God Can Give You WisdomSample

Wisdom Never Rushes in Without Checking a Few Things First

Your best friend moved away last week, and you’ve been feeling pretty lonely. You played video games until after midnight. You woke up late and had to skip breakfast. Your friend at school keeps asking you if you’re okay, but somehow even that is driving you up the wall. Grr! You’re hungry, angry, lonely, and tired.

Whoa. Not the the best day ever, right?

Do you think this would be a good day to make a big decision like deciding to quit soccer because you just don’t like it anymore? Or like telling your parents that you want to sell your favorite collection of baseball cards because you haven’t looked at them in two weeks? Or like calling a friend and telling them about something they did that annoyed you and demanding an apology?

It would be foolish to rush in and make big decisions on a day when you’re hungry, angry, lonely or tired! You should address those basic needs first.

Once your needs are taken care of, you’ll be so much more clear-headed and better able to make big decisions. You might decide you do like soccer, you were just tired! You do like your baseball card collection—it just reminded you of your friend who moved away—and you need to call them to keep your friendship alive. Or that you need to calm down about what’s annoying you so you can talk to your friend without anger.

Ask yourself: Which of these tend to cause me to rush in and make foolish choices: hunger, anger, loneliness, or tiredness.

Challenge yourself: This week, observe yourself. Every time you want to say something rude, do something you don’t usually do, or jump in to a situation that you think you might regret, HALT! Check your basic needs. If you’re hungry, eat a snack. If you’re angry, take some deep breaths. If you’re lonely, reach out. If you’re tired, go to bed early. See if you’re able to make wiser choices and actions when you’re responding to life, not reacting to it.

Pray: Dear God, thank You for helping me to learn that taking care of my body and my mind helps me to walk in Your wisdom. It’s pretty amazing the way You made me. And it’s pretty kind of You to teach me how to avoid foolishness and danger just by taking care of my basic needs. Help me to walk in Your wisdom every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.