The Word places high importance on wisdom. Both on acquiring godly wisdom and understanding. In the busyness of life and with all the distractions and to-dos, I find it does have to become a discipline to stop and quieten my soul, to be still and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs chapter 4 verse 7)
And yet, more than ever, I feel it is crucial that we do stop and prioritise to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice and guidance.
Navigating life
There is a lot to navigate in life. There are a lot of decisions to be made and a lot of relationships to nurture and many words to be said, or not said.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James chapter 1 verses 5 and 6)
Our words
Further in James we read about our words and controlling our tongues! In chapter 3 verse 4 it likens our tongues to a ship’s rudder.
Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
This speaks to me about the importance of our words and how they determine the direction our life will take. I believe there is a time to speak and a time to listen, and it is wisdom from above that will help us decipher the correct time of what to do and what to say.
Worldly wisdom versus Godly wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James chapter 3 verses 13–16)
God’s ways are so opposite to the world’s ways, and I am increasingly realising just how important it is to get my guidance and wisdom from Him and not from what is being sold to us from the world, whichever channel this may be coming from.
We can find ourselves dealing with issues around success, identity, worth and acceptance. We need to constantly renew our minds according to what he says and thinks about us.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (James chapter 3 verse 17)
My prayer is
‘Lord help me grow in wisdom and understanding. Help me hear clearly from you so the words I say are inspired by you, so what I say and what I do are a blessing to others.’
Jo Fuller lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with her husband, son and daughter. Jo is a teacher with an education in journalism and early childhood who loves to spend time with her family and enjoys reading and writing whenever she can.