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AS IRON SHARPENS IRON, SO ONE WOMAN SHARPENS ANOTHER
ironwifey MAGAZINE
JOYFUL IS THE PERSON WHO FINDS
Wisdom THE ONE WHO GAINS
understanding
PROVERBS 3:13 NLT
WWW.IRONWIFEY.COM
As iron sharpens iron, so one woman sharpens another. October 2018, Issue 16 The Wisdom Issue
CEO: Jesus
Editor-in-Christ & Designer: Micayla Robertson
Editorial Editor: Denise Dandridge
Contributing Writers: Alisha Moore Denise Dandridge Elsonia Swarts Joanne Christian Micayla Robertson Ncediwe Mdlulwa
WIS DOM
As iron sharpens iron, so one woman sharpens another.
C O N T E N T S
GOT WISDOM? A Prayer For Wisdom | pg 4 MICAYLA ROBERTSON
I Choose, Therefore I Am | pg 7 DENISE DANDRIDGE The Power of W.O.W. | pg 10 JOANNE CHRISTIAN
Wise Up! | pg 13 ELSONIA SWARTS
Wisdom With Age | pg 16 ALISHA MOORE Saved + Wise | pg 18 NCEDIWE MDLULWA
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. - Proverbs 19:20
Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding. - Proverbs 4:7
Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? - Job 12:12
THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM IS THIS: GET
Wisdom
AND WHATEVER YOU GET, GET
insight - PROVERBS 4:7 (ESV)
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For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:6.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Thank you for reading the "Wisdom" issue of Ironwifey Magazine.
Since childhood, I have always been fascinated with wisdom. Whether it be words of wisdom, women of wisdom, or the biblical text that teaches wisdom, I remember reading the Bible and noticing that wisdom was a "she" and dedicated my life to being like her. She is more precious than rubies, she builds her home in the Lord, she inherits honor, and she is more profitable than silver and gold. By wisdom the LORD founded the earth and by understanding he created the heavens. Wisdom is key to becoming a virtuous woman, and she is a prime example of what all women should strive to become: Wise. But wisdom is only found in the Lord. Only by seeking Him and asking him for wisdom, can we gain this valuable treasure. Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find. God can grant us wisdom and understanding, just as he did for Solomon. I pray that this issue blesses you with a desire to seek God for wisdom. I pray that you grow in her, and that she transforms your life. I pray that she brings you a deeper understanding, and that you become the Wise woman you were created to be. Because of Her, we can. Get wisdom, and above all else, get insight. I leave you with a prayer for Wisdom. May the Lord be with you and bless you! With Love,
-Micayla Founder & Editor-in-Christ, IronWifey Magazine
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A PRAYER FOR
Wisdom
Heavenly Father, Thank you for blessing me with another day to walk in your will. Your Word says that if any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men freely and it shall be given him. I come before you seeking more wisdom, more understanding, and more of you. Please bless me with wisdom from above that is first pure, then peaceful, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruit, and without partiality or hypocrisy. Give me wisdom that is far better than rubies, and incomparable. As I trust in you with my whole heart, I will not lean on my own understanding, for I will acknowledge you in all that I do and follow your lead. I will not be wise in my own eyes, but I will fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Please heal my flesh, refresh my bones, and bless me with the wisdom of Solomon that transcends the wisest of the lands. Wisdom is principal; therefore I ask for wisdom and above all I ask for understanding. In Jesus Name, Amen James 1:5 | James 3:17 | Proverbs 8:11 | Proverbs 3:5-8 | 1 Kings 4:30 | Proverbs 4:7
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A WISE WOMAN BUILDS HER HOME, BUT A FOOLISH WOMAN TEARS IT DOWN WITH HER OWN HANDS. - PROVERBS 14:1(NLT)
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I CHOOSE, THERFORE I AM BY: DENISE DANDRIDGE
I choose therefore i am R
eflecting back to my childhood, I have always chuckled to myself when I heard the coined phrase, "wise old owl". I envisioned a bird perched on a branch with large eyes, spectacles, and a college graduation cap, licking a tootsie roll sucker to see how many licks it would take to get to it’s center. I can recall questioning what was it about this particular owl that warranted such high regard? What decisions had it made in the course of its existence that caused it to stand out amongst other birds in its species as being all knowing and all thinking. I later learned in life that making wise decisions is far more than computing, reasoning and analyzing. Looking at the outcome of wisdom in reverse from result to origin, wisdom in an earthly sense comes from discernment, discernment from knowledge and experience, knowledge and experience comes from understanding, and understanding from studying.
So in order to make a well informed, wise decision regardless of the topic, an individual must first have all of the information available . He/She must then study the information, gain understanding of it, and apply any experiences that have been obtained to it. This in turn will allow the person to discern the viability of it and only then should a decision be made. Having grown and matured spiritually, I have come to realize that a similar process holds true with the Bible. The Bible is the roadmap that God left on earth for us to serve as our guide to obtaining wisdom and salvation. Every page is filled with every emotion, experience and situation known to man. 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJB) states; "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Joshua 1:8 (NLT) encourages the reader to,
"Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” IRONWIFEY.COM | PAGE 7
God has already gone before each of us and cleared our path, so it is futile to attempt to reinvent a decision making wheel when God has already done it for us to perfection. The wisdom and discernment that is obtained through immersing yourself totally in the Word of God flows up from the deepest recesses of your mind and soul. It is a culmination of all that you think and believe. Spiritual wisdom reflects the knowledge that God has placed within you and it, along with your consciousness that the Holy Spirit directs, is what guides and tunes your moral compass. When we are faced with life’s many challenges we are forced to look within to resolve them. It is that God given spirit of discernment that allows us to see through a situation so that we can better assess every aspect of it. Wisdom, versus the reactivity of our earthly emotions creates a more direct path to drawing more sound conclusions.
I choose
Studying God’s Word is the only way that we can fully grasp all of the knowledge and wisdom that He wants to give us. But along with studying we must have faith and belief that His Word is true.
I AM Rene Descartes, a French Philosopher stated, “I think therefore I am” but I would like to add to that quote, I Choose, Therefore I Am. If our Heavenly Father sets before us both good and evil and instructs us to choose, then I choose to accept the reward of Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV: “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”. I chose to seek wisdom, for “wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.” (Proverbs 3:18 NLT) And above all else, I choose Christ and this is what God has testified: "He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.’ (1 John 5:11 NLT) The free-will that God affords each of us is something that should be revered and tempered with our responsibility. It should be the culmination of our knowledge seeking faith, our belief in our Lord, and our conviction and wisdom to follow the path and purpose that He has placed us on. Knowing without doubt that everything we are, or could ever hope to be comes from God.
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TUNE YOUR EARS TO WISDOM, AND CONCENTRATE ON UNDERSTANDING - MARK 16:15 NLT
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THE
WORDS OF WISDOM BY: JOANNE CHRISTIAN
UNDERSTANDING
POWER OF WORDS OF WISDOM
Words are power tools that can build and encourage. Words can also destroy and cause confusion. We have all been hurt and even defeated by words spoken in anger or by words rising out of a wounded and bitter heart. Solomon offered great wisdom concerning the use of words, “Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3 GW). If we do not learn to use and control our tongues, our tongues will use and control us. While it is true that we need to choose our words wisely, it is equally true that the tongue is a spiritual thermometer that reflects the condition of the heart. Matthew 12:34-35 mentions that the mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things. The words I speak reflect the true condition of my heart. Careless words can cause immeasurable grief, unless strained through discipline and holiness, they can convey false perspectives and untruths. However, the right words, spoken at the right time and in the right manner can bring order in the midst of confusion and light on a very dark path. I believe God gives us a spiritual “radar” so we can assess a situation and speak the right words for that circumstance. We just need to check the “radar screen” before we speak. The good news is that when we came into Christ we were clothed in His righteousness. His abilities became our abilities, His strengths became our strengths, and His wisdom became our wisdom. True humility is to recognize that it is only in and through Christ that we can do anything worthwhile. God gives us wisdom to make decisions and faith to trust Him. Don’t despair; stay on God’s path. You hear the phrase "God is in control", but do you truly believe that? We must learn not to respond based on our earthly feelings, but instead trust in how God will take on our challenges using His strategies. In the game of pool, each player can take more than one turn before the opponent takes his/her next turn. However, in the game of chess, you must know that when you attack; the enemy will always attack back. In chess and spiritual warfare, we must gain wisdom on what to move, where to move, when, and why. Through studying God’s Words of Wisdom and committing to his will, our Heavenly Father will insure that our pathways are illuminated, and the vulnerabilities that remain in our lives he will strengthen and protect us from any of the enemies future attacks. I'm not worried; in the end we'll win; and win big!
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THE LIPS OF THE GODLY SPEAK HELPFUL WORDS, BUT THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED SPEAKS PERVERSE WORDS. - PROVERBS 10:32 (NLT)
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TEACH US TO REALIZE THE BREVITY OF LIFE, SO THAT WE MAY GROW IN WISDOM - PSALMS 90:12 (NLT) PAGE 12Â | IRONWIFEY MAGAZINE
WISE UP! BY: ELSONIA SWARTS
The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame! Proverbs 3:35 nlt
Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. - Proverbs 18:4NLT
From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. - Proverbs 16:23 NLT
Aristotle, a famous philosopher and scientist once stated, “the greatest wisdom is to know yourself.” But how do you come to know yourself? I would say, by knowing how you came into being and by knowing your Creator. Thus you cannot truly know yourself if you don’t know your Maker, for we abide in him and he in us” (1 John 4:13 ESV) and we were created in his own image” (Genesis 1:27 ESV). Therefore, it is wise to know Him who created us. The Bible informs us that the foundation of wisdom is fearing and understanding the Lord, and that knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement. (Proverbs 9:10 ESV). So how do we come to understand and fear the Lord? Well, I would have to say by loving and acknowledging Christ as your Lord and savior and doing his will. “ Jesus replied, anyone who loves me will obey my teaching (John 14:23 NIV). 1 Kings 2:3 adds, “and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses”.
“Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Exodus 20:20 (NIV)
WISE
UP! The fear of the Lord helps us to trust in him instead of depending on our own discernment and our dedication and commitment deters us from entering into sin.
It is beneficial for us to be wise! and as it is written in Proverbs 9: 11-12 (NLT); “Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.” The awesome thing is that we can actually ask for wisdom. Solomon had the opportunity to ask God for anything but he chose to ask for wisdom: “The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, ‘Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies. I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!” 1 Kings 3:10-12 (NLT). Let’s wise up and know God. For it is in knowing him that we know ourselves. Let’s choose wisdom! IRONWIFEY.COM | PAGE 13
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FOR WISDOM IS MORE PROFITABLE THAN SILVER, AND HER WAGES ARE BETTER THAN GOLD. - PROVERBS 3:14 (NLT) IRONWIFEY.COM | PAGE 15
W
ith age comes wisdom, or at least it should for most of us. According to the word of God in Proverbs 18:15 (ESV), “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Life was destined after the fall in the garden of Eden to be difficult, formidable, and challenging. Our earthly existence throughout time has brought many distractions to the point that without obedience to God, and consistently seeking his truth and knowledge in spirit, those distractions will continue to multiply. It has taken me 50 years to fully understand Philippians 2:12 (ESV), “therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
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WISEDOM WITH AGE BY: ALISHA MOORE
On my 50th birthday, my life with God was literally on the line. I had to decide once and for all to either focus on the ones that dropped me, or focus on the One that never will. What I have learned along the way is that wisdom will cost you something and for some of us, everything! I had to be willing to give up my life, my desires, and my dreams for God so that I could gain a life with God that held true prosperity, abundance and ultimately my freedom. The freedom to no longer be bound by rejection, persecution, shame, guilt, judgement, offense and most importantly fear. Acquiring wisdom through the knowledge of God became the game changer as it changed my heart, and furthermore, changed the desires of my heart. It has given me a passion to no longer seek approval from people, but to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, so that ALL things may be added.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV) Where God subtracts, He increases. To hunger and thirst for true happiness through God is only found through wisdom. I am thankful to no longer be beholden to the unrealistic expectations of this world, but extremely grateful to have the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of the Holy Spirit. As my journey to fulfill God's purpose and plan for me continues with all of the anticipated ups and downs, flips and turns in life, I'm reminded of the Serenity Prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr: “God grant me the serenity (Peace Be Still) to accept the things I cannot change, the courage (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me) to change the things that I can, and the wisdom (I have the mind of Christ) to know the difference.” Amen Photo by Pablo Merchan Montes on Unsplash
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SAVED + WISE BY: NCEDIWE MDLULWA
saved+wise
Proverbs 1:7 (NLT) states, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Psalms 111:10 in the Berean Study Bible adds; “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have a rich understanding. His praise endures forever!” The most immense theme that comes to mind regarding wisdom through fearing the Lord, is the idea of salvation. Which is something I truly believe. Jesus of Nazareth absorbed God’s wrath on Mount Calvary to demonstrate obedience, and that we should keep God’s commands. Because of Christ’s sacrifice we are saved from sin, our immoralities, evil and wrong doings.“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him” Romans 5:9 (NIV). Because of Christ’s sacrifice we are saved to serve and to make the glory of God manifest. “But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you” 1 Samuel 12:24 (NIV).
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
W
isdom, as defined by Google, is; “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement; the quality of being wise. Furthermore, the ability to think and act using knowledge and experience.“ Because the concept of wisdom emanates from the Bible, the only way to acquire true knowledge and experience is by studying the word of God. PAGE 18 | IRONWIFEY MAGAZINE
Because of Christ’s sacrifice we are saved for good works to minister to others and spread the Good news of Jesus Christ. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV). Finally because of Christ’s sacrifice we are saved by the grace of God, His unmerited grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God” Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) Existence without the fear of God is the same as having no knowledge of God, thus, no wisdom and understanding.
The story of King Solomon depicts what happens when we do not walk in obedience or do not keep God’s commands. King Solomon was given the wisdom that he requested from God, but with the condition that he walked in obedience to God’s commands. However, King Solomon stumbled along the way. King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.� Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 1 Kings 11:1-3 (NIV) King Solomon turned away from God and even though he was wise he was deceived by his own sin. He very quickly found out the dangers of disobedience and what results from not putting God first. I also have had this realization that I am like Solomon. I have stumbled and fallen as a consequence of not walking in obedience which was a direct result to my unwillingness to follow God's command. However, I now understand the importance of listening to God. In the Book of Revelations, the bible speaks about how vital it is to accept God's call as he knocks at the door (Rev 3:20). We must invite Him into our hearts and turn away from our old ways, in order to turn towards God and acquire wisdom and knowledge in the Lord.
“And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.â€? 1 kings 3:14(NIV) Life and salvation is promised to us if we keep God’s commands, just as wisdom is provided to us if we ask for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.â€? James 1:5 (ESV). I asked the Lord for Wisdom, and it was given to me. Through IronWifey I have acquired a desire to seek Wisdom and above all else, seek the Kingdom of God, and I must say that I have truly grown in my walk with Christ. Therefore, I pray for this ministry . To the CEO of IronWifey, King Jesus, I would like to personally express gratitude for helping me to acquire wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God through this platform. I pray for nothing but wisdom and strength to continually demonstrate determination and dedication to this ministry of serving God and others. To the Editor and Founder, I thank God for the wisdom given to you particularly for being used by God in this way. May you not grow weary but grow in wisdom to continually serve him. I completely concur with what Hebrews 6:10 (NIV) states: “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.â€? Amen đ&#x;˜Š
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