Ask for Wisdom

Book stock photo“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.” — Abraham Lincoln

“So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9 HCSB).

At twenty Solomon became the King of Israel. His youth and inexperience could topple his kingdom. He cried out for God’s help. God appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Ask. What should I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5). What would Solomon chose? Wealth? Power? A larger kingdom? Personal strength? Long life? You name it. Solomoncould have it. Solomon chose an obedient and discerning heart-one that is attentive and responsive, one that is able to listen to the truth and apply it, one that sees beneath the surface and looks with insight into people, things, and God. Sometimes it goes by its nickname, good judgment. We often call it wisdom.

Wisdom pays. Issues are rarely black and white; they are usually a shade of gray. Every day we are faced with personal decisions or overwhelming problems or delicate family issues or angry people or tense situations where wisdom is needed.

God will give us wisdom as he did Solomon, if we’ll heed his principles. First, recognize that wisdom comes from God. If we want wisdom, we must seek it from its proper source, God himself. Second, pray for wisdom. God has promised to give us wisdom if we ask. Then, read and meditate on God’s Word. When we know God’s Word we can apply God’s Word into those gray areas. Also, hear and heed the counsel of respected people. Wise counselors have been through experiences and endured trials we have not yet encountered. They are able to look at our situations more objectively and with varied perspectives.

Like Solomon, ask for wisdom. Follow godly principles. And, you, too, will have an obedient and discerning heart.

About Rick Ezell

I am a husband, father, pastor, and writer. This blog is about shaping character, transforming church, and impacting culture. I believe that if one defines their moments then their moments will determine their character and their character will influence their world. I write on personal development, church leadership, and our changing culture. I also write about the resources I am developing and the books I am writing. My goal is to create challenging, relevant, and inspiring content that will help you be a better person, the church be a better parish, and the world a better place. If you are interested in those things, this blog is for you. I have served the church my entire career as a student minister and senior pastor. I studied at Samford University, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (eventually I will get it). I have written eight books. My most recent ones are Chapter 13: The Excellence of Love and Soul Therapy: The Healing Words of Psalm 23. Both are available as eBooks. I have written over 1000 articles for various local, regional, and national publications. I have been married to Cindy for thirty-three years. We have one wonderful daughter. We live in Greenville, SC. In my free time, I enjoy writing, reading, running, tennis, and golf. You can contact me via email or follow me on Twitter or Facebook. This is my personal blog. The opinions I express here do not necessarily represent those of my employer. The information I provide is on an as-is basis. I make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.
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