Probably my most frequent prayer is one for wisdom. When I’m faced with a personal decision, walking into a difficult conversation or about to embark on a challenging task, I find myself so often needing wisdom. Now to be honest, that prayer might be as short and sweet as “Help!”. At other times, it might be more wordy. But often it feels like I’m just asking for a one-off solution to the problem, the right words to say, or an extra dose of gumption or strength for the moment…..and I need it now, Lord (if you don’t mind)!
Dictionary definitions for wisdom use words like experience, knowledge, good judgement, sensible thinking, insight, discernment…all of these applied to life. I recently heard the following definition for wisdom: Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do, at the right time and in the right way. That’s an easy definition to remember but may be not so easy to apply.
Throughout its pages, the book of Proverbs has a lot to say about wisdom, especially about godly wisdom. But perhaps the most memorable verse is found in Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Although we don’t use the phrase, “the fear of the Lord” much these days, the biblical phrase is about reverence, worshipping God and regarding God as truly awesome. This is the beginning and the essence of wisdom. Tim Keller wrote that, “To fear the Lord is to be overwhelmed with wonder before the greatness of God and his love….. That is why the more we experience God’s grace and forgiveness, the more we experience a trembling awe and wonder before the greatness of all that he is and has done for us.”
Godly wisdom begins and ends in worshipping, knowing and seeking God and then allowing God to transform our hearts and minds to be more aligned with His. Or as Romans 12 puts it, being “transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes]….” (Romans 12:2, Amplified Bible).
So maybe my frequent pleas to be zapped with wisdom in particular situations should be replaced by a prayerful desire to worship, seek and know God, for that relationship to grow and flourish until I become more like Jesus, with my mind and heart renewed and transformed to be more in line with His. Then my attitudes, actions and words would spring from His wisdom in a natural, more instinctive way. Less quick prayers for help, more dwelling and abiding in Christ, drawing my life and wisdom from the Vine.
Wendy Perkins (Board Member)