I Am Wise

When we make decisions too quickly, and things go all wrong, we say things like, “That was stupid,” or “How could I be so dumb?” You’re not stupid, and you’re not dumb. You may have missed the mark with the decision, but that does not mean you are dumb or stupid. Often, we make decisions too soon without waiting for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we’re upset, angry, or impatient, we often say and do things we regret later if we don’t wait for wisdom. Anger leads to acting impetuously and never generates wisdom.

Wisdom, an attribute and gift of the Holy Spirit, lives in you and is ready to be put into action. Wisdom doesn’t just show up out of the blue without advance notice and some prior work on your part. God will increase his wisdom in you when you ask, but the secret is to make thinking and acting in wisdom your lifestyle. This takes practice. Study the Proverbs and memorize the words of Jesus. Call on wisdom before jumping into your own resources for guidance.

Wisdom is power, and it’s important for you to give serious attention to two vital points: (1) What is wisdom? Describe it to yourself. What does the fruit of wisdom bring? What are wisdom’s long-lasting effects? (2) What is the One giving you wisdom like? How does he think and act? Don’t confuse wisdom with cleverness. God’s wisdom is consistent and permanent with the stability of heaven, but human cleverness is fickle and erases itself with change and time.

Wisdom and meekness were one in Jesus (James 3:13). The Greek word for “meekness” here is prautes, and it means “gentleness.” Wisdom is gentle and like God, because Jesus is both gentle and wise (Matthew 11:29). Wisdom is power. His gentle power of wisdom is yours.

Affirmations:

• I am wise.
• I practice wisdom as a lifestyle.
• I make myself open and ready to receive wisdom from God each time I ask.
• I work at being wise by quieting down and waiting for guidance from the Lord.
• I am growing in God’s wisdom every day.
• I am filled with the gentle power of wisdom.
• My wisdom is a blessing to others.