Praying To Know and Walk And Wisdom

 We live in complicated times, don’t we?.  We have the pandemic with all its issues.  So many people with so many opinions.  We all want to do the right thing both for ourselves and for the well-being of others. 

Then we have all the discussions around climate change with the forest fire situation not only here in Canada but in Turkey and in the US southwest.  So many lives and livelihoods rest on decisions made going forward.  There are no easy answers.

We need wisdom – the broad range wisdom that God can give, not just for these kinds of issues but for all the personal ways we interact with others and think about life.  I find these verses very specific and helpful in sorting out if we are living as wise people or not:

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.  James 3:13-18

So, Loving God, we first of all just want to say that we want to be wise people.  We know that takes discipline and work and patience with ourselves and others but please help us.  Forgive us for the times we do not walk in the humility of wisdom and resort to jealousy and selfish ambition instead. 

Fill us with Your character, God.  We want wisdom that is pure, peace loving and gentle at all times, willing to yield to others, full of mercy and good deeds, showing no favoritism and always sincere. 

Just saying that though reminds us of how woefully inadequate we are to do more than just want wisdom.  To actually walk it out we need the power of Your Holy Spirit at work in us.  So we surrender to You and to the direction of Your Spirit. 

Help us to walk in Your wise and peaceful way today so we know and do what’s right and as the verse says, “reap a harvest of righteousness.” It all begins with worshipping and honouring you. As the Bible reminds us:

The starting point for acquiring wisdom is to be consumed with awe as you worship Yahweh. To receive the revelation of the Holy One, you must come to the one who has living-understanding.  Proverbs 9:10

We choose You God.  We choose Your way today.  Help us to walk it out.  Amen