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“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 (ESV)

“How have you been doing?”  Those are the words I hear each year as I go in for my annual physical. My nurse practitioner wants the scoop on what’s happening with my health. And if I’m smart, I won’t dismiss this important opportunity to unload my questions and concerns while I have her undivided attention. But if I paint for my nurse a false reality, then her ability to guide and help me will definitely be hindered. We can’t leave out details and expect a correct diagnosis.

Sound familiar? Sweet friends, we often follow suit when it comes to not only issues with our health but issues in our lives. How many times have we invited a friend to coffee with the intent to gain insight into a challenge we are facing? We purposely select our wisdom givers. We collect our thoughts and know exactly what we are sharing. And, we actually know how to sway their response in our favor.  After said conversation ends, we walk away with total confirmation of how we thought we should handle the situation.

One big problem here ladies – if we selectively picked our audience and if we selectively shared details in order to confirm our pre-determined decision – we have totally missed the benefits of wisdom. Wisdom gleaned from godly friends should always be aligned with the word of God. By setting the stage, we have robbed ourselves of godly insights from those who can speak His truth and love into our lives.

If we genuinely desire wisdom, then God’s word is very clear. He is the source of all wisdom and with God, we can’t camouflage details or omit critical facts. There is nothing hidden from God’s view. He knows it all including our past, present and future. God sees every angle. He knows any self-serving agendas to achieve our desired results. And He knows our tendency to seek confirmation from those in our circle who can be deceived by  our “so called partial factual evidence.”

Sweet friends, the pursuit of wisdom started in the garden (Genesis 3:6) and it continues today. Eve desired the wisdom of God, yet she entertained conversations with the enemy. Rather than look to God as her source, she allowed the serpent to zero her focus on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The forbidden fruit once consumed resulted in disobedience and the birth of sin entered our world. When we choose to disregard God’s wisdom, we too land in a spiral of consequences we never imagined.

God alone knows what will serve us best, yet the seeking of His wisdom is totally up to us. If we humble ourselves, if we are honest with the godly people He brings into our lives, if we seek Him in prayer and in His word then God’s best will rise up to the surface. God’s wisdom may not look or feel the way we want, but ultimately it will lead us in the right direction – the one that glorifies and honor’s God.

“Father, You graciously give us the choice of choosing Your wisdom. Help us to resist the temptation to seek confirmations that align with what we desire. Teach us to know Your word, trust Your heart and welcome godly counsel.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life