"Reaching For Wisdom"
Scripture to follow:
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 3:5-6
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
Today's world is information central. Knowledge can be gained at lightening speed from the touch of our fingers at any time, in any place. When we face problems in life, it is natural to seek the answers for a solution. We thirst for knowledge, and this isn’t inherently a bad thing, but the scripture is quick to draw the line between information and wisdom. We can gather all of the information books can hold and scholars can teach, but that doesn’t necessarily produce a knowledgeable person, and certainly doesn’t guarantee wisdom. Information is important, but gather it from the wrong source and we end up more lost than when we started searching. Gather information from the right source to ensure we are knowledgeable, but if we don’t have the wisdom to do the work, what good have we done ourselves? We become frozen like the sculpture, the thinker. Full of information but stuck in contemplation. I don’t know about you, but I have spent enough of my time stuck. I want to live. I want to thrive. Which means I need to be reaching for wisdom, but not just any wisdom. I need to be reaching from wisdom at it’s original source. I need to be seeking guidance from the one who Proverbs say holds the beginning of knowledge. The Lord.
As humans we tend to agonize over knowing what our next right step is. How could we not? We ar einundated with opinions constantly swirling around, tugging at conflicting feelings harbored inside, causing our minds to shift this way then that. Let’s uncomplicate everything for a moment, because it really is quite simple. We have instruction: “Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 I love a concisely laid out plan, don’t you? 1. Lean not on your own understanding. Don’t assume the right thing begins and ends with your perception of it. Take a moment to examine if you jumped ahead of going to the Source of all knowledge and wisdom. This is easier said than done. Trust me. As someone who loves research and has taken lifelong pride in my ability to know a little bit about everything, conceding my understanding to God’s was not my favorite step in spiritual development. But it did develop me. It’s a blessing to not carry the weight of having to know everything. Does it feel wildly uncomfortable to our pride to admit we need a source outside of ourselves? Yes. But if God is going to be on the throne of our lives there isn’t room to serve ourselves first and trust in Him. We have to choose. 2. In all our ways acknowledge Him. That second word is paramount. All. In the big things, and the small things, acknowledge Him. In the things we have strong opinions over and the things we don’t. When we have already decided what we would rather have the outcome be, and when we don’t know what would be best. In the areas where we don’t want to be told what to do. In the things we are fearful of facing. In the places we don’t feel equipped to succeed in. In the areas we aren’t ready to mature in. In all things. 3. He will direct our paths. This is a promise. A guarantee. We have a path, which means He wants us to move forward. He doesn’t want us stuck. Our Father is a loving and good Father. He has a plan specifically for each of us. He didn’t design only one of us in this world without a unique plan in mind. However, He can’t show us those plans if we aren’t looking to Him for the blueprints. It’s not a matter of if He will take us further into the design He has for us, it’s a matter of when. But it’s contingent upon our cooperation of surrender and obedience. Sometimes it looks like the way He's taking us is backwards until we remember that all things can be made new in the hand of the Father. So if He’s taking us there, we must trust He has a plan. Sometimes it looks like His path isn’t taking that next turn quickly enough or it’s heading in a direction that has a few too many obstacles. Remember our Father is capable of equipping us for any place and position, even if that means He is teaching us patience. He is faithful to give us what we need, always. We need only ask and determine our hearts to receive what He has for us in that moment. Beloved, if you are caught in a moment of needing direction, remember this instruction, and reach for wisdom. You are sure to be answered.
As humans we tend to agonize over knowing what our next right step is. How could we not? We ar einundated with opinions constantly swirling around, tugging at conflicting feelings harbored inside, causing our minds to shift this way then that. Let’s uncomplicate everything for a moment, because it really is quite simple. We have instruction: “Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 I love a concisely laid out plan, don’t you? 1. Lean not on your own understanding. Don’t assume the right thing begins and ends with your perception of it. Take a moment to examine if you jumped ahead of going to the Source of all knowledge and wisdom. This is easier said than done. Trust me. As someone who loves research and has taken lifelong pride in my ability to know a little bit about everything, conceding my understanding to God’s was not my favorite step in spiritual development. But it did develop me. It’s a blessing to not carry the weight of having to know everything. Does it feel wildly uncomfortable to our pride to admit we need a source outside of ourselves? Yes. But if God is going to be on the throne of our lives there isn’t room to serve ourselves first and trust in Him. We have to choose. 2. In all our ways acknowledge Him. That second word is paramount. All. In the big things, and the small things, acknowledge Him. In the things we have strong opinions over and the things we don’t. When we have already decided what we would rather have the outcome be, and when we don’t know what would be best. In the areas where we don’t want to be told what to do. In the things we are fearful of facing. In the places we don’t feel equipped to succeed in. In the areas we aren’t ready to mature in. In all things. 3. He will direct our paths. This is a promise. A guarantee. We have a path, which means He wants us to move forward. He doesn’t want us stuck. Our Father is a loving and good Father. He has a plan specifically for each of us. He didn’t design only one of us in this world without a unique plan in mind. However, He can’t show us those plans if we aren’t looking to Him for the blueprints. It’s not a matter of if He will take us further into the design He has for us, it’s a matter of when. But it’s contingent upon our cooperation of surrender and obedience. Sometimes it looks like the way He's taking us is backwards until we remember that all things can be made new in the hand of the Father. So if He’s taking us there, we must trust He has a plan. Sometimes it looks like His path isn’t taking that next turn quickly enough or it’s heading in a direction that has a few too many obstacles. Remember our Father is capable of equipping us for any place and position, even if that means He is teaching us patience. He is faithful to give us what we need, always. We need only ask and determine our hearts to receive what He has for us in that moment. Beloved, if you are caught in a moment of needing direction, remember this instruction, and reach for wisdom. You are sure to be answered.
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