November 17

Wisdom 

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 124:1-5 | Ezekiel 35:1-36:38 | James 1:1-18 | Proverbs 27:23-27

Today’s Scripture Focus: James 1:5

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 NIV)

God loves to give us his wisdom. He wants us to ask him for it. He never gets tired of our coming back again and again to ask for it. He never faults us for asking over and over again.

He lays down two conditions. We must ask for it. James tells us in chapter 4: “you do not have because you do not ask.” We often trust our own wisdom and neglect to ask God for his wisdom.

The other condition is faith. “But let him ask in faith, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

God is not going to waste his wisdom on someone who doesn’t have the faith to put it into action. The double-minded person wavers between what he knows in his head he should do, and what he wants to do in his heart. He wavers between the wisdom of God and his own desires. Where there is no willingness to follow God’s wisdom–when there is only instability and wavering–we have not met the condition of faith. We should not expect wisdom from God–or anything else for that matter.

Set your mind fully on knowing and doing the will of God and ask him for it. He promises to give such a person all the wisdom that they need, anytime they need it.

Lord, again I stand in need of your wisdom. Thank you for your willingness to hear my repeated requests and answer with the wisdom I need. Amen.