Why We Should Pray for Wisdom by Sonia McDonald
Wisdom is mentioned 234 times throughout the Bible. The word wise is used 234 times. Hence the acquisition of this gift is important to Yehovah.
The biblical definition of wisdom is not just intellect or mere knowledge, it involves evaluating things in terms of God’s biblical principles and then using discernment. Our spiritual journey is about putting this wisdom and discernment into action in our everyday lives, making sure we make wise choices for our Spiritual health, as we are the temple of God.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
This indicates that we need to be respectful and in awe of our Almighty God and His power and have a healthy fear of His power and might, walking humbly before Him. These characteristics once acquired allow for the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom in turn, helps us to gain knowledge of the Holy One, which gives us understanding of the Truth. All necessities in our walk with Yehovah.
Many of the Proverbs link the fear of God, and humility with being able to acquire biblical wisdom:
Proverbs 15.33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility
God loves a humble heart, as it is almost impossible for a prideful person to learn and take correction. We are to believe what God tells us in His Word and accept it as a child would.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: I hate pride, and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverse mouth
Because we know Yehovah hates pride, arrogance, evil ways and perversity, so we too must hate those things, and have the wisdom and discernment to be easily able to identify them within ourselves first, and repent thereof, and then in others that we may be around, so we too aren’t allured into the same dark paths.
Proverbs 9: 23 The fear of the Lord tends to life and the one who has it shall dwell satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
We must have a healthy fear of The Almighty, which is the beginning of wisdom.
- First fear the Almighty,
- Awesome and Mighty.
- Pray for Wisdom
- Then expect it to come!
King Solomon was by far the wisest man on Earth, blessed by God with this precious gift. To start with he walked humbly and respectfully before God, with a healthy fear and wanting to please God. Then after he lived very luxuriously, and peacefully for many years, due to blessings from God, he lost some of that humility and fear and the wisest man on Earth started to lack the discernment of God’s teachings. Solomon had many foreign wives and concubines, which the Bible warned them not to do, as it would lead their hearts astray and they would worship foreign gods. He also gathered many horses and chariots to himself, instead of relying on God, he thought he would equip himself with strong horses. Solomon introduced idol worship to the Israelites, in an attempt to keep his foreign wives happy. How did this happen? Did God remove the gift of wisdom from Solomon, because he didn’t walk fearfully and humbly before Him? He became arrogant, and ignored God’s commandments, statues and guidelines, even to the point of building a worship place for Molech among many other gods. It is such a sad story. Hopefully by the end of his life, he repented and turned back to the One, True Living God.
We too must ensure that we do not make the same mistake Solomon made, that when things are either going really well or going poorly, we must always keep close to God, walk humbly with Him, and follow His instructions, praying always for wisdom and discernment.
Yehovah thought so much of the quality/gift of wisdom that a section of the bible is dedicated to the personification of WISDOM. It is a divine attribute and provides us with the guidance and understanding to live our lives in a Godly manner. The Holy Spirit guides and leads us with this divine gift of wisdom, understanding and discernment.
Proverbs 8: The Excellence of Wisdom
Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O you [b]simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
20 I]traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the ]fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
God is Wisdom, His Wisdom encompasses all realms and facets of life: creation, knowledge, righteousness, goodness, love, power, might, all the fruit of the Spirit, eternal life, discernment and so much more that words can’t express. We can rely on God’s Wisdom, to do what is needed to be done at exactly the appropriate time, and to work on each of His children in a way that only He knows is best for us, individually. His Wisdom shines through in every situation and circumstance we find ourselves in, and it all works out ultimately for our good as He has the big picture in mind and knows the end from the beginning. He is training us for a wonderful eternal future as part of His Family, as His beloved children. No matter what we endure in this lifetime, what a magnificent future The Eternal has in store for us. It is such a blessing to be called, how merciful is our Father to call the weak and lowly of the world.
We need to pray to God in humility and fear, for the precious gift of wisdom and discernment.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who will give generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given you.
May God bless us all, my sisters in Christ with His precious gift of Wisdom, as He keeps us and protects us under His merciful wings.
