Corona Devo 11

Isn't "wisdom" a great word?  If people use this word in conversation, I often immediately consider them wise.  It's a powerful word, and we don't hear it enough.  We sure don't use wisdom enough.  As Americans, we are pretty fond of rushing into situations, and serving (mostly) ourselves.  Wisdom often takes a backseat to our wants and needs, and our entitlement.  

Why?  Because wisdom takes time.  It takes patience and perspective.  Prudence can be a piece of it, as well as experience.  But I have also seen young people with wisdom.  However, I have most often seen wisdom in older, faithful people.  And I always admire it.

I want wisdom, don't you?  Especially now, during the "Corona Spring Break" as we are now referring to it in our house.  

What are wise ways to spend our days when we are mostly confined to our homes and immediate family members?   

We need wisdom with finances because some of our jobs and businesses have changed--almost overnight. How can we be wise with our money right now?  (Here is a hint--stop buying so much toilet paper! 😄) 

God is so interesting, because He does these sneak-attacks to our souls.  I don't think I had coherently realized, or would have said out loud that I was seeking more wisdom for how to live and behave during the Corona Spring Break.  And yet, when I was reading Proverbs Chapter 3 and these verses about wisdom started soaking into my soul, it was like I had an unknown thirst that was being quenched.  Jesus knows just what we need and what our souls are yearning for, (sometimes) before we realize it.   

In Proverbs Chapter 3, He brings us back to His Word and His commandments.  And the amazing and unbelievable part about God is how very generous He is to us, even though we keep screwing it all up each day by saying things we shouldn't and doing things we shouldn't.  He loves us anyway, and He loves us completely and unconditionally.  And as evidenced in these verses, He promises us His blessing of wonderful things like long life, peace and "straight paths" if we chose His ways and wisdom over our own.

You probably don't need my help in digesting what God is saying to us here.  Read it through a couple times and let the words and the wisdom of these words settle over you and into you:

Proverbs 3

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight...

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.

21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
    an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
    and will keep your foot from being snared.

33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
    but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

I know it is quite a bit of scripture, but it packs a punch, doesn't it? 

There is wisdom in reading God's word and applying it to our lives.  And I don't believe there is a secret or special recipe to obtaining wisdom.
  

We have read about it here--now apply these things to your life.  

Caution--they are simple phrases and anecdotes, but the application of these into our lives can sometimes be surprising difficult.
  

But good news!  Refer to my earlier note about God continuing to love us even though we often don't get things right.  The longer I live, I think the key to living for Christ is simply continuing to live for Christ.  Don't give up.  We all fail. All of us. (None is righteous, no, not one... ~Romans 3:10).

But again, the good news is that Jesus knows that already, and He still went to the cross because of how much he loved us, and to bear our sin, so that we could spend eternity with Him in Heaven, if we choose Him.

Choose Christ's ways today.  They are wise.  And we have the benefits of wisdom when we apply His Word to our lives.  The Corona chaos is still swirling all around us, (and will be for a while), but Jesus tilts our faces back towards Him and His ways so that we can be filled with (His) wisdom in knowing how to live and love during this time.

Let Him quench your thirst for wisdom today.

Blessings,

sarah