Happy Tuesday!
As I was praying today, I thought back over some of the things I spoke to the graduates on Sunday morning at Destiny Family Center. I scanned back over the last 18 years of my life, considering how much I have CHANGED! If you haven’t done this in a while, you should. It’s a VERY encouraging exercise!
When Emily and I got married on August 11, 1990, and began walking with God six months and six days later… at the ages of 19 and 17, we had VERY LITTLE WISDOM between the two of us. We were ambitious and IN LOVE, and that was about it!
Over the past 18 years, we have made quite a few pretty stupid moves. Can I get a LOUD amen here? I bet we all wish that we could go back and RELIVE our past 18 years with the EXPERIENCE WE HAVE TODAY!
Proverbs 3:13-14 Blessed is the man who finds WISDOM, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
I sat in front of world renowned business coach, Mike Ferry about 12 years ago… he held a conference around the time of his 50th birthday celebration. During this conference, Mike explained how that he was turning 50… and unlike almost EVERY other person I have EVER consoled through the 50 mark, Mike shocked us all with these profound words: Over the past 50 years, I feel like I have gained the WISDOM I need to achieve real success. And since I anticipate living to 100, I have written a PLAN for the next 50 years of my life! (Then Mike proceeded to give us his plan for accelerated achievement from 50-100)
Of course this was spoken at a business conference through a business paradigm… but the principle is profound still yet!
We should pay far more attention to the lessons God is trying to teach us through everyday life… and become FAR MORE DEDICATED to the art of becoming WISE!
While I firmly believe that followers of Christ can borrow from, and live in, THE WISDOM OF GOD (through spiritual impartation), I also believe that God wants us to PAY ATTENTION to life and GROW IN NATURAL WISDOM.
I also believe that we can ACCELERATE our wisdom… and become WISE BEYOND OUR YEARS! This happens when a person REALLY UNDERSTANDS the PRIZED VALUE of WISDOM and CONSCIOUSLY ENROLS IN THE SCHOOL OF WISDOM.
We should value wise friends:
Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the WISE and become WISE; associate with fools and get in trouble.
We should search for wisdom in all circumstances as one would search for a treasure:
Proverbs 3:13-14 Blessed is the man who FINDS WISDOM, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
We should pay money for education and mentorship:
Proverbs 4:6-8 Do not forsake WISDOM, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. WISDOM is supreme; therefore get WISDOM. Though IT COST all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
We should consume the Words of God and pray several times a day, knowing that all wisdom originates with God:
Proverbs 9:9-11 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. FEAR OF THE LORD is the FOUNDATION of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Wisdom will multiply your days and ADD YEARS TO YOUR LIFE.
I pray that todays blog adds tremendous value to your amazing lives! Have a super day everyone…
Two thumbs up, my past has been my education, God has taught me so much through the areas of mistakes in my life. Thats what I love about God is that he gives us the room to make the mistakes so that we can grow stronger, I wouldnt be where I am today had God not given me room to mess up from time to time.
WISDOM IS A TASK IN ITSELF TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND ABSORB AND STAY DEDICATED NOT THE EASIEST PROJECT BUT A COMMTIBLE ONE WE SHOULD ALL TRY…I WANT YOU TO KNOW CHUCK THAT I AM HONORED YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND PASTOR AND I GIVE YOU HEARTFELT THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO EACH DAY…A WORD TO THE WISE —BLESS AND FAVOR THOSE WHO ARE PRAYING AND BLESSING YOU AND YOU WILL FEEL SO GOOD INSIDE— SO TODAY AND EVERYDAY I BLESS AND PRAY OVER YOU AND EMILY AS A COMMITMENT TO THE LOVE MY FAMILY HAS FOR YOU ALL—AGAIN THANKS
So true. When I was 15 years old, I was going on 30! I didn’t need to learn ANYTHING– AND I was the only teenager in history who had this gift! Now, I am ….over thirty…and I try to remember that Wisdom is an actual spirit that we can ask God to impart into our lives! Just as King Solomon did…And God made him the wisest man to ever walk the earth! But God didn’t just dump it on him, God let him gain Wisdom through life–through experiences that taught lessons over time. It’s almost like he had a relationship with Wisdom. (Maybe if we are willing to devote our time hanging out with her, she’ll kind of rub off on us!!) Just as in any healthy relationship, there must be enough humbleness to learn from our mistakes, from the mistakes of others without condemnation and to just get over ourselves and record the teachable moments! Thank you, Pastor, for this blog! And I thank God that I have made it to this check point in my life, for all the Wisdom I have obtained and have yet to gain!
I agree that I would take back some of the stupid things I did growing up, but I would not be as wise as I am today and know the things I know if not. Plus I would have not met my soul mate, but of course if it was meant to be we would have met some other way. I am not sure I would take back anything. God has a plan and if all that was in his plan to get me where I am today and give me the learnings that I have aquired through the years than I would keep every last mistake some would say I made. They say wisdom comes from time and age, but if thats the case I am atleast 65 in an 26 year old body. Which from a different look you could say is sad because I have live two lifetimes of events and my first lifetime has not played out yet. But there is always more to learn and I am willing and ready to learn everything that comes my way. I know God is not done with me yet.
Wow, these are REALLY good comments! Very encouraging to read… GREAT additions to the blog. Sammi… you are so right about God not being finished with you. Every time you write, I can see deeper and deeper into your heart… and you are an AMAZING person with an AMAZING future ahead! I keep praying for you… and for my GREAT brother, Jason! Have a super day all you WISE PEOPLE! =)
Isn’t it amazing how God has put us through situations and we’ve put ourselves through situations and they are turning out to be used for the God of advancing the kingdom? I get on fire about that. I thank God for each of you!!!
Amen to that! =)