Abide: Engaging the Book of JamesSample

PRAYING SCRIPTURE

James 1:2–8

We use the word wisdom a lot, but often we use it without a clear definition of what the word means. Sometimes we mean “common sense,” but is sense common? Perhaps the ancients had a better idea. In the twelfth century, wisdom related to sense people received “from above.” That is closer to what James wrote about wisdom. He plainly said that if you need it, you should ask God for it (v. 5). God is the omniscient and omnipotent Source of all wisdom, and He grants it to those who truly seek it. Whatever your need is, ask God—in faith (v. 6)—to give you wisdom.