Read James 1:5-8 NIV
“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. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
One of the best ways to talk about wisdom is in contrast to knowledge. You can know a lot of things but lack the practical understanding of how to apply them.
As believers in Jesus, we also believe that God gives us the wisdom to know not just what to do with information, but also what is right for the circumstance, as we ask in faith.
James says that if we don’t trust God for the wisdom that we ask for, we shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. Why is this??
The Bible defines the beginning of wisdom as fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). In this case, the implication of “fear” is “reverence”. It’s pretty logical that if we ask for wisdom, yet immediately doubt God’s ability to deliver it, we are violating the core definition of wisdom because we don’t value the One who is giving it.
This is GREAT NEWS: We can be sure that God promises that he will provide wisdom to those who ask.
Today let’s ask ourselves: what specifically in our lives could we seek God’s wisdom for?
Pray
“Father God – we know that you are a giver of good things and today we pray for wisdom. Wisdom to help us endure the trials and tribulations of our lives; wisdom to know when to speak and when not to. Please give us discretion and courage to apply your wisdom. Speak to us, Lord Jesus. In your name, Amen.”
