How to be Blessed with the Powerful Wisdom of God
Welcome to Week #3 of The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series.
If you’ve missed any of the earlier posts here, check out:
6 of the Best Ways to Fight Distraction and Listen to God
by Dawn Klinge
Amazing Worship Songs that will Make Your Day Better
by Carmen Brown
AND…
To find more posts from my awesome friends, visit The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series Board on Pinterest!
NOW, for this week…
I am so excited to welcome my friend, Valerie Murray, from Cord of 6, to the blog today!
Valerie and I connected the moment we met and realized we have both struggled with the challenge of living overwhelmed by fear.
Valerie draws her readers in by asking…
“Are you a woman who struggles with fear and longs to live with confidence in God’s purpose for you? Then you’re in the right place! I hope to offer encouragement and support for overwhelmed moms, hurting wives and fellow fear fighters.”
I’m so thankful God brought us together because Valerie’s right … well, she’s really quoting a truth God gave Solomon:
“Two are better than one” and “a cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4
With God’s help, no struggle can defeat nor fear overpower us!
Please welcome my friend, Valerie, and make her feel at home…
How to be Blessed with the Powerful Wisdom of God
Have you wondered how to receive the wisdom of God in your life?
What do you do when you don’t know what God wants you to do?
The topic of the wisdom of God is as vast as the sea. Diving into the Bible, I find an ocean of discoveries I never knew existed. Common stand-alone verses explored further by their surrounding context advance a deeper understanding and even more sunken vessels and hidden treasures.
James tells us that God’s wisdom will enable us to endure trials joyfully. My search to know the wisdom of God in my life intensifies when hard times hit.
Usually, I see/hear James 1:5 quoted as a stand-alone verse. “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.”
However, reading the full context of this passage (the verses before and after) gives insight into who/how we can receive the wisdom of God.
James 1:2-6 says:
(2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (3) because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (4) Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (5) 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. (6) 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. (7) That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
James is writing to Jewish Christians who had been scattered throughout the Mediterranean world due to persecution. James wanted to encourage them to live out their faith in a genuine way.
How do we receive the wisdom of God when life is hard?
We must know Christ to know God’s Divine Wisdom
Since Christ is the source of all wisdom (Colossians 2:3) it makes sense that in order to gain divine wisdom we need to know the author from whom all wisdom originates.
Proverbs 2:3-5 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Those who have reverential awe for the majesty of God will trust and turn away from their sins.
Until we recognize the holiness of God, we will not understand the depravity of our sin and our great need for a Savior. His saving grace naturally produces a heart in the believer that seeks to know our loving God.
“God whispers wisdom to the humble in heart. He whispers and pours out His secrets upon the person who hates sin, turns away from iniquity and puts his trust in God his Savior.” ~ A.W. Tozer
What do you do when you don’t know what God wants you to do? How do we receive the wisdom of God when life is hard?
We must ask God for wisdom.
James encourages believers to ask God for wisdom.
Have you ever prayed earnestly for God to grant you wisdom to know how to apply Biblical truth to particular situations in your life? God is not hiding His wisdom from you. He gives it generously to those who seek Him with a true desire to know His will.
When we ask we must believe and not doubt.
Do you doubt that God will give you wisdom after you ask? Sometimes God’s word reveals wisdom to us right away. God’s wisdom will never go against what scripture says.
Other times, when we’re not quite sure how to respond or act or what to do in a particular situation, gaining God’s wisdom is a process. Sometimes it takes time. The fact that God doesn’t want me to doubt, gives me such reassurance because it means I can expect Him to answer my prayers!
I don’t have to stress about my desire to do the right thing or be afraid that I will do the wrong thing when I know I am praying for God’s divine direction.
Enduring Trials Produces Wisdom
James tells us that enduring trials will test our faith and produce perseverance and maturity in us.
As much as I hate going through hard times, when I earnestly seek God for guidance, I learn about who God is. The process refines me and I come out having greater wisdom about how God wants me to act and respond.
God reveals His divine wisdom to us through the Holy Spirit, His word, and through prayer.
A.W. Tozer’s book, The Wisdom of God, says divine wisdom will help us to recognize God’s hand leading us providentially. His wisdom enables us to recognize His presence in our lives as well as his correction.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7
Are you seeking the Lord’s wisdom in a certain area in your life? I would love for you to share so we can support you in prayer. Let’s encourage one another as we endure difficult circumstances and find joy in the hope of our salvation.
Valerie Murray is a wife of 21 years and a busy mom to 4 energetic children. She writes at ValerieMurray.com about keeping faith and family strong through Christ. Her heart’s desire is to offer hope to others and declare the glory of God in her life through her writing. Her mission is to offer encouragement to struggling marriages, overwhelmed moms and people striving to face their fears and know their worth. Coffee, chocolate and a good movie always make her happy! You can find her on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram & Google+.
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I appreciate the quote, “divine wisdom will enable us to recognize God’s hand leading us providentially.” I believe that’s absolutely true! Wisdom gives us perspective- heavenly perspective. 🙂
It’s such an honor to be a guest on your blog today Deb! Your writing is infused with Godly wisdom, as are you. Thank you for your kind words. Your friendship has been a gift to me.
I love how you’ve unpacked this promise, Valerie! There is so much that we need and “get” to do in cooperation with the Lord, when it comes to receiving His wisdom. Thanks to you for sharing this “wise” word, and to Deb for highlighting you today!
Thank you Beth! I’m so glad God gives us wisdom.