Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 NIV
Godly wisdom. What is it? How do we get it? Job posed these questions to his friends and gave answers in Job chapter 28. “Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?…God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,…And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding,’” Job 28:20,23,28. “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” is a phrase commonly used in the Psalms, Proverbs, and Genesis. A note in my NIV study Bible defines it this way, “fear in this phrase has the sense of reverential trust in God that includes commitment to his revealed will (word).”
How then, in our everyday lives do we become wise in Godly wisdom and understanding? We must look to God himself, and to his word, his revealed will. In the past year I have gained wisdom, understanding and found power in my prayers by praying scripture. Psalm 119 gives us a good model for gaining wisdom. “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees, then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared,” Psalm 119:33-38.
We have busy lives, many commitments and demands on our time. But, if we desire wisdom, we need to daily set aside time for reading the Bible, and praying for understanding. Perhaps you could pray phrases of this psalm while washing dishes, while driving to and from work, while taking a child on a walk, while folding clothes, while eating lunch at work, or when you first wake up or right before you go to sleep. Most of us cannot devote hours to this daily, but all of us can spend some amount of time daily in reading God’s word and in praying for understanding. Ask God to teach you, to direct you, to preserve you, and to turn your heart to God and his word, and away from sin. This is how we gain Godly wisdom, through prayer and reading God’s word daily.
By Grace Hunter
