Wiser and Happier: Special Military Edition from Time of GraceSample

Waking Up

We depend on our leaders to not only make wise decisions but also to live their lives as examples for us to follow. One of the most miserable sights in America is the televised press conference called by a politician who has been caught with a prostitute, gay lover, congressional page, or intern. He struggles, squirms, makes excuses, evades direct questions, and looks miserable. Sometimes the politician appears on camera standing next to an ashen-faced spouse.

Think how much damage can be done to people’s lives with a moment of impulsive and reckless sin. If only they had thought about that potential damage before they acted on their selfish impulses. If only someone had awakened them from their immoral stupor before they did all that harm to the people in their families.

That’s the essence of learning by words instead of pain. Now is the time to listen to God’s Word. Now is the time to take his words to heart. Now is the time to wake up and remember what’s at stake. “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

Again and again God’s Word urges us to be more eager to listen than to speak. Listen to those who have already been in your position. They can tell you the mistakes that they’ve made. They can describe the lessons they’ve learned.

Even more important, listen to what God has to say about faithfulness, about perseverance, about who he is and what he enables us to do. Here is wisdom: to remember our past, embrace our true identity, reaffirm our mission, and reclaim our power.