Wisdom

Today’s sermon is about wisdom – the prayer God loves to answer! Just ask Solomon. When God asked him what he wanted, Solomon replied:

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people
and to distinguish between right and wrong.
1Kings 3:9

This God gave to Solomon and so much more!

Why ask for wisdom?

• Wisdom is learning to see life from God’s point of view
• Wisdom is orienting and ordering every area of our lives around God, His ways, and His Word.
• Wisdom is always asking “What pleases God?”
• Wisdom is connecting the dots between cause and effect in our lives

At the end of each workday, my husband asks the same question of me knowing how demanding my day job can be. “Was today a good day?”

I’ve come to notice (connected the dots…) on those days when I’ve asked God for wisdom to do my job in the best possible way, to do my job in a way that brings honor to Him, those are my good days. When I fail to pray for His wisdom to be with me, those are the days I sigh a heavy sigh.

You do not have because you do not ask God
James 4:2

When we ask, however, we must ask with faith – full faith – not half-hearted faith.

Charles Spurgeon in his book, Praying Successfully, tells us that often prayers do not achieve their intended objective because we ask half-heartedly, not really trusting God to answer.  We doubt we deserve an answer from God. We think God has bigger and better things to do than answer our simple prayers. We doubt God is listening or wonder if He even really exists.

Spurgeon shares an example to drive home his point that full faith needs to be present if we are to receive an answer to our prayers.

Prayers that are filled with doubt are requests for refusal. Imagine that you wrote to a friend and said, “Dear friend, I am in great trouble. I am telling you this, and I am asking for your help, because it seems right to do so. But though I am writing to you, I do not believe you will send me any help. Indeed, I would be shocked if you did, and I would speak of it as a great wonder.”

Praying Successfully, Charles Spurgeon, pgs 48-49

What would your response be to such a note? Most likely you would not feel inclined to assist. You would shrug your shoulders and go about your day. Why make the effort when they aren’t really expecting your help anyway.

And whatever you ask in prayer,
you will receive, if you have faith.
Matt 21:22

Not sure how to pray? Pastor Keith made it simple to understand and to do. The language of prayer is God’s word so pray it back to Him.

James 1:5 reads
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5 in prayer
God give me wisdom. You know all, see all, and understand all. Guide me now with your wisdom.

This week’s challenge:

What are some situations in your life (relationships or otherwise) for which you most need God’s wisdom right now? List them out on Monday and each day pray for God to give you wisdom in those situations. Trust His promise that He will give you wisdom. He has the better way.

Blessings,

– psg –