Bible study – Page 6 – Hope for Complete Healing

The Mystery of Wisdom—Part 7

So why is wisdom more important than gold and riches? What are the benefits of having wisdom? For advertisers to get us to buy their product, they must show how it will benefit us. In this post, I will share Scripture passages written by King Solomon, the wisest and richest man to ever live, that show wisdom’s benefits. So far, we learned in the past six posts:

Part 1: Overview and the difference between godly and worldly wisdom.

Part 2: Wisdom begins with fearing God and what that means.

Part 3: Where we get wisdom.

Part 4: Those who get wisdom.

Part 5: Why a person or nation is considered wise when they obey God.

Part 6: How to cultivate wisdom.

First benefit: Wisdom will add years to your life.

Who doesn’t want years added to their life? When we follow sound wisdom, we will know the right path to avoid pitfalls and setbacks. Proverbs 4:10-14 states, “Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. ¹¹I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. ¹²When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. ¹³Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. ¹⁴Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.” Entering the path of the wicked and walking in evil looks different for each person. When I think of evil paths, I think of drugs and alcohol, which have destroyed many lives. I have worked with many inmates, and I have a son whose life has been destroyed by drugs and alcohol. I taught him to follow Jesus and to fear God. He knew how harmful drugs and alcohol were, yet he foolishly pursued this destructive path and did not keep hold of wise instructions. Life is not going well for him or the inmates I have worked with. A sinful path could be committing crimes, lying, gambling, adultery, idolatry, and so on.

Second benefit: You will have hope.

When you make wise choices, you will have hope, expecting something good to happen. Proverbs 24:14 states, “Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” For example, if you wisely save or invest your money and don’t spend every penny on foolish desires, then you will have hope for a comfortable retirement, and so on. Also, when you do not walk in wisdom, you will walk in wickedness, which destroys your future. Jeremiah 29:11-13 states, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ¹²Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. ¹³You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” The key to wisdom is to seek God and trust Him by obeying Him.

Third benefit: You will be delivered from trouble.

The kinds of troubles we will be delivered from vary from person to person. I was delivered from a life of pain and suffering by making wise choices in what I ate. Because I wisely tithe and live on a budget, I am delivered from the stress of not being able to pay my insurance or heating bills when they come due. Proverbs 28:26 states, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” Proverbs 3:5-10 states, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ⁷Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil [sin, wickedness]. ⁸It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. ⁹Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; ¹⁰then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Tithing is wise, because when you invest in the kingdom of God, then God will give back to you . Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” When I was a single mother living on a seamstress income, I still tithed, and God always provided all I needed.

Fourth benefit: Your life will be preserved.

This next verse was also written by King Solomon, the wisest and richest man. He writes in Ecclesiastes 7:12, “For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.” Growing in the knowledge of truth leads to wisdom. How does wisdom preserve your life? When you preserve something, you protect it from going bad. Wisdom preserves your life by instructing your mind to make the right choices, such as not getting drunk, not having an affair, not stealing, not lying, and so on.

The following is an example of how I preserved my life by changing my diet. Like my mother and her family, I had degenerative joint disease (DJD). My mother had five back surgeries, shoulder surgery, and needed hip surgery. In my thirties, I began having severe back and joint problems, so I asked God to give me the wisdom to know what I needed to do to avoid being crippled like my mother. He showed me that it was the food I was eating. I read books and went to nutrition classes to increase my knowledge. I learned that certain foods (e.g., wheat and corn) have lectins (type of protein) that cause inflammation and degeneration. I gave up eating those foods and substituted them with foods that did not have those lectins. I am now in my sixties and just completed hiking the Mid-State Trail from Maryland to New York, which was a moderate to hard hike. So, I have no joint problems if I avoid wheat and corn products. I also learned that wheat and corn also contribute to dementia. My mother has dementia, and her mother had dementia, which I don’t want. A wise person will avoid the things that harm their health so they can add years to their life and preserve it. You can read more about this change in my post called Sick and Tired? Change Your Destiny! Be Free From the Infirmity Stronghold.

Fifth benefit: You will succeed.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 states, “If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.” This verse says it all. It does not pay to be intelligent if you are not wise in knowing how to use your God-given intelligence. You may know how to do something and why, but wisdom directs you to take the right actions so you succeed. Are there relationships in your life that are failing? Are you failing at your job? If circumstances are not going well for you, ask God to give you the wisdom and understanding to know the right path to success, then obey how He instructs you. My website and the online book will help you grow in wisdom so you can succeed.

All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family; hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected, and no part of the posts or my book may be reproduced without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

The Mystery of Wisdom—Part 6

Have you ever planted a garden but weren’t motivated to weed and water your garden? What happens? Your heart is the garden, and you plant truth and wisdom from God’s Word into your heart. Fearing God and obeying His commands is the beginning of wisdom. Let’s say you fear God and obey Him and pray for wisdom, but what do you do to cultivate that wisdom, so it grows in your life and produces fruit?

Review of the two types of wisdom.

There are two kinds of wisdom; which one are you cultivating? We learned in part 3 that worldly wisdom comes from experience but is biased. It is often jealous of others and selfishly wants what they have (James 3:14-16). God gives godly wisdom. What is godly wisdom? James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Therefore, a person who seeks to be wise is also at peace with themselves and those around them. So, strive to be humble, gentle, and sincerely open to reason and other people’s ideas and desires. I can only imagine what the world would be like if everyone would get rid of their self-centered pride and arrogance, then humbly value others as more important than themselves (Romans 12:3). A wise person is humble and seeks to do good for others (James 3:13).

How do we cultivate the wisdom God gives us?

I found seven ways we can stay motivated to cultivate wisdom, knowledge of God’s truths, and insight in our lives. As I have been studying wisdom, I realize that we need to desire wisdom, knowledge, and insight (understanding) more than anything else. I learned that wisdom keeps us on the path of righteousness and protects us from evil. I also realize that wisdom, knowledge, and understanding must be cultivated every day.

1. You need to delight in growing God’s truth in your heart by desiring to learn the wise truths of God found in the Bible. Psalm 51:6 states, “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”

2. Know that life is short, so seek to be wise with every day God gives you. Psalm 90:12 states, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

3. Do not forget to seek the Bible’s wisdom daily. Love wisdom more than gold and silver. When you get wisdom, you also get the knowledge and insight of truth to make the right decisions. According to dictionary.com (2022), insight is penetrating mental vision or discernment and the ability to see into inner character or underlying truth. Wisdom will guard your mind and your life. Proverbs 4:5-6 states, “Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. ⁶Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.” And Proverbs 4:7-9 states, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. ⁸Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. ⁹She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

4. Be prudent, and you will have wisdom. Dictionary.com (2022) says that prudence is being cautious about practical matters, using discretion, and being frugal (careful). Someone who is prudent does not make rash decisions. Proverbs 8:12 states, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.” Discretion is the quality of being discreet (careful, restrained), especially concerning one’s choice of actions or speech.

5. Seek and take godly advice to build wisdom in your life. Proverbs 13:10 states, “By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.” And Proverbs 19:20 states, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”

6. Discernment is recognizing what is true and correct, which eliminates unhealthy beliefs to increase wisdom, so you know the right decision to make. Proverbs 14:8 states, “The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.”

7. Discipline gives you the power to grow in wisdom, knowledge of God, and understand the truth by removing sinful and foolish thinking. Proverbs 29:15 states, “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” God also reproves us when we are not wise but act on our foolish thinking. Hebrews 12:6-11 tells us, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. ⁷It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children, not sons. ⁹Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” The goal of discipline is to be holy, which means to be set apart to bring glory to God. When we act on sinful and foolish thinking, we don’t bring God glory, so He lovingly disciplines us. The discipline of God also teaches us to be wise so we make the right choices.

Conclusion:

If you desire free, organic fruits and vegetables, you need to grow them yourself. Sure, you can go to the farmer’s market or the grocery store to get fruits and vegetables, but they will cost a lot. In the same way, you can go to church to learn about wisdom and get some wisdom, but the wisdom you get when you dig into the Word of God will be a more significant benefit. Just as a garden needs to be prudently weeded and diligently watered to produce a harvest. So, our hearts need to be kept free of sinful, foolish thoughts and filled with God’s truths, so we produce a crop of wisdom. You also need to discern when you have an insect problem and know what organic pesticide you need to kill the harmful insects destroying your plants. So, you need discernment to know when you have an unhealthy belief and what truth will eliminate it. Taking advice is like putting fertilizer on your garden, so your plants grow better and produce more.

I pray you are blessed and grow in all knowledge, insight, and discernment.

RELATED POSTS:

The Mystery of Wisdom-Overview

THE MYSTERY OF WISDOM—PART 2

The Mystery of Wisdom—Part 3

The Mystery of Wisdom –Part 4

The Mystery of Wisdom—Part 5

Check out my book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

The Mystery of Wisdom—Part 5

Have you ever played a game where the rules kept changing? How much chaos did that create? Did you think it was fair when another person changed the rules to give them an advantage? God is just, so He values regulations and laws. Without laws, there is chaos, and people will follow their self-centered, sinful nature to do all manner of evil. In the last post, we learned that those who seek to do what is right and please God show that they have wisdom and understanding.

A nation that is not governed by laws will dissolve into chaos. The evidence can be seen in the cities that let criminals run free to do whatever their sinful hearts directed them to do. What makes a nation great? What is the difference between a wise leader and a foolish one? How can you tell if a person is wise or foolish?

What Makes a Nation Great?

In Deuteronomy 4:5-9, Moses teaches the Israelites the following.

⁵See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

⁶Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes [laws], will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

⁷For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

⁸And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

⁹“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.”

Summary of a Great Nation and People Who Are Considered Wise.

1. The leaders and the people obey God’s rules.

2. Having a God who is near when they call upon Him.

3. A nation and people who value the righteous laws established by God.

4. People and leaders who don’t forget God and all He has done.

Why America is Not a Great Nation:

Right now, there is a massive push by those deceived by the devil to remove all references to God from every part of our country. Prayer was removed from the school. Then killing children became legal. The schools stopped teaching the Christian foundation and heritage of our country. The Ten Commandments were removed from courthouses and other places. Many people are not saying the pledge of allegiance because it acknowledges God. We are to say “Happy Holidays” because Merry Christmas references Jesus Christ’s birth. Foolish people want to take the words “In God we Trust” off our money. Idolatry is rampant, even in the church. If a nation is considered great when they obey God, what happens to the country that removes God and lives sinful, self-centered lives?

New Testament Obedience

Moses was God’s spokesman for the emerging Jewish nation. The New Testament Christian is not bound to the Laws given to the Jewish nation though the 10 Commandments still apply to us. God gave laws so everyone lived by the same rules, and there was order, not chaos. The principle of obedience still applies. So, what rules are the New Testament Christians required to obey? Let us see what Jesus, our spokesman, said to do in His first sermon in Matthew chapters 5-7.

1. We are to be the salt and light for the world by doing good works and giving glory to our Father in heaven (5:17-20).

2. Do not be angry and insult a fellow Christian; instead, be reconciled to them (5:21-26).

3. Do not lust because even if you have a lustful intent toward someone, you have committed adultery. Whatever is causing you to lust, remove it, such as the internet, books, movies, etc. and avoid places that tempt you to lust (5:27-30).

4. Do not take oaths. Let your “yes” be yes, and your “no” be no (5:33-37).

5. Do not retaliate (5:38-42). Matthew 5:42 states, “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

6. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so as sons of God, “You must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (5:43-48). This sounds impossible but with God’s divine power in us, we can be perfect if we obey God’s laws.

7. Don’t let people see you giving to the needy. Matthew 6:1 states, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

8. Pray to your Father in heaven and forgive anyone who has sinned against you just as your father in heaven has forgiven you (6:5-15).

9. Serve God, not money (6:19-24). Matthew 6:24 states, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

10. Do not be anxious (6:25-34). Matthew 6:33-34 states, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

11. Don’t judge (7:1-6).

12. Ask, seek, and knock through prayer (7:7-11).

13. Practice the golden rule (7:12-14). Matthew 7:14 states, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

14. Recognize false teachers by their fruit and avoid them (7:15-20).

15. Do your heavenly Father’s will (7:21-23). Matthew 7:21 states, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

16. Do what the Word of God says to do (7:24-27). Matthew 7:24 states, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Most importantly, you are to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, then love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:36-40 and Luke 10:27). Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Are you morally upright and call upon God? Do you obey God’s commands to show yourself wise and understanding to those around you?

Conclusion

Playing a game by the rules makes the game fun, and everyone knows what to expect. The Christian life is rewarding if we live by God’s rules established in the Bible. We learned that following God’s laws makes a nation great. Jesus gave us some standard rules or practices in His first sermon. The Apostle Paul wrote letters to the new churches, instructing them how to conduct themselves toward those outside the church and toward each other in the church. If you haven’t read the New Testament yet, please do that and note the rules the Apostle Paul lays out for the new and mature believers.

Related Posts

The Mystery of Wisdom-Overview

THE MYSTERY OF WISDOM—PART 2

The Mystery of Wisdom—Part 3

The Mystery of Wisdom –Part 4

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

The Mystery of Wisdom –Part 4

Have you ever wondered why some people make foolish decisions that get them in trouble? In this post, we will learn why some people are wiser than others. In part one, we learned the difference between worldly and spiritual wisdom. In part two, we learned that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and what the fear of God looked like, and the benefits of fearing God. In part three, we learned that God gives wisdom to those who ask.

So, Who Gets Wisdom?

In the following passage, we will learn who gets wisdom and how it benefits them. When you have wisdom, you will know the right path to take and can walk away from people who want to lead you down an evil way.

Proverbs 2:6-15

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

God speaks through people, the Bible, and to us personally. We won’t remember everything we hear from godly pastors and teachers, but everything they say builds up our knowledge and gives us a greater understanding of truth and the character of God.

⁷he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Soundness gives the impression of purity, strength, and safety. When something is sound like a foundation or a well-built boat, you can trust that it is safe and strong. God stores up sound wisdom for those who are upright. An upright person seeks to do what is right, is honest, and is just to those around them. In addition, God protects those with a sound character who can be trusted to keep their promises.

⁸guarding the paths of justice and watching over [preserves] the way of his saints.

Because God is just, He guards those who are walking the morally right path; who seek to do what is right before God. God also keeps (protects) His saints, who are godly people, from harm or injury. To learn more about godliness, read my series of posts on godliness.

⁹Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;

The “then” refers to the condition of being in a right relationship with God by seeking to do what is right, keeping your commitments, and being godly. You will understand God’s righteousness, justice, and equality when you have divine wisdom. You will also see the good path you should take.

¹⁰for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

Wisdom comes into our hearts when we are right with God and as we attain knowledge of God’s truth and commandments. In part two, we learned that you gain knowledge and understanding with wisdom.

So how is knowledge pleasant to your soul? Do you think it is because God put a conscience in our souls so we can know or discern the good path? Also, the knowledge of God gives you a peaceful or pleasant feeling. The opposite of pleasant is fear, turmoil, anxiety, confusion, and so on. Which state is your soul in today? If your soul lacks peace, read my series of posts on the promises of God to grow in your knowledge of Him.

¹¹discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,

Discretion is making the right decisions. Understanding is being able to discern or know what is good. Job 28:28b states, “To turn away from evil is understanding.’” When you have discretion and understanding, you can turn away from the evil and perverse people listed in the following verses. According to dictionary.com (2022), perverse means turning away from or rejecting what is right, good, sound, or proper. Perverse people are depraved, wicked, or corrupt in their thinking. Identify examples for each description of evil listed below.

¹¹discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, ¹²delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,

¹³who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,

¹⁴who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil,

¹⁵men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

Wisdom also protects you from the allurement of impure sexual conduct with evil women. How many people do you know whose lives have been destroyed by adultery or fornication? King Solomon writes about controlling your lustful desires and choosing a wiser way. Proverbs 5:1-6 explains, “My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, ²that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. ³For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, ⁴but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. ⁵Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; ⁶she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.” Proverbs 2:19 states, “None who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.” Always seek God for wisdom so you don’t leave the path of life. This reminds me of the book called “Pilgrims Progress” by John Bunion. If you haven’t read it, it is well worth reading.

Conclusion:

As I studied this passage and sought God for understanding, I now have a greater appreciation for wisdom. Now I know why some people are not wise and choose destructive paths. This passage has given me insight into what a perverted person is and the importance of avoiding them. Unfortunately, we are persecuted if we call out perverse thoughts and speech. Be courageous and stand up for righteousness, knowing that God is your shield and will protect you from harm.

I pray that you have a greater appreciation for wisdom too. If you have gone down a dark path with a perverted, evil person, you can turn to God, seek His forgiveness, and repent. 1John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And James 4:7-8 states, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” If you want to learn how to purify your soul, read my post Five Steps to Heal Your Heart and Purify Your Soul.

If you haven’t read my previous posts about the mystery of wisdom, I encourage you to do that now.

Check out my second book called, Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

The Mystery of Wisdom—Part 3

Where does someone get wisdom? Some people say that you gain wisdom from experiences as you age. Some people believe you get specific wisdom by becoming an expert at something. For example, if you are an expert at investing money, you can make the right decisions based on that knowledge. And some people believe you get wisdom when you continue to learn because knowledge helps you make good and wise decisions. These common beliefs are true to a certain extent. Bias is a problem with experiential wisdom because it is often based on a faulty worldview or perspective.

The dictionary.com (2022) definition of wisdom says it is to know what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. This definition means you make choices based on what you judge as true and right. For example, if you believe you should avoid drinking alcohol because getting drunk impairs your brain, that is a wise decision based on truth or fact. The problem is that the dictionary definition can be applied to any personal truth or what you may believe is right. For instance, I think it is right that everyone does their fair share of the work around the house, but in reality, everyone has their biased idea of what is fair. Read my posts on fair bias, What is Wrong with Fairness?

Worldly wisdom is based on your standard of truth, which is based on false beliefs. We have different political parties because each party believes its truth is right and just. Political leaders make decisions based on their biased understanding of truth. The definition of truth is an idea that conforms to a fact or reality. Again, truth is often subjective. Therefore, true wisdom is based on God’s truth found in the Bible because God’s standard is perfect, good, and just.

Evidence of the two kinds of wisdom.

In part one, we learned the difference between worldly and godly wisdom. In James 3:14-17, we learned that someone with worldly wisdom is envious or jealous because they feel it isn’t right that another person has possessions and advantages they don’t have. Jealousy leads to hate, malice, and arguments. Worldly wisdom also involves selfish ambition, where a person thinks it is right to satisfy their selfish wants and desires at the expense of others. Pridefulness is the guiding force behind worldly wisdom. Read my post called, How Pride Destroys. James 3:16 states, ^“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice [evil work].”

On the other hand, the hallmark of godly wisdom is humility which is displayed by the purity of thoughts; seeking peace; being gentle even when wronged; can listen to reason; is merciful by not returning evil for evil. Godly wisdom seeks to do good to everyone and is impartial in their decisions. A person with godly wisdom will be sincere. Where do we get godly wisdom? Job 28: 12-13 states, “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? ¹³Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.”

In part two, we learned how the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and what the fear of God was. We learned that the person who fears God will praise Him for all the great things He has done. They will faithfully serve Him by being attentive to what He wants. When you fear God, you will trust Him because you know He will help and protect you. Those that fear God will obey what He says to do. And, lastly, to turn from every evil thing that harms others and do good, which seeks to do things that are helpful and beneficial to others.

God is the source of wisdom.

Because God is the source of wisdom then you must be submitted to Him and make Him the center of your life, otherwise, you won’t have His wisdom. An unsubmitted life is just a casual relationship with God where you live outside of His will and wisdom. Are you reading your Bible to know God’s truth? Are you praying about everything that touches your life instead of complaining and arguing? Most importantly, are you a child of God? John 1:12 states, “But to all who did receive him [in their hearts], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Ephesians 3:17a states, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” I can go down so many thought trails, but I will leave you with this encouragement.

The Bible explains how God is the source of wisdom. Therefore, we can ask Him for wisdom. James 1:5-8 states, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Read my post called Unanswered Prayer? Doubt or Faith to learn more.

Carefully read the next passages and note the things that stand out to you. What do you find significant about each passage?

And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. –1Kings 10:24 (Solomon asked for wisdom.)

With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. – Job 12:13

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” – Jeremiah 9:23-24

As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. – Daniel 1:17

Conclusion:

I pray that you submit to God’s ways and will for your life and that you seek Him for wisdom to know the truth and do what is right in His eyes. I pray that you meditate on God’s word day and night and grow in knowledge and understanding of His will for you. And I pray you will continue to rejoice always, pray about everything, and be thankful in everything, to cultivate godly wisdom in your life.

Mystery of Wisdom–Part 4

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

THE MYSTERY OF WISDOM—PART 2

What is the correlation between wisdom and the fear of God? Can a worldly person who does not fear God be wise? In the last post, we learned that wisdom is a mystery. We also learned that it is better to have wisdom than gold, silver, and jewels and we need to seek it by seeking God because He is the one that gives wisdom. Lastly, we learned the difference between a wise and worldly person.

As I prayed and asked God to give me a greater understanding of wisdom, I saw in scripture that wisdom is linked with the fear of God and understanding. Why? Here are a few scriptures that outline the relationship between wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and the fear of God.

First, what is the fear of God?

The fear of the Lord is to have deep respect, love, and awe for God that you want to do the following:

1. Praise Him. Psalms 22:23 states, “You who fear the Lord, praise Him! …glorify Him, and stand in awe of Him, …”

2. Serve Him. 1 Samuel 12:24 states, “Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you.”

3. Trust Him. Psalms 115:11 also states; “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.”

4. Obey Him. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 states, “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³and to keep [obey] the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?”

5. Turn from evil. Proverbs 8:13 states, “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” When you sin, you do evil because sin is disobeying God. God commands us to love others as He loves them. Evil people do not love others, but they do and say things to harm or cause trouble for people (Webster

Correlation between fear of God, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.

Psalm 111:10 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” We need to practice, that is do something over and over to become good at it. Understanding means several things. Dictionary.com (2022) says understanding is a mental process of a person who comprehends; has a superior power of discernment; enlightened intelligence, etc. Job 28:28 states, “And he [God] said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge [of God]; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” And, Psalm 14:1 states, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.” Based on these last two verses, a worldly person, who does not fear God, cannot be wise because their hearts are evil and not good. Because Proverbs 9:10-12 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. ¹¹For by me [God] your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

What are the benefits of fearing God?

God’s angel protects you, and you will be blessed, and you will lack nothing. Psalms 34:7-9 states, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8) Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9) Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!”
God will help you and shield you from all harm. Psalm 115:11 states, “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.” Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”
You will have confidence and you will feel safe. Proverb 14:26 states, “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.”
You will have wisdom and know what to do. Psalms 111:10 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.”
You will have a long life. Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.”
You will have healing. Proverbs 3:7-8 states, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8) It will be healing to your flesh (body; NAS) and refreshment to your bones.”
You will be blessed. Proverbs 28:14 states, “Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity (the pit).”
It will go well with you. 1Samual 12:14 states, “If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well.”
You will have riches, honor, and life. Proverbs 22:4 states, “The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.” Is this something you would like? Read “How Pride Destroys” Pride keeps you from being in awe of God and submitting to His authority and turning from your sin.

Fearing God is easy when you keep your mind focused on seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. See the blog post called How do you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? for more details. Job 12:13 states, “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.”

Conclusion:

Proverbs 2:1-5 sums up this post, “My son [daughter], if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, ²making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; ³yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, ⁴if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, ⁵then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. The key to getting wisdom is to intentionally seek it. You need the fear of God to have wisdom, understanding, and to know God, but you won’t understand the fear of God and find knowledge until you seek to understand and desire wisdom. Do you fear God by obeying Him and turning from your evil desires (lusts)? Are you praising God and trusting Him to give you wisdom?

Mystery of Wisdom–Part 3

Check out my second book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

The Mystery of Wisdom-Overview

I have been pondering why we don’t seek wisdom. God’s wisdom is different than the world’s wisdom. Today’s worldly wisdom is upside down. We are told that your sex is not based on reality but on your feelings, and men can menstruate and get pregnant. I feel like I am living in crazy land. How about you? When you try to correct wrong thinking and speak the truth, you are vilified by foolish people. I don’t need to elaborate on the foolishness of worldly wisdom because it is so evident.

My website is about changing false, unhealthy beliefs to experience a new reality. So, what does the Bible say about wisdom? The Bible says a lot about wisdom and being wise. I want to learn more, so as I dig into the Word of God, I will share my findings with you in the next several posts.

The First Mystery – Why Is Wisdom Worth More Than Gold, Silver, and Jewels?

Proverbs 3:13-14 states, “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.”

Proverbs 8:10-11 “Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.”

Proverbs 16:16 states, “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”

Second Mystery – Why Do We Not Seek Wisdom?

Job 28:12-13 states, “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? ¹³Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.”

If wisdom and understanding are better than gold, silver, and jewels, then why do we insist on doing things in our own understanding? I must admit that I do not fully understand wisdom. Many verses encourage me to seek out wisdom and gain understanding, but how? I will answer these and many other questions in future posts.

Third Mystery – How do we get wisdom?

The Bible tells us several ways we get wisdom. Here are a few ways.

1Kings 10:24 states, “And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.”

Job 28:28 states, “And he [God] said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

What is the fear of the Lord? What is evil, and how do you turn away from it?

Fourth Mystery – How Do You Know You Are Wise?

James 3:13 states, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness [humility] of wisdom.” Are you humble? I know I fight pride regularly because it is an integral part of our sinful nature.

Proverbs 12:15 states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Do you listen to advice from those who are wise and follow it?

Ecclesiastes 10:2 states, “A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.” These are the words of King Solomon, the wisest man on earth. How is this verse relevant to today?

Fifth Mystery – What Are The Benefits Of Wisdom?

There are many benefits of wisdom, and I will cover all the verses describing the benefits in future posts. Wisdom finds favor with God and man because the wise person does what is right and has integrity. Someone with wisdom can look at a situation and determine what is right and just from God’s perspective, not a worldly perspective.

Sixth Mystery – What is Wisdom?

The best description of wisdom is found in James 3:13-17, which describes the difference between worldly wisdom and the wisdom from above.

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

¹⁵This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

¹⁶For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice [evil work].

¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Wisdom is not being jealous, having selfish ambition, boasting, and being deceitful, which is described as unspiritual and demonic. Yikes! Ask God to search your heart and mind to expose any jealousy, selfish ambition, pride, and deceitful spirits. If God reveals any of these in your heart, then repent and ask God to show you why you have that issue and let Him bring up any repressed memories. I explain how to be free from negative issues in my post called Five Steps to Heal Your Heart and Purify Your Soul.

James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Ponder each characteristic of wisdom. Where do you fall short? I fell short until I resolved the many issues from my traumatic childhood and adult life. Selfish ambition is when you want your way and think it is the best way, and you don’t care about the other person or their needs and desires. You become jealous when someone gets their way and prevents you from getting what you want or expect. Therefore, a person who seeks to be wise is also at peace with themselves and those around them. So, strive to be humble, gentle, and sincerely open to reason and other people’s ideas and desires. I can only imagine what the world would be like if everyone would get rid of their self-centered pride and arrogance, then humbly value others as more important than themselves. A wise person is humble and seeks to do good for others.

Check back to learn more about the mystery of wisdom. In the meantime, I pray that God blesses you richly and that you grow in wisdom and understanding.

Mystery of Wisdom–Part 2

Mystery of Wisdom –Part 3

Mystery of Wisdom–Part 4

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

17 Part 2—Does God Promise to Love Unconditionally?

How often have you heard that God’s love is unconditional? Where does the Bible say this? Some people give vague verses that allude to unconditional love, but nowhere does the Bible state it. This knowledge does not negate the fact that God loves the world and gave His only Son to pay the penalty for our sin so we can be justified by faith and have peace with Him.

Most of God’s promises are conditional; for example, Jeremiah 7:23 states, “But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’” When we obey God and walk in His ways, then He will abide with us so that it will be well with us. We can trust that God will always be faithful to us. So, how faithful are you to God? Here are a few verses that show God’s love is conditional on our love, obedience, trust, and forsaking evil.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. ̶̶̶ Deuteronomy 7:9

And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” ̶ Nehemiah 1:5

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” ̶ John 14:23

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. ̶ Psalm 32:10

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. ̶̶̶ Psalm 103:17

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. ̶̶̶ Psalm 103:13

You may say that you love, obey, trust, and fear God. But what are you filling your mind and heart with? Do you keep your mind on the things above by reading your Bible every day and talking with God? Or do you watch ungodly TV shows or movies that act out every evil, immoral thing God hates?

Does God Hate?

Yes, God does hate, as explained in Proverbs 6:16-19, “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: ¹⁷haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, ¹⁹a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Ask God if you are guilty of any of these things He hates. Remember, our hearts are deceitful, as explained in Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV), “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” And Psalm 11:5 states, “The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” Someone who is wicked is evil and immoral. Evil people harm others for their own gain because of sin. Also, Proverbs 8:13 states, “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

Not only are we to turn from doing evil but also watching and enjoying evil and immoral scenes. What kind of books do you like to read? Do the stories you read contain the things God hates? We should hate the same things God hates and avoid filling our minds with such things if we truly love God with all our hearts, soul, strength, and mind. Proverbs 16:6 tells us, “By [God’s] steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.” Psalm 34:16 states, “The face of the LORD is against those who do [think] evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.”

It is evident that God hates evil and all who do evil. The Apostle Peter also wrote, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1Peter 3:12). A righteous person thinks righteous thoughts and does what is good and right. Romans 6:11-13 teaches, “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. ¹³Do not present your members [mind and soul] to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”

If God’s Love is Unconditional, Then Why Does He Have Wrath

One of the hardest topics to teach is God’s wrath, which also counters the notion that God loves us unconditionally. If you disagree with my thinking and beliefs, please comment and let me know, but please use solid scripture to correct my wrong thinking. John 3:36 states, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Saying a salvation prayer does not guarantee eternal salvation, obedience to the end does. Ephesians 5:5-6 states, “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

Romans 1:18 states, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” We are saved from God’s wrath when we believe in His Son and receive the atonement for our sins that Jesus bought. Then we must love and fear God by obeying His commands, turning from evil, and putting our trust in Him. Romans 5:8-9 states, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

Conclusion

God’s promises are for everyone. Acts 2:39 states, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” I have shared many promises from the Bible, and I am sure there are many more. We can trust that God never lies. Titus 1:2 states, “In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.” And we will receive the promised eternal life if we endure to the end and do the will of God (Hebrews 10:36). The mission of this website is to uncover false beliefs and replace them with biblical truth. As much as we want to believe that God has unconditional love, the truth is that He wants our love, obedience, and trust, and to turn from our evil, sinful ways in fear of His wrath.

EVIL—What is it and what is the remedy?

Part 2: How to Overcome Evil with Good.

Are You a Sheep or a Goat?

All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share the links with your friends and family, hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected, and no part of the posts or my book may be reproduced without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Check out my book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book read: How to Fight Unseen Battles

17—Believers Can’t Be Separated from God’s Love

Have you noticed the huge deficit of love in our world? Hate seems to dominate our politics and our families. Why? The answer is simple, Satan kills, steals, and destroys all that God called good. Because God is love, and we are made in His image, we need love in our lives. Satan causes dysfunction, abuse, discord, and separation in families to destroy love. Many of us grew up in homes where love was not shown or if it was shown, it was selfish. As children, we develop the wrong belief that we must earn love or be a certain way to be loved. This false belief affects our view of God’s love for us. We get married, wanting to be loved sacrificially but not knowing how to give sacrificial love. Often, we marry equally wounded people and then pass on our unhealthy beliefs about love to our children. God’s love is perfect.

Trying to grasp how much God loves us is like trying to understand how He made the Universe. God’s love is so vast and immeasurable, yet 1John 4:12 states, “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” This post is not about how to love but how we display the love of God to others. I have written many posts on love because love is the holy grail of Christianity. If you are interested to learn more, read LOVE Issues.

Love is why God sent His only Son into the world to die for our sins and to give us liberty from our sinful nature. Ephesians 3:17-19 states, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” How awesome is that? And Romans 8:38-39 states, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Satan may put wrong thoughts in your mind like, “If God loved you, you wouldn’t be going through this,” or “What kind of Father would let his child go through something this hard?” “God doesn’t love you because you disappoint Him.” When we question God’s love, we can’t trust that He has our best interest in mind. Isaiah 54:10 states, “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.:” God lets us go through hard things, to refine our hearts and strengthen our faith. Read my posts called Being Thankful During Hardships and 2— God Promises to Deliver Us from Our Troubles.

God’s Love Is Everlasting and Steadfast

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. ̶̶̶ Psalm 103:17

In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. ̶̶̶ Isaiah 54:8

The LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. ̶̶̶ Jeremiah 31:3

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ̶̶̶ Lamentations 3:22-23

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ̶̶̶ Genesis 39:21

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! ̶̶̶ 1Chronicals 16:34

They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. ̶̶̶ Nehemiah 9:17

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! ̶̶̶ Psalm 25:7

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. ̶̶̶ Psalm 36:5

The English Standard Version records God’s steadfast love in 193 verses. We can trust God’s love has no end. The Apostle John said in 1John 4:8 that “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” How is your love toward those around you? 1John 4:11 states, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” We know we are abiding in God by how we love those around us. 1John 4:16-17 states, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.” Never forget that there will be a judgment, and we will have to give an account of all we did while in the flesh, whether good or evil (2Cor. 5:10).

Conclusion

Love is the central theme of God and Christianity. How do you rate on the love scale? Are you patient with everyone? Are you kind to the unkind? Are you gentle with the harsh? Are you self-controlled when tempted? If you struggle with loving others as God loves them, please read my website book; it will help you identify what controls your unloving thoughts and actions. We can trust that nothing will separate us from God’s love, but nowhere in the Bible does it say His love is unconditional. I will explore that truth in my next post.

RELATED POSTS

POSTS about God’s Promises

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think. To learn more about my book, read: How to Fight Unseen Battles.

16–God Promises to Reward Obedience

It feels good to be rewarded. You get that bonus or raise for your hard work, a party for meeting a goal, and so on. We learned in the last post that God tests us to see if we will obey Him. He also gives rewards for our obedience. According to Dictionary.com (06/30/2022), obedience is being compliant and submitting to the requests of someone in authority. God is the supreme authority. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and so on. God established laws as a boundary for the sinful nature we inherited when Adam disobeyed God’s command to not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden.

We have laws in our country to control the self-centered actions of people. For instance, there are many traffic laws we need to obey, and if we don’t, we will suffer a consequence. Many establishments have a code of conduct they expect their employees or customers to follow to maximize a pleasant and safe environment. Otherwise, you have chaos and fear. God’s laws and commands have the same purpose.

Obedience is hard when you want to be self-centered or prideful and don’t think you need to do what someone tells you to do. I had a problem obeying because I did not trust the people in authority. I also struggled to comply because I needed to be in control, which was a trust and pride issue. When I worked through betrayal issues and broke down the betrayal stronghold and the controlling stronghold, I was more willing to obey. To learn more, read Pt. 1: Forsaken? Betrayed? How to Trust Again.

A stronghold is built by wrong beliefs from painful events. Imagine a fort around your body that protects and keeps people from hurting you. 2Corinthians 10:3-5 explains, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Wrong beliefs are opinions raised up against the truths of God. I needed to take my unhealthy thinking from the painful event captive and make it obedient to Jesus’s life of love. I explain this in great detail in my book Breaking Mental Strongholds.

Sometimes you are asked to do something that does not make sense. God the Father planned that His son was to die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins, which does not make sense to us. Philippians 2:8 states, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Do you think it is unreasonable for God to require us to be holy? 1Peter 1:14-16 states, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” Dictionary.com (6/30/2022) says that holy is to be spiritually pure, godly, and dedicated or devoted to the service of God. God promises to be our helper, so we can depend on Him to help us be holy. To learn more, read Posts About Godliness.

So what are God’s rewards for obedience?

God Promises to Bless Those Who Obey Him

What does it mean to be blessed? Dictionary.com (6/30/2022) says that “blessed” is to be divinely or supremely favored, and favored is to be regarded or treated with preference or partiality and enjoy special advantages. Does this sound like something you would like? The following verses describe how God blesses those who obey and keep His ways:

And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. ‒Proverbs 8:32

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! ‒Psalm 119:2-3

But the one who looks into the perfect law [love], the law of liberty [freedom], and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing [all that you do]. ‒James 1:25

But he says, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ ‒Luke 11:28

Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! ‒Psalm 106:3

See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. ‒Deuteronomy 11:26-28

Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. ‒Deuteronomy 12:28

Do you know what God requires of you? Do you obey so you can be blessed?

God Promises Eternal life with Him to Those Who Do His Will

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

1John 2:17 “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

John 14:21 “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

The will of God is what He expects us to do, namely, that we love Him with all our strength, heart, mind, and soul (Luke 10:27-28). By obeying His commands, we prove our love for God. John 14:23 states, “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:31 states, “I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.” God also requires that we love others as Jesus loves them. 1John 3:23 states, “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”

Loving others is hard because we are all sinners and hurt one another. I discuss this in greater detail in my website book. When we obey the truth found in God’s Word, we purify our souls as we obey and forgive those who hurt us and let go of resentment, then we can love from a pure heart. 1Peter 1:22 states, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” To learn more about purifying your heart, read Love from a Pure Heart.

Conclusion

Obedience is difficult if you are self-centered, prideful, or don’t trust those in authority. But it is always best to obey God, not just for the rewards, but because He is good and knows our future and what is best for us. I don’t understand why God asked me to write because I never thought I was a good writer and didn’t know how to write. I obeyed, and I am still writing. I pray you are blessed by my writing and choose to obey God so you will be blessed with divine favor and spend eternity with Him.

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and what the truths are. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.