Everyone I know is needing wisdom these days. They’re seeking wisdom for job transitions, school choices for their kids, and wisdom for their relationships. Right? You probably need wisdom in some area of your life as well.
Our temptation when we need wisdom is to turn to Google. I remember when one of our daughters said to me, “Mom, how did you raise us without Google?” We laughed over that. My answer was, “Your dad and I learned early in our parenting journey to get on our knees and ask God for wisdom.”
James, the brother of Jesus, promised that if we lack wisdom, we only need to ask God for it—and He promises to give it (James 1:5). But here’s the thing: we can’t receive His wisdom unless we get quiet enough to hear His voice.
He may give us wisdom through His Word, through an inner nudge of the Holy Spirit, or through a friend or mentor. He may give us wisdom as we sit in church and listen to a message from our pastor. Here’s what I know: if we ask for wisdom, God promises to give it. The question is, are we quiet enough to hear it? Rarely will God shout over the noise in your life. Instead, He waits for you to get quiet and seek Him.
How do we do that? Here are a few ideas I’ve tried and tested throughout my life:
Begin with Face Time
Not Face Time on your phone—but face-to-face time with God. I love the words found in Exodus 33:11, where it says, “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” I’ve used those words to remind myself to have face time with God every day.
During my face time, I connect with God through worship, prayer, and Bible reading. As I read my Bible, I bring curiosity. I ask myself, “What is God speaking to me? What can I learn from this portion of Scripture? What’s challenging here? Where do I need to do more studying to understand the text?”
As I read daily, I look for patterns in the verses. Often, when patterns appear, it’s because God wants to get my attention and give me wisdom in some area of life. For example, I remember a season when my husband, Steve, and I were considering moving. As we both studied Scripture, we kept noticing verses that implied God was going to do something new and that we were to move forward without fear. After several months of studying His Word, we concluded that we were to move. Out of that season, God brought us to Colorado—where He has indeed done new things.
Bow in Worship
I’ve discovered that when I get on my knees and worship God for His almighty character, wisdom seems to flow into my heart from the Holy Spirit. As the Apostle Paul proclaimed:
Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever!”
—Romans 11:33–36
When I’m desperate for wisdom, I spend significant time praising God for His wisdom. The truth is, as we worship Him for His wisdom, He gives us the wisdom we desire.
Embrace Silence
As a culture, we’ve forgotten the power of quiet. Noise and information bombard us daily. A great practice to increase your awareness of what God wants to speak to you is to embrace at least five minutes of absolute silence each day. I’ve found that when I do this, I’m more present to God and can hear His voice more clearly.
The truth is, unless I quiet the internal clamor of my soul—as well as the external chaos of my life—I have a hard time hearing the wisdom God wants to give. The same principle holds true for you.
If you’re in a season where you’re needing wisdom from God, why not make these three practices part of your routine? Prioritize face time with God every day, be intentional about worshiping and praising Him, and embrace silence for at least five minutes. Then, be attentive to how God provides the wisdom you need.
Purchase Becky’s latest book Cultivating Deeper Connections in A Lonely World here.
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