God’s Wisdom . . .
For a Thirsty Soul O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Psalm 63:1
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avid, the shepherd boy who became king of Israel, had a vibrant relationship with God, and this verse gives us a glimpse as
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to why. In the ups and downs and twists and turns of his life, he had one constant—prayer. But it wasn’t out of mechanical obligation. It stemmed from a deep understanding that he needed God. His flesh longed for God; his very soul thirsted for him. He couldn’t wait to seek him out; he couldn’t afford to wait. David sought the Lord first thing so that all else could be ordered aright; he sought him as a way of life. We might be inclined to run to God in times of trouble, when we feel weak and vulnerable. But we cultivate a strong relationship only when we recognize our constant need of him. The truth is, whether we know it or not, our flesh is always weak and vulnerable. And we live in a “dry and thirsty land” (Psalm 63:1) in which we’re promised to always have trouble (John 16:33). But prayer keeps us connected to power, grace, joy, and peace. Prayer helps us to abide daily in the Lord. Prayer reminds us that though people let us down, there is One who will never leave us nor 2
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forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Prayer focuses our hearts and minds on what truly matters. When our prayer life becomes as natural as breathing, we can’t help but walk in victory.
ef Practical Application fe With so many demands on our time, a vibrant prayer life can fall by the wayside. But it’s not about setting aside the same number of minutes at the same time every day. Prayer simply means talking to God, anytime, anyplace. No matter the circumstance, turn to him. He’s waiting.
ef Prayer fe Lord, thank you for inviting us to run to your throne of grace. Cultivate in me the precious habit of prayer, that I may maintain a strong relationship with you.
—Kim Cash Tate
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God’s Wisdom . . .
Is Really Needed
ef • fe Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Proverbs 4:5–9
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Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3–4
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. Proverbs 9:1–6
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Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Proverbs 3:7–8
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:5–6
Incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:2–5
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If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5–6
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3–4
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1
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God’s Wisdom . . .
Is required
ef • fe For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. Proverbs 2:6–9
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! Proverbs 16:16
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Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? . . . Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 8:1, 4–11
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I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. Proverbs 8:12–14
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 1 Corinthians 3:18–20
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For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:26
But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Psalm 37:39–40
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