While driving two six-6-year-old Ugandan orphans I’m helping to raise to school one morning, the discussion turned to the boys’ future jobs.
Quickly chiming in with his career choice, one said, “Me, I’m going to be a doctor!” When I asked the other what he’d like to do, he replied, “Auntie Rox, me, I’m going to ask God to give me wisdom.”
Since then, nightly and of their own accord, the boys have prayed out loud, “Dear Jesus, please give us wisdom.” Each time they do so, I’m filled with a deep sense of comfort, knowing that their request is preparing them to better know God and what He wants for their lives.
The ultimate example of a child longing for godly wisdom is found in the book of Luke where we’re given a glimpse of Jesus’ adolescent years. It was then, while living with his parents in Galilee, that Jesus began to stand out from the other boys and girls his age. He would do unusual things, like the time when he was 12 and slipped away from his parents for three days to sit “among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions” (Luke 2:46).
As extraordinary as His behavior may have seemed, by opening His young heart and mind to God’s Word, “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52).
Asking for wisdom pleases the Lord (1 Kings 3:9-11). Receiving wisdom helps us draw nearer to God. This most practical gift also helps us determine the prudent actions we should take to ensure positive outcomes in life.
Let’s keep these wise words in mind, “If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer” (Proverbs 9:12).
More:
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you (James 1:5).
Next:
Do three things today that will help in your pursuit of wisdom. (For example: pray, open your Bible to passages about “wisdom,” talk to a friend or mentor about steps they’ve taken to gain Godly wisdom.) Why can God’s wisdom be trusted?
hello on July 20, 2010 at 1:04 am
I have had this experienced before. Where I found my life is drowned in a very complicated scenarios and meeting all the evil people around me everyday.Day by day, I realized that what i think is wrong are agree to be right by others and what i think is right it neglected and scorned by others. I remember I was crying at one night and ask God to give me wisdom to differentiate what is right and what is wrong.
I feel wisdom is very important for us to know that Where God is and What is the right to God.
I hope everyone will count God in their hearts when comes to this situation. Noone is better than Him to know what is Right and Wrong. Shalom.
lindagma on July 20, 2010 at 6:20 am
Bless your heart that you are seeking to be faithful in a hostile environment to Jesus. God is surely smiling down on you.
I’ve found that being slow to act, seeking God’s will in prayer many times, before proceeding with a decision, is the best way. It’s easy to “see signs” that give us the go-ahead in something WE want to do, and find ourselves in a mess because we pushed to justify our own way.
How blessed we are that we have God’s word and the counsel of Godly people to make wise decisions… and we can rely on God’s grace when we don’t.
agapegirl88 on July 20, 2010 at 9:16 am
I totally relate to the first comment made in not knowing at times what is right and what is wrong because of the difficulty of some situations. I currently feel that way daily in a situation and just pray for God’s guidance.
Wisdom is not somthing people normally seek, but when you are faced with not knowing what to do it is what I long for to grant me peace and comfort in
relying on God’s wisdom.
So thankful for ODJ. So many days it helps keep me focused.
Soldier4Christ on July 20, 2010 at 11:05 am
Wow, from the mouths of babes, huh? Sometimes kids can put into words things that we as adults struggle with. I don’t often ask for God to grant me wisdom, which is something that I plan to change starting now but I think that we often have trouble separating the things that the world see’s as wise from that which God see’s as wise. Thank you so much for this food for thought.
esther chang on July 20, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Hi Roxanne! I’ve always admired the work you are doing in Uganda and today, through your words, God spoke to me about embracing wisdom.
Just this morning, before reading this devotional, I stumbled into this verse and it was etched in my mind. Turns out that it is today’s devotional verse as well!
But I prefer NIV’s version which goes like this:
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
“Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
No matter the cost, aim to get wisdom, even if it means forsaking your family, reputation or wealth…
roxanne robbins on July 20, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Thank you, Esther, for your kind comments about my work in Uganda. Thanks, too, for sharing the NIV translation of Prov. 4:7. What a loaded verse!