“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
(James 1:5 NASB)
God has been speaking to me a lot about accessing His wisdom lately. The world’s wisest man hints that wisdom isn’t actually all that hard to come by: “Wisdom shouts in the street, She raises her voice in the public square; At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she declares her sayings…” (Proverbs 1:20-21 NASB). And James tells us that God gives His wisdom generously and without reproach. Why then, do we have so much trouble finding it?
I asked God for wisdom, but I only wish I could say that the answers I sought were always “shouted” in the streets. Maybe they were “shouted” at me; but there is always other things “shouted in the streets” as well. How do we differentiate between God’s wisdom and the wisdom of the world? I mean, I can feel impressed to go a certain way; but moments later a new thought crosses my mind and I’m again confused!
Take the time last summer, for example, when I was trying to figure out who to purchase our new entry door from. I prayed for wisdom, then I interviewed several different companies. I kept thinking I’d go with a particular company, then I’d think about a different angle of purchase and get totally confused. In the end, I went for the cheapest option. It seemed logical at the time, but we’ll just say that I’m not overly happy with the door…
How do we differentiate between all the “voices” that “shout” in the streets?
James gives us a solution for this: “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6 NASB). James nailed it. When I interviewed the door companies and thought that one was right for us; but then allowed myself to be confused by the next thought to enter my head, I felt very much like I was the surf of the sea, being driven and tossed by the wind! Could it be that God was speaking to me, but I was … doubting? I was doubting that it was His voice I heard? And when the other voices began to scream out opposing advice, I got tossed and driven about like the surf of the sea?
This doesn’t necessarily mean we go with the “first thought” that enters our head. Once we have all the facts in front of us, however, and once we’ve asked for wisdom, we need to go with what God puts in our thoughts!
Having learned from my door experience, when it came time to interview companies for replacing the windows in our home, I determined to not make the same mistake. I contacted 6 companies. Company #6 openly criticized me for interviewing so many. God didn’t give me peace about a company criticizing me for what I thought was right. #6 came off the list.
#1 got wind of the fact that I wasn’t happy about my door installation and spent the next 30 minutes telling me how much better his company would have installed my door. I had no peace about this, so I scratched #1 off my list.
When I was tempted to reconsider #1 or #6, I remembered James’ advice. God hadn’t given me peace about either of these companies. That was His wisdom pouring forth, I didn’t need to even consider anything further about these companies.
As it turned out, company #3 didn’t give me an immediate estimate. I told him my decision deadline, and when I didn’t receive the estimate on time, I scratched that company off my list. Again, God didn’t give me peace about dealing with a company who couldn’t even keep an estimate deadline.
Company #4 never showed for their appointment. When I called, I was told they couldn’t find me on the schedule, but they would be happy to reschedule me. I scratched that company off my list. Again, I didn’t have God’s peace about dealing with a company who made appointments and didn’t keep them.
Companies #2 and #5 were both good companies, good product and good prices. I held them up to the Lord and prayed about them, and I felt really drawn to #5. I asked God to confirm this, then I decided to look at both of the quotes one last time… As I hovered my mouse over the email that contained Company #2’s quote, the strangest thing happened! It … vanished! God arranged it so that the only quote I had to decide off of was #5! The one He had drawn me to initially!
I was tempted then to reconsider. After all, I really hadn’t taken #3 into consideration, and maybe I should give #4 a second chance. Besides #2 really was a good company … And I started to get confused. Then I remembered James 1:6! I had asked God for wisdom, He had shouted it to me from the corners and then confirmed by making all the other quotes disappear. How much clearer could that be? Any other thoughts would have shown that I doubted His ability to guide me!
What major decision do you need to make? Ask God to guide you. Prayerfully look at all your options and go with what God puts in your mind. Ask Him to confirm what He has told you, but then believe that He has guided you and go with what He put in your mind first. Any other response will be a sign that you doubt His ability to guide and you will be tossed back and forth on the whims of confusion.
Oh, and if you need a good window company, I know one!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries