Wisdom calls out

Proverbs 8:1 (NIV) says, ‘Does not wisdom call out?’

Wouldn’t it be great if Godly wisdom came via a God App that had an automatic alert system whenever we needed help. We find ourselves in a situation where we need wisdom and ‘PING’, our ‘Wisdom app’ from God goes off with just the right advice. Do this, don’t do that. Say this, don’t say that. Stop talking. What a life saver that would be – saving us from some ‘whoops’ moments? 

Our phone is full of Apps right? If you had a look at your phone history today, where would you say your wisdom comes from? 

Take a quick look now and ask yourself these questions. What does my google search engine tell me about the information I am collecting on my phone (or computer), and is it giving me the right advice/wisdom? Who do I text message when I need wisdom?

Is wisdom coming from your phone? 

Scripture tells us that wisdom calls out. If wisdom calls out, are we hearing it from the right sources?

Proverbs 2:6 (ERV) says, ‘The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.’

If the source of all wisdom is from God, how do we hear it?

Psalm 46:10 says, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ 

The way we will hear wisdom is in our stillness. It is in our stillness God has a place to speak, and it is in our stillness, we are open to listen. It’s here we hear Him call out His wisdom into our spirit. 

What about the noise? The enemy does not want you in direct communication with the God of wisdom, therefore you have to be deliberate about creating a space for stillness. For me, playing Christian instrumental music blocks out the unwanted sounds and voices vying for my attention. For you, it may be complete silence in an isolated space, or perhaps you prefer playing the spoken Word of God to you. Whatever works for you, know it takes perserverence and discipline.

Proverbs 24:3-4 tells us, ‘By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.‘

There are 3 things which have helped me build wisdom. Hindsight, insight and foresight. In sharing these 3 areas don’t think I have it all together. I still mess up and that’s because I am not God. Only He is the perfect One. I thank God for His grace.

1 – Building with HINDSIGHT

Hindsight is a great wisdom builder. Reflecting on how I have NOT done things with wisdom in the past gives me perspective on how I would have done things differently had I had the opportunity again. Our history (hindsight) is a great teacher. I am sure you can think of a situation even now where you thought, ‘If only I could go back and do/say that differently.’ My question to you is, ‘What hindsight situations have you learnt from?’ Those lessons are your building blocks of wisdom. A key to you and I learning from hindsight is awareness. Once we become aware of the wiser choice from past situations, we become responsible to put that wisdom into practice going forward. Change will come when we become aware. Awareness is a game changer and hindsight is a great teacher.

2 – Building with INSIGHT

Insight is another profitable wisdom builder. Insight has taught me what I am responsible for and what I am not. I have always had a ‘black belt’ in control. I felt I needed to fix everything in everyone’s world lest their world, and maybe even my world, fell apart.

Insight is wisdom in knowing what we are to act on and what we are not to. What we should speak into and what we should not, understanding that we don’t have to be everyone’s answer.

We had several major incidents happen in our family during a period of time that I literally could do nothing about. I found myself drowning because my ‘black belt’ in control was not working. It wasn’t until the Holy Spirit got my attention and spoke into my spirit saying, ‘Deb, who told you that you are the burden carrier? That is Jesus’ portfolio, not yours. Jesus promised us in His Word that any burden we carry will be light. This means if it’s a heavy burden, it belongs to Him.

Matthew 11: 28 – 30 says: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’  

What the Holy Spirit taught me was this: Leave what only Jesus can do at the foot of the cross because He is more than able to do what you cannot do. From a practical perspective, He told me, ‘I have graced you for certain things and there are others in your world I have bestowed gifts and abilities on to speak into situations that you cannot.’ I had to learn to be ok with that.

Only pick up what you know is right for you to pick up – what is helpful, fruitful, and relationship building. (My book – Out of Control unpacks this whole subject).

3 – Building with FORESIGHT

Foresight is a valuable wisdom builder. Having the foresight of knowing the Word of God is the best weapon of choice in any given situation, has saved me fruitless time and energy of trying to do things in my own strength. Allowing the Word of God to soak into my daily life has germinated seeds of wisdom and become my best defence in times of need. From experience, I know the power, authority, hope, love and victory that comes when standing firmly on the Word of God. It anchors me until breakthrough comes.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, he used Scripture to try and trip Jesus up, but Jesus was able to trump Satan using Scripture also. Both used Scripture, but what gave Jesus the upper hand? The difference was that although Satan may have known the Word of God, he wasn’t immersed in the Word of God. Jesus was full of the Word of God because He was fully immersed in the Word of God – and He is the Word of God. 

Wisdom does cry out. Can you hear it?

Deb