Who Is Wise?

"I thought, "age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom."  But it is the Spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.  It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right." - Job 32:7-9

     Although with age also comes wisdom, this is not always the case.  There are those who are young yet wise, but there are also those who are old and no wiser than when they were a child.  They are smarter, but not wiser.  You see, knowledge can be taught, but wisdom is from God.  God teaches us how to be wise and grants us understanding.  If we will ask Him to increase our understanding as young adults and teens then even the young may become wise.  It is said that experience is the best teacher, but I think God and His Spirit are.  Wisdom is the best teacher.

     Ask God to increase your wisdom and understanding so that you are able to make good and wise decisions in this life.  Ask for God's wisdom to help you follow Him.  "For every good and perfect gift is from above."-James 1:17

     Dear God,
We know that your ways are higher than ours, so we ask that you increase our understanding of your word and your plan for our lives.  We also ask for wisdom in the coming months to discern between the right and the wrong. We know you love us and have promised in your word to give good gifts to your children.  So we come before you now and pray for the gift of wisdom.  All of our hope, trust, and faith is in you and you alone.
     Amen

God's Plan

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord."- Jeremiah 29:11

     God has a specific plan for each of us, a calling on our lives.  From the moment we are conceived He knows exactly what He wants for us.  But it is a choice on our part.  God's plan for us is like a free gift, we can either accept it or we can choose to leave it with Him and go our own way.  But God's plan for us is far better and greater than we could ever imagine.  God knows His plans for us, but it's important for us to listen so that we can fulfill them, because if we don't, then He will call someone else. I once heard this story about a missionary pastor who was called to reach out to a church.  He was praying to God one night and he said something to God about being called to that church.  Then God told him that he was not the first person He had called.  So the pastor asked if he was the second or third? God then told him that he was the eighth pastor He had called.  We can't let our walk with Christ and His plan for us become like those seven pastor's who chose their way over God's.

     Listen for God's call and plan on your life.  Don't ignore it or turn away from it because it's not what you were expecting.  Be open to receive what God has for you! Because the truth is, His plan for you is more than you could ever hope for, and true fulfillment will only come when we are in God's will.

     Dear God,
I know you have a specific and special calling on each of our lives.  Help us to listen to your voice and pursue/fulfill your plan for us.  Help us not to make the wrong choice by turning away from you but to keep you at the center of our life.
     Amen  

The Goal Is Love

“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5

     As Christians, we are often told to love.  We are told to love as Christ loves us.  Yet, we are not truly told how to love.  How do we change our lives in order to have more love?  We must come to the realization that love is a choice, we choose to love or not to love those around us.  So where does this choice of love come from? 

     First, loving as Christ loves comes from a pure heart with no unforgiveness, no hatred or anger, and no bitterness.  If we keep these things in our heart, there is no longer room for Christ and His love, and without His love in our hearts, we cannot love as He loves.  

     Second, love comes from a heart that has not been corrupted by the world and its sinful desires.  This is not to say that we will never be exposed to the world, but we cannot allow ourselves to be swept up by the world.  Romans 12:2 says not to conform to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  We must possess a heart and mind that has been cleansed, and is continually cleansed by the reading of God’s word.

     Third, according to our scripture 1 Timothy 1:5, love comes from a good conscience. This can mean a conscience that is not burdened by secret sins not given up to the Lord, a conscience that knows the right thing to do and does it; one that knows the Word because it has spent time daily in it and with God.  How can we focus on God if we are too afraid of Him discovering some sin that has not been given to Him?  If we will only ask His forgiveness and repent (which means to never go back) He will be faithful and forgive us. Only then can we possess a clear conscience and draw nearer to our creator so that we might love as He loves.

     And finally, love comes from a sincere faith, a faith that can move mountains, and cannot be shaken.  “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen” (Hebrews 11:1).  So if love is a choice, it is like faith.  Even though we may not “feel” love, we choose to love, just as with faith, even though we cannot yet see, we choose to believe.  This is where our love as Christians comes from.  It comes from a pure heart, a heart that has not been corrupted, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.  In order to love as Christ loves us, we must learn these qualities.  We can begin by seeking God and asking Him to help us in these areas.  We must continue to spend time in His Word and presence so that we might grow closer to Him, grow in faith, and grow in love.

     Dear God,

I ask that you would show us how to cleanse our hearts and make us pure like you.  Help our faith in you to continually grow everyday so that we can be a light in this present darkness by showing the world your love.  Help our conscience to be good and right.  Speak to and through us, your children.  Give us the love you have for others so that we might reach the lost.

                                               Amen