The Source

January 18, 2013

Being wise has nothing to do with acquiring an education and multiple diplomas.  We all know that.  Education alone can, in fact, be a heavy burden to bear.  Education alone, without application, is worthless.  That’s because education is acquiring knowledge that someone else has laid out for you and deemed important and worthy of your time and learning.

Wisdom comes from above, and must be asked from the source of the Wise One – God.  We are instructed in Proverbs 3 to NOT be wise in our own eyes.  But we are to fear the Lord and shun evil.  That does not mean to shun evildoers.  We are to love them.  But we are to completely turn away from evil thoughts, evil ways, the evil one.

What happens then?  It says this action of learning to fear God and shun evil will bring health to our body and nourishment to our bones.  Wow!  Bodily exercise is really the god of our day, hoping that somehow we’ll stave off old age and horrible body fat, so that we can look good and feel good.  Bodily exercise is good, but it profits little.

If you want the premium fix for health and strong bones – it’s to fear the Lord and shun evil.  And one particular evil is trying to be wise in our own eyes.  Our own physical eyes and what we see won’t get the job done.  Walking with Him, towards wisdom and understanding, we will emerge strong and healthy, inside and out.

He Will

January 17, 2013

Proverbs 3:5 is my husband’s favorite verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

How do we trust in the Lord with all our heart, when there are so many other things on which to lean, i.e. job security, friends, wealth, etc? Many times the only way we learn to trust in Him is when these other things fail us.  It’s not so bad to one day realize that if all you have is Jesus – He’s enough.  In fact, it’s a relief and a refuge to rest in His name and nothing else.

When we do not understand the why’s of life, or the seemingly unanswered prayers we pray, it’s then we are to “submit to him” – lay it all down at his feet – and leave it there.  

Obviously, there will be days, weeks, months, and sometimes years of not understanding God’s ways.  This is because He doesn’t think like us, nor does he have an outcome in mind that looks like what we call “success.” His outcome for our lives is good, hopeful, and bright.  

Not understanding, today?  Picture yourself leaning against a fortified wall of strength, and just stay there until you are able to walk again.  And while you wait, keep your eyes open for that straight path, and then walk in it.

Trust in Him.  He never fails.

What a Promise!

January 16, 2013

More on wisdom…

The same chapter in Proverbs (2) says that He holds success in store for the upright, he’s a shield to those whose walk is blameless, and he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  What a promise!!!  And we are upright, blameless, and faithful when we know His son, Jesus.

 

Then…after the above takes place…we can understand what is right and fair – every good path.  Why?  It’s because wisdom will have entered our hearts, and the knowledge (of the Lord) will be pleasant to our soul.  Discretion will protect us and understanding will guard us. Protect us and guard us from what?  

When we don’t understand God’s ways, and we begin to question His goodness and faithfulness to us, we slip and fall into unbelief, cynicism, and despair.  However, when we walk with Him and learn His character and believe His word, the knowledge we learn (of who HE IS) protects us from sinking into quicksand.

I pray that as we seek Him with all of our hearts, the knowledge we find of who our heavenly Father really is will be pleasant to our soul, and this knowledge will be a fence of protection around us, and around those we love.

Ask for It

January 15, 2013

Did you know we can ask for wisdom?

In Proverbs 2, it says if we accept His words and store up His commands within us, turning our ear to wisdom and applying our heart to understanding…look for it as silver…search for it as hidden treasure…then we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

This passage, to me, implies that wisdom comes over a lifetime of learning.  It’s not something young children possess.  They climb up stairs having no wisdom or understanding of the danger of falling backwards.  Wisdom has to be learned.

As one grows and matures and observes and continues to be teachable, it seems that a measure of wisdom emerges.  

But even in growing and learning and searching, we must turn our ear to HIM in a position of daughter/father, listening and hanging on every word that comes from His mouth and no other.

He says we are beautiful, wonderfully made, and bring delight to Him.  It’s wisdom to accept that truth and live in that peace…daily.

Need more wisdom?  Just ask Him.  

What Hope?

January 14, 2013

Did you know we are supposed to be prepared to answer those who ask us for a reason for the “hope that we have?”  And we’re instructed to do this with gentleness and respect.

I watched some university students converse in a coffee shop today, and they all looked so different on the outside.  One had on women’s clothing, one was dressed “normally,” one had a long pony tail and cool glasses, and the fourth had a motorcycle helmet and looked and sounded a bit “country.” Yet they were all standing around talking about the Bible and scripture.  

Oftentimes, we’re afraid to even speak about God, or His word, and sometimes we’re petrified of questions people might ask us about our faith.  But when we are gentle and respectful of those whom we meet, that attitude will open the door for us to share our faith – our personal faith – in the God we love.  

We don’t have to know it all.  We just have to know the One who does and love others…as we love Him.