DAY 5 PRAYER & FASTING

WISDOM FIRST

Scripture: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who
doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. — James 1:5-6 (NIV)

The Bible says that we should ask God for wisdom whenever we face trials. “Whenever” is the key word here. We are going to face trials in our lives—small, big, life-changing, long, enduring, unfair and difficult.

Why do we need wisdom? Wisdom is more than just information; wisdom is the divine antidote to a self-help, winner-take-all, in-it-for-me, I-deserve-justice culture in which we live. Biblical wisdom transforms our hearts and minds to take on the characteristics of Christ and tackle any situation with truth and love. Wisdom exceeds information and infuses us with faith to see God do impossible things through our impossible situations.

When we receive wisdom, we actively engage our faith so that we can step out in obedience. Worldly answers may seem right, natural and satisfying (in the moment) but often leave a trail of regret. Godly wisdom directs our steps down the less traveled path of faith—trusting a supernatural God for an impossible outcome.

Application
Consider what your life would look like if your first response to a situation was prayer for wisdom rather than Google. What if you ran to God first instead of a friend or social media? When has wisdom directed you to do something contrary to your natural response in a situation? Often the outcome of a wise decision opens more doors and sparks more opportunities than a decision derived from worldly advice.