I pray everyone is doing well and taking care of yourself and your family. My prayers are always with you. In these uncertain times of wondering what will happen today, tomorrow or the future, we all need to pray and stay focused. If there is one thing in life that will help me and others to deal with what we are experiencing, it is wisdom.
We have unlimited amounts of information available to us today. So often, however, what we really need is God’s wisdom and not more information. We receive so much information from the news, TV, newspapers, internet, etc.
We face daily decisions as well as major decisions such as: What should I do today?, Can I go to the grocery store?, What vacation do I want to plan this year?, What house will I buy this year or in the future?, How should I save or spend my money? You may be wondering how you can resurrect your marriage. You may be wondering how to reach out to a child who’s off course. You may just be getting your own life together or back on track in living for God through His Son Jesus Christ. Let me say that there is no substitute for wisdom. We all need wisdom from God in our lives.
I think of King Solomon. Imagine being nineteen or twenty years old when you take the throne of your father, King David, who had built up a great nation. All of a sudden, ruling the kingdom was Solomon’s responsibility. He was questioning, and wondering, and feeling the weight of this. One night, God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you” (1 Kings 3:3). He could have asked for more money, for more fame, for a long life, but Solomon answered, “God, what I need is Your wisdom to rule this people. I need an understanding heart to make the right decisions.” God was so pleased with his answer that He not only gave Solomon wisdom, but He gave him power, influence, and great riches.
Wisdom is what we desperately need. Solomon said we are to “search for it as hidden treasure. For the Lord gives wisdom, from the mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright” (Proverbs 2:4-7). Wisdom comes by understanding and the knowledge of God and applying it to your life. You can have tons of information and even know God’s Word, but if you do not apply it, it is not going to do you any good.
Ask God to give you wisdom so you have an understanding heart to make right decisions. The Scriptures says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). And one of the best places to go for wisdom is the book of Proverbs, which was written by King Solomon. It is a book that is full of advice and life lessons, simple in its form, east to digest, and easy to apply. That is what wisdom is. It is a simple revelation of God that we can apply to our everyday lives. Ask for wisdom and read the book of Proverbs. Find some quiet time to read it. It is full of powerful nuggets of wisdom for your life.
Growing in wisdom means progressing on the way of being transformed from my own human nature, human understanding, and sinful reactions to the virtues and image of Christ. (Romans 8:29) The more wisdom I gain, the more I crave, and the more God is able to show me where I need to give up the foolishness of my own will in order to become free from sin.
Wisdom sets us free from futility, meaninglessness, uselessness, emptiness, vanity, superfluity and from living in vain. It gives us an appreciation for everything that is true and noble; for everything that is of God. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom. …Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.” (Proverbs 3:13-18).
I pray that you always trust in God when life hurts in ways we strive to control. Be blessed, Brothers and Sisters. Please stay focused in One Accord. This coronavirus (COVID-19) virus, fear and discernment will pass. God is in control. Love God, family and people that are your neighbors. “Without providing for a time of healing and discernment, there will be no hope of living through this present moment without a shattering of our common life.”
Pastor Larry
