Verse of the day: Numbers 27:5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD.
Where do we draw wisdom from? When we find ourselves on a path that we have never walked before, who do we turn to for wisdom and guidance? The biggest mistake we can make as God’s children is to make decisions on our own without turning to the Lord. Sadly, that usually involves trusting someone, oftentimes, who does not even know the Lord, or someone who spends little time with the Lord personally. This is usually a recipe for potential disaster. James 1:5-8 tells us, in respect to allowing the trials of life to be profitable, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” God should always be the first Person we turn to when things go sideways and we do not know what to do. The daughters of Zelophehad went to Moses about their coming inheritance once they entered the Promise Land, because Zelophehad had no sons. Moses, although he was a leader, and had been making decisions throughout Israel’s wanderings, did not think more of himself in thinking that he could resolve this issue in his own wisdom. Instead, he showed great wisdom by turning to God. We must not be lulled into thinking that just because we read our Bibles every day, or hold a position of leadership amongst God’s people, that we have all the answers; and even if we already think we know which way to go, we should still turn to the Lord in prayer and search His Word to confirm that the path we are about to embark on is the one God desires for us. I am reminded of two instances where men of God assumed they knew what God wanted when they made decisions, but found out soon thereafter that they were mistaken. The first was Nathan. In 2 Samuel 7:1-3 tells us, “Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.’ 3 Then Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.’” In that same chapter, verses 4-17 tell us that the Lord went to Nathan that very night and corrected his assumptions about King David building the Temple, and sent him back to the king with His plan for who would build the Temple. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul set out to do something that in his mind would be honoring to God, and was certainly not the wrong thing to do, in and of itself, but God had different plans. In Acts 16:6-10, the Holy Spirit forbid Paul from preaching in Asia and Bithynia, but instead led him to Macedonia. This was not because God did not want the Gospel preached in those places; but we must remember that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and He always knows which is the best route for us to take, and what are the best choices to make, when we are serving Him and walking the path He has set for us. God always knows the best advice to give others when they come to us, but we must be willing to say, “Let me pray about this and get back to you.” There is much wisdom in not always being so quick to give an answer just to boost our own ego or get a pat on the back, if things work out well. The bottom line is that we must be continually seeking God in the decisions we make each day, because our choices not only affect us, but potentially, and almost always, affect others (for both good and bad). Even when an immediate answer is required, we can pray and ask God for guidance and favor. Nehemiah, when he went before the king to request that he be sent to Judah to rebuild the broken-down wall, said a prayer as he was going to make that request. Nehemiah 2:4 tells us this about what he did just before he spoke, “So I prayed to the God of Heaven.” The bottom line is that we should always be mindful of God’s presence in our lives, and the fact that He is always ready to hear from us and give us guidance, if we take the time to seek Him. The best advice we can follow in seeking God’s wisdom and guidance is found in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Psalm 119:105 also tells us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God will always receive the greatest glory when we apply His wisdom and follow His path.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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