Wisdom – Page 2 – Hope for Complete Healing

The Wise Person is Salt and Light

If you were to build a house in an earthquake or hurricane area, and you were advised to reinforce your house and build it on bedrock, would it be wise to ignore that advice? Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Much of what Jesus instructs us to do is very difficult for our fleshly minds to even comprehend. Why do you think it is wise to obey Jesus’s instructions in His sermon? I have some ideas, but if you would like to share our ideas, please leave a comment. You can find many explanations of the Beatitudes, so I will not address them. Jesus begins with the instruction to be the salt and light for the world. We are salt and light by showing our faith through our good works and giving glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-20). The reason we are salt and light in the world is so that our Father in heaven will be glorified. The Bible says in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

You can find many sermons about being the salt and light of the world, so most of us know what that means. My question is why aren’t we the salt and light of the world or how can we do better? So many Christians go about their public lives incognito, and they try to look and act like the world. When I go to the grocery store or to a sporting event, do people see my light and does my behavior leave a good flavor in their minds? Remember that our light dispels darkness and reveals sin. The saltiness makes our lives and messages pleasant and draws people to want more of what we have to offer, which is hope and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have a few suggestions for how we can wisely let our light shine and be the salt of the world without turning people away. Colossians 4:6 states, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

1) Be patient with people who are impatient or acting sinful. Give others preference and don’t insist on things being your way (Phil 2:3-4).

2) Show humility to others by not arrogantly boasting, but being gracious and helpful (James 3:13).

3) Show kindness or say kind words to those acting like a jerk and not quarrel with them (2Tim. 2:24-26).

4) Ask people how they are doing? Give a word of encouragement and a message of hope to someone who is anxious or worried (2Cor. 1:4).

5) Be gentle with everyone, even those who annoy you (Phil 4:5).

6) Don’t be afraid to ask someone how you can pray for them (Col. 1:9).

7) Be thankful instead of complaining (Col. 3:15).

8) Be quick to forgive and offer grace instead of judgment.

These are not all the salt and light actions you can do or be, and some may be difficult for you because of the hurt in your heart. As you know, what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. Matthew 12:34b–37 states, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil [sinful, self-centered] person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Are your speech and actions hurtful or helpful? Are your thoughts focused on good things or things you dislike? Do painful memories of abuse, injustice, betrayal, rejection, etc. fill your heart with painful feelings? If you are honest, your answer will reveal the condition of your heart. To learn more about the power of thoughts visit, POSTS on Thoughts page. Painful memories keep you stuck in hurtful patterns of behavior. The Hope for Complete Healing booklet on my website helps you find painful memories and unhealthy beliefs so God can heal your heart and be salt and light in the world. If you do not heal these painful memories, then they will control your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behavior and you can’t be salt and light.

Does what you say and do bring glory to God?

God Bless you.

Joyce

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. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Check out my latest book Breaking Mental Strongholds which you can order on Amazon. To learn more about it, read my post called Breaking Mental Strongholds Book. Also, check out Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. To learn more about this book, read: 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, 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.

How to be Wise

I completed a series of posts on what wisdom is, where it comes from, and what a wise person looks like. If you haven’t read these posts, you can find them in the Mystery of Wisdom Summary post. But how do we apply wisdom? The following Scripture passage is a song that almost everyone knows. Read this passage and guess the song. If you know the song, sing it loud and include the motions if you know them.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” ̶ Matthew 7:24-27.

This passage is the last instruction in Jesus’s first sermon. Since Jesus is God’s son and is God. Colossians 1:19-20 states, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Jesus taught in His first sermon what He expects of us if we were to follow Him and be wise.

Building on a rock gives your house a solid foundation. The house is our spiritual life, and the rock is Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:11 states, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” You can obey Jesus’s instructions and build your spiritual lives on His truths, or you can ignore His instructions and build your life on the sands of human opinions, unhealthy beliefs, and worldly wisdom. The storms of life will expose what you built your life on.

Jesus says a lot of hard-to-do instructions in this sermon, but know that He is with you and will help you when you humbly call on His name. Many of the difficult instructions relate to our pride and our need for God to give us a new heart. We will learn more about each instruction in subsequent posts. Let us review Jesus’s instructions in His first sermon in Matthew chapters 5-7.

5:1-12 ̶ Jesus begins with nine blessings for the following conditions:

a) the poor in spirit;

b) those who mourn;

c) the gentle;

d) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness;

e) the merciful;

f) the pure in heart;

g) the peacemakers;

h) those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness;

i) those who are insulted, persecuted, and falsely accused because of Jesus.

5:13-20 – We are to be the salt and light for the world by showing our faith by our good works and giving glory to our Father in heaven.

5:21-26 – Do not murder or be angry and insult a fellow Christian; instead, be reconciled to them.

5:27-32 – Do not lust because even if you have a lustful intent toward someone, you have committed adultery. Remove whatever is causing you to lust, such as the internet, books, movies, etc., and avoid places that tempt you to lust. Because of our lust, we are tempted to commit adultery, leading to divorce, though Jesus discourages divorce.

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

5:38-42 – Do not retaliate. Give to those who ask.

5:43-48 – 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.” This sounds impossible, but with God’s divine power in us, we can be perfect if we obey God’s laws. See 2Peter 1:3-12

6:1-4 – Do not practice your righteousness to be noticed by others. Don’t let people see you giving to the needy.

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

6:16-18 – Do not fast to be noticed by others.

6:19-24 – Serve God, not money. Do not focus on money and metaphorically blind your eyes.

6:25-34 – Do not be anxious (concerned) about anything but seek first God’s kingdom.

7:1-6 – Don’t judge, but first remove the log from your own eye.

7:7-11 – Ask, seek, and knock through prayer and expect answers.

7:12 – Treat others as you would have them treat you.

7:13-14 – Enter by the narrow gate and not by the wide gate that leads to destruction.

7:15-20 – Recognize false teachers by their fruit and avoid them.

7:21-23 – Do your heavenly Father’s will.

7:24-27 – Do all that I have instructed you and you will be wise.

Most importantly, do you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, then love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:36-40 and Luke 10:27)?

May God bless you richly as you obey Him.

Mystery of Wisdom Summary

How much do you know about wisdom? To know if you are wise, see if you can answer the following questions? Click the link for a reminder.

___ What are the five differences between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom? See Part 1.

___ What are the nine benefits of fearing God and how do they relate to wisdom? See Part 2.

___ Where do you get wisdom, or do you rely on your understanding? Why? See Part 3.

___ List the six ways a person can be foolish or wise. See Part 4.

___ What are the seventeen instructions from Jesus that increase your wisdom? See Part 5.

___ What are the seven ways to cultivate wisdom in your life? See Part 6.

___ What are the five benefits of having wisdom? See Part 7.

___ Can you list 10 out of 32 attributes of a wise person? See Part 8.

How did you do on this quiz? I pray you have a better understanding of what wisdom is, how to get it, how to cultivate it, and who keeps wisdom. I wrote this series of posts to learn what wisdom was and to recognize my false beliefs about wisdom. We learned a lot about wisdom, but how do we apply it? In the next series of posts, I will expose harmful beliefs that lead to unwise decisions.

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.

Who shows wisdom? – Part 8

Would you agree that knowing about wisdom and having understanding does not mean you are wise at making good decisions? Do you want to exercise wisdom through what you say and do? Can someone testify that you are wise in what you say or do? King Solomon was known to be the wisest man ever to live. He wanted wisdom more than riches. Why? He asked God for wisdom. Are you asking God for wisdom? 1Kings 10:24 states, “And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.”

Have you read the other posts about wisdom to know if you are wise? Wisdom only comes from God, and it begins when you fear God by turning from evil and doing what is right. James 3:13 explains that a wise person is humble and does good towards others, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness [humility] of wisdom.” Also, Ecclesiastes 8:1 states, “Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.”

Can you say you have the following attributes of a wise person?

1. Do you have understanding? A wise person shows wisdom through understanding. Do you try to understand another person’s circumstances? Do you know the Word of God? Do you understand how you should conduct your life in the fear of God? Do you have the common sense that comes from obeying the commands of God?

Proverbs 14:33; Wisdom rests in a man’s heart of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

Proverbs 10:13; On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

Proverbs 10:23; Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

Proverbs 14:6; A scoffer[mocker] seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

Proverbs 15:33; The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

2. Are you humble? A wise person is humble, which is evident in how they speak. Humility shows strength in being self-controlled and not thinking of yourself more highly than another person (Rom. 12:3 and Phil 2:3). A wise and humble person does what is right and does not brag, nor are they arrogant.

Proverbs 10:31; The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

Why do the righteous, which are those who have Christ Jesus in their hearts (1Jn 2:29), speak wisdom?

Proverbs 11:2; When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

3. Do you show good judgment in choosing the right thing to do? A fool cannot grasp the right thing to do. A wise person also listens to wise advice to make the right decision.

Proverbs 10:8; The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Proverbs 12:15; The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 17:24; The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Colossians 4:5; Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

How do you walk in wisdom to make the best use of your time?

4. Do you obey God? A wise person reads the words of God and does what God commands. They do what God commands and tells others about God’s instructions on living a life of wisdom.

Proverbs 9:9; Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Colossians 3:16a; Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.

How do you let the Word of God dwell in you?

Matthew 7:24, Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Why is building on the rock significant?

Wise person and a foolish person comparison, which side are you on?

Proverbs 9:8; Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. (Do you get upset when someone corrects you, or do you thank them?)

Proverbs 12:16; The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Proverbs 14:3; By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Proverbs 14:7; Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Proverbs 14:16; One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

Proverbs 15:20; A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Proverbs 17:28; Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 18:2; A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Proverbs 18:7; A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Proverbs 20:3; It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

Proverbs 21:20; Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Proverbs 23:9; Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Proverbs 28:26; Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Proverbs 29:9; If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Proverbs 29:11; A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Ecclesiastes 10:2; A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.

Conclusion

Wisdom only comes from God, so seek Him to have the spirit of wisdom. The Bible refers to wisdom as a feminine spirit. Proverbs 8:11 states, “For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” Do you desire wisdom more than anything else? Do you desire the spirit of wisdom and understanding to rest on you? Isaiah 11:2 explains, “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” Can you say you have the spirit of wisdom, or do you act like a fool?

RELATED POST:

Wise Thoughts vs. Foolish Thoughts

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.

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, 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.

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

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 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

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 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.

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 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

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 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

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 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.