IF YOU LACK WISDOM

IF YOU LACK WISDOM ... ASK

"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." James 1:5

We all face those times in our lives when we are at our wits end. We face a challenge, a problem, a difficult situation, throw up our hands and say, "I don't know what to do!" We find ourselves needing wisdom for the challenges and problems we face like:

* Paying bills

* Dealing with debt

* Problems with our businesses

* Challenges with our kids

* Issues with our boss or fellow employees

* Decisions about our future

The word "lack" means a deficit of some kind; a short-fall, a shortage.
We all face those times when we find ourselves backed into a corner and there is no apparent answer or solution to the challenge we are dealing with. We need wisdom - divine wisdom to help up us.

There is a difference between "education" and "wisdom." One writer says, "Education givens you information and facts; but wisdom gives you principles, solutions, and answers. Wisdom gives you special insight that helps you know what to do. Wisdom contains the principles that will lead you out of that baffling situation and into a place where things begin to work again! Wisdom guides you to do what is right. Man has education, but God has wisdom."

When you and I are lacking wisdom - we have the privilege of ASKING our heavenly Father for the wisdom needed to make right decisions. The word wisdom means to be adamant in requesting and demanding assistance to meet tangible needs. It also expresses the idea that the one asking has a full expectation to receive what has been firmly requested. And by the way - the word "ask" is not a suggestion, but a command!

Listen to what this devotional author wrote: "You see, God wants us to come to Him for wisdom FIRST instead of trying to figure things out on our own. Instead of relying on your EDUCATION and the books on your shelf to give you the answers that you need, go to GOD FIRST and firmly ask for wisdom. Approach Him with respect and honor, but also be bold.
As a child of God, you have a right to request wisdom from God when you need it.

When your mind is suddenly enlightened and you miraculously see exactly what you need to do or what steps you need to take, those problems that have seemed so mountainous will melt before you. You see, your biggest problem is not the one that is staring you right in the face. Your biggest problem is your lack of wisdom about how to deal with that situation."

I know that today I am facing a difficult challenge. This verse today was EXACTLY what I needed for today. "If anyone is baffled and doesn't know what to do ... he should be bold to ask ..." That's what I am doing today! How about you? Are you needing wisdom? Cry out to him and ASK with boldness and confidence.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: In perplexities - when we cannot tell what to do, when we cannot understand what is going on around us - let us be calmed and steadied and made patient by the thought that what is hidden from us is not hidden from Him. Frances Ridley Havergal