Category Archives: God’s Wisdom

Jan11

God’s Answers

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Each day untold numbers of negative thoughts can swirl through our heads.  It is often difficult to control those thoughts, but I have found that the best remedy for negative thinking is through God’s powerful and positive Word. When you feel discouraged, weak, too tied to go on, unloved, condemned, depleted, confused, incompetent, fearful, guilty, unsure, defeated, worried, sad, or alone, God has an answer for you.   Say these verses out loud until you have memorized them.  Repeat them to yourself each time that negative thought creeps into your mind.  God loves you unconditionally!  He speaks to you through His Word.  Listen to His voice of truth instead of the lies that may be playing on “auto-shuffle” in your mind.

Here are just a few examples to get you started:

God’s Answers to our Negative Thoughts:

YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: ‘It’s impossible’ God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27 NIV)27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27
You say: ‘I’m too tired’ God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
You say: ‘Nobody really loves me’ God says: I love you (John 3:16 NIV)16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
You say: ‘I can’t go on’ God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15 NIV)II Corinthians 12:9

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Psalm 91:15

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
You say:  ‘I can’t figure things out’ God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
You say: ‘I can’t do it’ God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13 NIV)I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
You say: ‘I’m not able’ God says: I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
You say: ‘It’s not worth it’ God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 NIV)28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
You say: ‘I can’t forgive myself’ God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1 NIV)1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

Romans 8:1

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
You say: ‘I can’t manage’ God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)New International Version (NIV)

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
You say: ‘I’m afraid’ God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)New International Version (NIV)

7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
You say: ‘I’m always worried and frustrated’ God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7 NIV)7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
You say: ‘I’m not smart enough’ God says: I give you wisdom (James 1:5 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.
You say: ‘I feel all alone’ God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b NIV)God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Jan29

True Wisdom

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wis·dom (noun) [wizdem]

“the ability to see into the future the consequences of your choices in the present”

The Noticer; Andy Andrews

While we can’t “see into the future,” we do know the One who holds our future in His hands.  How many times have we made decisions on our own, without seeking God’s counsel, and suffered terrible consequences as a result?  His wisdom provides insight into all areas of our lives, including finances, relationships, marriage, health, time management, friendships, career, school, and child rearing.  He scripted your entire life’s story, from before your birth to your last breath. He knows the unique purpose for which He created you, and He definitely knows what is best for your life.

Seek God’s wisdom for your choices today, and the future consequences of your choices in the present will be divine and not disastrous.

For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6 (NIV1984)

Jun12

He Calls the Stars by Name

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Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens;

Who created all these things?

He who brings out the starry host one by one

And calls them each by name;

Because of his great power and mighty strength,

Not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:26

God is almighty and all-powerful. No one can even begin to understand or comprehend the breadth of his infinite knowledge, and no person or thing can be compared to Him. We are limited to our understanding of God by what we experience of Him on earth. There aren’t enough words on our planet to allow us to adequately describe His boundless capabilities.

The same God who created the stars and calls them each by name is the same God who created you.  He knows you by name and fashioned you with a unique and special purpose. No one else on the planet is just like you, and no one else can carry out the plan He has in mind for your life. He cares for you personally.

He loved you before the beginning of time…before He placed the stars in the sky.

All around the earth are reminders to you of God’s character and capabilities. Ask Him to open your eyes to His marvelous wonders, and invite Him to show you the unending depth and breadth of His love for you. Just like the stars…He calls you by name, and you are never missing from His sight.

He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.

Psalm 147: 4 – 5

Jun11

Unsearchable Knowledge

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‘Call to me and I will answer you

And tell you great and

Unsearchable

Things you do not know.’

Jeremiah 33:3(NIV1984)

 

With the internet at our fingertips, we can quickly and easily search for the answers to most any question that crosses our mind. Internet searches can be used in place of dictionaries, encyclopedias, phone books, recipe books, newspapers, maps, magazines, or most any type of reference material you can imagine.

A quick inquiry for a listing of “search engines” reveals that there are hundreds of options available to assist you in your quest for knowledge from the internet. There are search engines to help you with general information, medicine, law, accounting, books, movies, news, finance, business, school, jobs, real estate, and shopping to name a few. In fact, the Google search engine has become so popular that the term “Google” has found its place in our dictionaries as a verb: “to search the Internet for (information on a person, organization, etc.)” In our home, you will often hear us say, “Let’s Google that” to mean that we should look something up on the internet.

While the vast internet seems to have an endless supply of information available at the click of a mouse, there is a type of knowledge that can’t be “Googled.” This type of information is unsearchable
in human terms. This class of unsearchable knowledge is the divine wisdom from our Heavenly Father, which can only be revealed by God’s supernatural inspiration. Our questions about making the right decisions, doing the right thing, taking the right path in our life’s journey, choosing the right occupation, or finding our purpose in life, are all in the competent realm of God’s holy “search engine.”

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are my ways higher than your ways

And my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:9

Understanding how to tap into this heavenly help is important. By spending time reading God’s Word and talking with Him in prayer, you will begin to discern His holy guidance in your life. Sometimes He will reveal His answers to your questions through scripture, and other times He will use people around you to speak His answers into your life. The Bible instructs us about how to gain His knowledge:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,

Who gives generously to all without finding fault,

And it will be given to him.”

James 1:5

 

God’s wisdom is available for anyone…you simply have to ask for it. In the same way that you must type in your query to search the internet, you must tap into the Heavenly Father in order to search for His knowledge. His simple, “user-friendly” instructions are as follows: 1.) Ask, 2.) Seek, 3.) Knock

 

“Ask and it will be given to you;

Seek and you will find;

Knock and the door will be opened to you. “

Matthew 7:7

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: “Here am I…”
Isaiah 58:9

 

Jun7

Life’s Road Signs

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“Set up road signs;
   put up guideposts.
Take note of the highway,
   the road that you take…

Jeremiah 31:21
(NIV1984)

 

I was looking over my son’s shoulder as he diligently studied for his driver’s test. His thick DMV manual contains multiple pages of road signs, which he must understand before he begins learning how to navigate behind the wheel. I can tell from examining the well-worn pages of his book that he is taking this test seriously and wants to learn all that is required of him in order to pass this important test.

It’s too bad that we don’t have road signs which tell us how to accurately steer the course of or our lives. Sometimes we could use a bold “Do Not Enter” or “U Turn” sign to guide us in the right direction.

Even though we don’t have these physical signs lining our daily paths, we can receive guidance from our Heavenly Father through His Word. The Bible is our manual for living life. By reading it and constantly learning from it, we will gain the necessary wisdom to perceive God’s direction for our lives.

Psalm 119:105 tell us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” His word illuminates the direction we should take in our lives. As you read His Word, ask Him to reveal His instructions to you. Many examples from the Bible show us how great men and women of faith asked God to lead and guide them. Here are just a few:

  • “Direct my footsteps according to your word…” (Psalm 119:133)
  • “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” (Psalm 119: 125)
  • “Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees.” (Psalm 119: 135)
  • “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4,5)

On a road trip, one wrong turn can cause big problems in your goal of reaching your destination. Similarly, seemingly small decisions can have a major impact in the course of your life. Your Heavenly Father holds the road map for your life. He has equipped you for a special purpose, and He will lovingly reveal His plan to you. If you ask God for His guidance, He is faithful to answer your prayers. His promises are true, and you can trust Him to provide clear instructions to His children. “Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for Him.” (Psalm 25: 12)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

Lean not to your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3: 5 – 8

Mar4

Step into the Water

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“When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.

Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before…”

Joshua 3:3-4

The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God’s presence and power to the Israelites. It was their most sacred treasure. The ark was a golden rectangular box which was constructed to the exact specifications as God had commanded. The contents inside the ark included the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments (representing God’s authority), a jar of manna (representing God’s miraculous provision), and Aaron’s staff (representing God’s power). As the Israelites were heading to the Promised Land, they were commanded to follow the ark wherever it was carried by the priests. God instructed Joshua, the Israelite’s leader, concerning which direction the priests should head with the ark.

On the day that the Israelites entered the Promised Land of Canaan after forty years of wandering, God’s “roadmap” for the priests with the ark led to the banks of the Jordan River. The Jordan River at this time was at flood stage. Yet with the river overflowing its banks, God gave these specific instructions: in order to cross the river into the Promised Land, the priests had to step into the water with the ark.

As soon as the priests stepped their feet into the raging river, the water from upstream stopped flowing. The entire nation of Israel walked across a dry riverbed into the land which God had promised them forty years before. This was the second time in which God had miraculously parted the waters for the nation of Israel. This testimony of God’s supernatural power served to strengthen the Israelites faith in God and remind them that He keeps His promises. His presence was with them through their entire journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. He was with them at the end of their wanderings just like He was with them from the very beginning.

Today we do not have a golden “Ark of the Covenant” to follow in our wanderings. But we do have God’s word, His presence, and His power. Sometimes in our journey through life, we come upon a “raging river” or some form of roadblock. When we approach this type of obstacle, we must trust God in His guidance to us. He will faithfully bring us through to the other side if we simply “take a step into the water.” Often God provides no solution to our problems until we trust Him and move ahead with what we know in our hearts we should do. By taking a step of obedience, we display our faith in God, and then He clears the path ahead.

What are the “raging rivers” you are facing in your life? Follow God’s direction so you will know which way to go, “since you have never been this way before.” Step into the water, and allow God to show his powerful and miraculous ways to you.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet
       and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105


Feb24

Measureless Wisdom

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God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight,

And a breadth of understanding

As measureless as the sand on the seashore.

1 Kings 4: 29

 

Imagine the Creator of the Universe offering you this proposition:

“Ask for whatever you want me to give you…”

What do you think your request would be? Abundant Wealth? Fame? Happiness? Health? A passing grade on your next test? A luxurious new home? A winning lottery ticket? A fancy sports car? A wide screen TV?

When given the chance to have anything in the world, Solomon asked for “a discerning heart” in order to govern God’s chosen people and to distinguish between right and wrong. His request for wisdom pleased God so much that not only did He grant Solomon’s desire, but He also gave him what he did not ask for – wealth and honor. Furthermore, God promised to give him a long life if he obeyed His statues and commands like his father, David.

Notice that Solomon’s request was based upon his desire to carry out his job as king. He realized that if he had discernment he could lead well and make wise decisions. He knew that God had chosen him for that lofty position, but he thought of himself as a “little child” who didn’t know how to fulfill his royal duties. Imagine that! The one man on earth, whose renown for knowledge has been passed down through the ages, felt inadequate and ill-equipped when he was tapped as the king of Israel. The responsibility of ruling a great nation whose numbers were too numerous to count was overwhelming to Solomon, but he wasn’t asking God to do the job for him; he merely asked for the personal resources which would allow God to do the job through him.

Another interesting thing about Solomon’s request is that he asked for “heart knowledge” not “head knowledge.” He wanted a discerning heart, which implies “God-centered” wisdom, as opposed to “self-centered” wisdom. Intelligence without compassion can be a dangerous thing, but wisdom applied through the filter of a heart filled with God’s love is divinely inspired and can impact the world for eternity.

Throughout most of Solomon’s reign, he applied his wisdom well because He continually sought God’s guidance. For the nation of Israel, the fruits of this wisdom were peace, prosperity and security. During the time of his rule, we see a great example of what can happen when a nation is obedient to God’s commands and trusting Him for direction.

Another example we see from Solomon’s life is what can happen when God’s wisdom is not applied to all areas of our lives. God granted Solomon a wise and discerning heart, but it is clear that this gift of wisdom did not guarantee that he would not make mistakes. Solomon married hundreds of pagan women in order to seal many foreign agreements. This went against not only his father’s last instructions to him, but also God’s direct commands. He allowed his wives to affect his loyalty to God, and his actions remind us how easy it is to know what is right and yet not do it.

Knowing what actions are required of us means little if we do not have the will to follow through on that knowledge. Solomon was wise at ruling the nation of Israel, but he was foolish in his personal life. Although he was the wisest man ever to walk the earth, he allowed the influence of unbelievers to ultimately bring tragedy to the entire nation of Israel. One of the greatest kings of Israel fell because he did not turn from his sins. From Solomon’s example we can learn this important principle: your gifts, talents, abilities and strengths won’t be of much benefit if you fail to deal with your weaknesses.

God promises to supply all our needs if we put His kingdom, His principles and His interests first. While He does not promise us great riches, He does promise to satisfy our deepest needs if we place His will as our top priority.

Is God is asking you to take on a role in your life that seems too big for you to handle? Do you feel overwhelmed with the mountain of responsibilities facing you? Before you begin your ascent, spend time in God’s Word and on your knees before your Heavenly Father. Ask him for a “discerning heart” so that you may be well equipped to take on this role and achieve His goals in the process.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…” James 1:5a