Trusting you’re have a good day wherever you are! O, remember a “good” day isn’t based on your circumstances.

I know, this is where I am many times as well, lost in those circumstances and letting them determine my
“happiness”, aka joy. James & Paul remind us in the midst of the trials to, “…count it all joy” (Ja.1:2) “Rejoice in
the Lord always and again I say rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4) This is only possible when we are “Looking unto Jesus…” as
Heb. 12: 1 instructs us. For our joy is found in knowing the Lord.
This wasn’t really what I want to discuss this week. In our Word of Life Quiet Time Diary we have been going
through the book of Proverbs. Well, an aweful LOT is there about the importance of gaining knowledge and
getting wisdom and it explains the process of obtaining them, it begins with the fear of the Lord. To put it simply,
the fear of the Lord is to have a right understanding and respect of who God is, as He has described Himself in
His Word. So, be in the Word regularly… Let’s just assume for a moment you are consisitently investing your
heart and mind into the word of God. Do you still find yourself lacking wisdom? You’re confronted with
situations at work, in your marriage, or in the raising of the children … and you’re just wondering, what is the best
coarse of action here? I’m sure all of you can think of senarios where there isn’t a specfic directive from scripture
telling you do this or that. So what do we do? First we go to the Lord and seek His wisdom as James 1:5-8 “5 If
any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let
him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in
all his ways.” ESV 2011
God so desires to give us wisdom without looking down on us or grudgingly, (without reproach). He stands ready
to openly, willingly and graciously provide wisdom to us, what would be best for others, ourselves and that which
will bring Him the most glory. Notice we are to ask in Faith without doubting. We would all agree this means to
ask believing and trusting God to supply the wisdom needed but I think it goes even deeper than that. I think
there is an implied action. As I have humbled myself realizing I need God’s help and have come asking for
wisdom. I then move forward in the task of making a decision trusting God to provide the wisdom to make the
best decision for His glory. Another passage that can be of great help here is James 3:13-18 “13 Who is wise and
understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have
bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that
comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will
be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason,
full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who
make peace.” ESV 2011 We must be sure our “wisdom” bears the fruit which comes from above and will this
coarse of action we are choosing bear this out?
As you know, many decisions have to be made quickly through out the day. This is where we must begin the day
recognizing our dependence on the Lord, asking Him to bring to mind His word and to give us wisdom as we
walk this journey here below. May we be as Nehemiah when King Artaxerxes asked him why he was sad, he
prayed to the Lord and then answered the King. God used Nehemiah but also the King to fulfill His word. May
our great God do the same with each of us as we Stay on Point with Him.

Dwight Hostetler
17/01/2018