.  The verse that I found that nestled its way into my heart and began to give me peace was Proverbs 2:10: For Wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  Discretion will protect you and understanding will guide you.  I held onto that verse during that season in our lives.

Since that time I have been desperate for God's wisdom again more than once.  Fast forward to present day and I am once again feeling like I lack the answers and the direction that I need to make some important decisions.  I started reading about wisdom but this time ended up criss-crossing back and forth in my Bible, finding verse after verse about wisdom and understanding.  Seems the Lord has a thing or two to say on the subject!  Hang here with me for a few minutes if you have ever felt desperate for answers that you can't seem to find.  Here's what I learned that I would love to share with you...

1) How do we find wisdom and understanding?

Job 28:28 And he said to the woman, "The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Okay, I think I can do this!  My game plan is to fear the Lord - which to me (in a nutshell) means understanding his power, his holiness and worshipping him with reverence and awe.  I also need to reject sin, follow his Word and grow in my knowledge of who He is.  For me this means digging into His Word and spending more of my day in prayer and relationship with Him.

2) What does wisdom look like?

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  (All things that I want to strive for)

James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (So when wisdom is found humility, not pride or bragging, should always follow)

3) What will we gain from having wisdom and understanding?

Proverbs 24: 3-4 By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures

Proverbs 4:6-12 Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you, love her and she will watch over you.  Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.  Esteem her and she will exalt you, embrace her and she will honor you.  She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor...  I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.  When you walk your steps will not be hampered, when you run you will not stumble.

Proverbs 2:13, 17&18 Blessed is a (wo)man who finds wisdom, the (wo)man who gains understanding... her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

Girls, I have a feeling I stumbled on just a glimpse of what the Bible has to say about wisdom and understanding in the hour or so that I was reading!  I had no idea how important the subject was until now.  I will tell you, it gives me great peace to know that the Lord wants to give me wisdom - he wants to give me the answers to my questions!  Not only does he want to guide me and give me understanding, but he wants to protect me and bless me.  He wants to give me a peace that is "pleasant to my soul".  He promises to fill my life with "rare and beautiful treasures."  He will allow me to walk through this often confusing life without stumbling.  Ahhhhh... this to me is a huge breath of fresh air!  This means that when I am actively seeking God and I make a decision that has been guided by the Lord, I don't have to fear that I've made a huge mistake.  I don't have to sit in anxiety as I wait for the fallout.  Now when I wake up in the morning I ask the Lord for wisdom for my day.  My goal is to be intentional about seeking wisdom and understanding.  I would love to leave you with a story - the antithesis of what wisdom looks like: Folly.  You may just see someone you know in this story, I know it painted a graphic picture for me.  As girls of God's heart let's strive to be aware of this person and to never be the woman named "Folly"...

Proverbs 9:13-18

The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge.  

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out 

to those who pass by, who go straight on their way.  "Let all those who are simple come 

in here!" she says to those who lack judgement.  "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in 

secret is delicious!" But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the 

depths of the grave."