The wisdom of God goes beyond your ability to understand right and wrong. Wisdom transcends uncertainty in areas that may be unclear and murky. Wisdom asks, why do you want to do want you want to do? What is your motive? Is your drive to succeed for you, or do you strive for excellence, because it is the Lord’s expectation for you?

Wisdom sees opportunities as options to further God’s Kingdom, rather than a way to expand self-appointed power and status. The Lord is looking for other-centered people whose heart’s desire is to obey Him. Yes, books can increase your knowledge, but only God can bestow wisdom. Knowledge that just feeds pride and ego misses wisdom.

People are not impressed by what you know. They are attracted to what you do with what you know. Wisdom applies God’s perspective by transforming the human worldview. For example, you decide not to marry someone because it is not the wise thing to do. They are a nice person, intelligent; financially secure and even religious, but they lack an unselfish commitment to you and God. Wisdom waits for what’s best.

Thus, wisdom comes from God and it’s received through a heart of character. The Lord does not entrust His thoughts with someone who will prostitute His wisdom for wrong purposes. He looks for a heart of humility and honesty. A wise person prays to God and says, “I need you and I need your direction. Without your wisdom, I am lost and unclear in your ways”. Humility is the gateway to wisdom and honesty applies it well.

Your humility means you are teachable to learn from God. Your honesty means you will use God’s wisdom in an honorable way. Wisdom can be used to settle disputes between individuals or organizations. It can serve you in becoming an expert in your field. Wisdom takes knowledge, and, like paint in the hands of a gifted artist, creates beauty.

Wisdom leads you in your decision making process, so you are consistent to ask, “What is the wise thing to do?” You search the Scriptures daily and God fills your heart with wisdom. You enjoy the company of wise people; learn from their mistakes and from their wise choices. Wisdom is not microwavable, for it comes over time. Be patient. Talk to God about your need for wisdom, as He gives freely to all who ask with a humble heart.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

Am I wise to seek the Lord’s wisdom and the wisdom of His humble servants? What is the wise thing to do right now?

Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 1:11-12; Daniel 2:23; Mark 6:3; Ephesians 1:17

Doubt seeks to destroy our faith. It is in our discouragement—even despair—that we begin to question God. “What did I do wrong?” “Lord did you call me to this place of confusion?” “Where is my joy and hope?” “Are you even real or just a figment of my imagination?” Left to its natural conclusion doubt crushes our faith in Christ.

Fortunately, faith does not have to take a furlough when we are frustrated and fatigued. It is in your confinement that Christ wants to remind you of His great power. So cry out to Him in your confused circumstances and He will earnestly listen in love. “In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears” (2 Samuel 22:7). He does not leave His loved ones alone and in doubt.

It is ok to be in doubt, but it is not ok to remain in doubt. What doubts challenge your faith in God? His provision? His promises? His presence? His character? His care? When these questions assault your confidence in Christ take a step back and review His track record. The reality of your salvation set you on the productive path of peace and forgiveness. Answered prayer over the years is proof enough of His love and concern.

Furthermore, use this temporary time of distrust to go deeper with Jesus. The pressure you feel on all sides is your Savior’s way to solicit your attention. When in doubt seek out the Lord, learn to love Him completely, and discern more fully His profound promises. Use doubt to dig deeper into the truth of Scripture, marinate your mind, “Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).

When in doubt stay steadfast in seeking out your Savior. Wait on Him, especially when you wonder what’s next. Where there is true faith there may be a mixture of unbelief, so remain faithful even when questions fondle your faith. Perseverance will one day free you as a stronger and more committed follower of Christ. See Jesus for who He is–as doubt dissolves in His reassuring presence. Doubt starves to death when it’s not fed.

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the LORD, who remains faithful forever” (Psalm 146:5-6).
What doubts do I need to acknowledge and release to God? Is Christ trustworthy?

Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 33:12; Job 36:16-19; John 20:27; Jude 1:22

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

It is important to begin with the end in mind, as your last words will be a reflection of what in life was important to you. As a follower of Jesus Christ your expressions will probably include God’s faithfulness, love of family and gratitude for your salvation. You will not be thinking about how much more money you can make, the next deal around the corner or more stuff to accumulate. Your main focus will be your loving Heavenly Father, your caring family and heaven. Last words represent lasting priorities.

These are concerns that capture us today for they will be all that matters tomorrow. Your musing on the last things tends to keep life in its proper perspective. So do you live like you are dying, or do you float through life oblivious to the obvious? Every moment counts in God’s scheme of things; life is a great rehearsal for heaven. Have you auditioned for Him? Are you playing your part with passion? What’s your Savior’s script for your life?

“Last words living” means you have thought about your obituary. When your lifeless body is horizontal and cold what do you want others to remember about you? As they respectfully walk by, what will they say? Hopefully their last words about you will be something like: “They loved God and people. Their family was priority. She could not get enough of her husband and kids. The orphanage in Africa was their family’s focus.”

“Instead of lavishing more stuff on themselves, they spent at least a week a year as a family with the poorest of the poor. He led his family to give of themselves for Christ’s sake.” You want the last conversations of others to describe your career as a means to an end, not an end for ego’s sake. You allowed your work to serve Kingdom purposes rather than selfish purposes. Your children practice generosity, because they observed your quiet, but significant giving over the years.

Make your last words the language for a lasting legacy of love for God and people. Stay engaged with God today, as He is the scriptwriter, producer and director of your life. Strive to win “God’s Oscar”, so that your last words will be a commendation of Christ’s faithfulness. At life’s end Paul said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

Do I live like I am dying? What last words do I want to leave with my family?

Related Readings: Genesis 50:16; 2 Samuel 23:1-3; Luke 23:34; John 17:4

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

Brutal facts are not always pretty or inviting, but they are reality. Initially brutal news may take you back and even make you feel beat up. But take heart, it is good for bad news to travel fast. You are better off to hear negative news first, before the information becomes filtered through other perspectives, or the facts fester and become worse.

Brutal facts that are not given attention move from an inflamed infection to relational and organizational gangrene. Inevitably there follows an amputation; someone or something has to be severed. This extreme action could be avoided if the brutal facts are revealed, recognized and acted upon. Brutal facts are our friends; so do not dismiss the messenger because the message is bad. He or she is just the delivery person.

Yes, the messenger’s attitude and character may not always be stellar, but the content of their words can be extremely accurate. The wise receiver of brutal facts will extract the “chaff and keep the wheat”. Brutal facts may mean you have lost touch with those who love you the most. In your zeal to provide for them, you have failed to get to know them.

A brutal fact may relate to your finances. What is the reality of your cash situation? Come clean with your spouse and seek accountability from a trusted third party. Or, the state of your physical health may be a heart attack waiting to happen. Take care of your ‘temple’ or it will take care of you by tumbling down around you. Do you rationalize that all of your activity is for the Lord? The truth is, He can get by without any of us just fine.

So where can we find these brutal facts? Your spouse, parent or friend is a good starting point. They have a vested interest in you, so normally their perception of the facts is fairly accurate. Listen with an ear to learn, but if you become defensive or argumentative they will eventually shut down. Because they care, is why they want you to be aware.

Why not change on your on terms rather than being forced to change on another’s? This is the essence of brutal facts—there are some things that need to change. You, the work culture, and your family are always in flux, so use this as an opportunity to move from mediocrity to excellence. Embrace the brutal facts, learn from them and become better.

“Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says.” (2 Samuel 7a).

Who currently has concerns that I need to seriously consider? How do I need to change?

Related Readings: 2 Kings 5:10; Haggai 1:13; Romans 9:1; 3 John 1:12-13

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

A Christian’s quality of love for Christ makes their love for anyone else pale in comparison. The Lord expects this level of love, because He knows all other degrees of love benefit from beginning with Him. The love you have for your spouse becomes more significant when you see them through the eyes of the love they have for your Savior. Thus, marry your best friend, make sure your heart flutters and make sure they love God more than they do you.

Has love for someone else become competition to your love for Christ? If you are driven to please a person in deference to your devotion to God, everyone is disappointed. Because a person can only find full satisfaction in their Savior Jesus, and giving God your leftovers always leaves you lacking. Perhaps this means briefer relational activity at night, so you can rise earlier to experience God. Love makes time for its lover.

Picture a love triangle with the Lord at the highest point. So you love Him at the pinnacle and then your love for others flows down the other sides in an avalanche of affection. When you determine to place Jesus at the summit of your worship, your service to people is the most significant. Temporal love–driven by eternal love–feels real and robust.

You are worthy of Jesus because He makes you worthy. His death on the cross–for all who believe– is a declaration of worthiness to all disciples who take up their cross and follow Him. You find your life–by losing your life in a love relationship with the Lord.

Who are you willing to walk away from for the sake of your walk with Christ? Who or what do you love more than Him? Name it and forsake it, as your love for Jesus should have no peers. No one is worthy of the same level of love that you have for your Lord. This is idolatry, but forsaking all others is freedom. Thus–love Him first–or He is worthy. The quality of your love for God determines the quality of your love for people.

What relationship competes with my love for Christ? How does Jesus expect me to love Him?

Related Readings: Deuteronomy 33:9; Micah 7:6-7; John 21:15-19; 2 Timothy 3:4

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

There is no need to fear, because your Heavenly Father is here. He is here to listen to your concerns. He is here to defeat the devil. He is here to heal your hurts. He is here to comfort you in a crisis. He is here to give you peace and encouragement. He is here to rebuke and correct you. He is here to give you wisdom. Your Father is here, so don’t fear.

He knows the details of your disappointments, like He knows how many hairs are on your head. You feel the stress of overwork and underpay, and you wonder if Christ will change your circumstances. He may not, at least for now, so continue to do your best and trust that in His timing He will provide. The Lord is never late.

Christ’s work is not always as convenient as we might want, but it is in the inconveniences of life that we learn to persevere. We sometimes lament that the labor is long and hard, but we can be grateful that we have the health and good fortune to work. God implores us to remain faithful during dark times, so we can be His shining light. He whispers words of admonishment to our heart, so we are able to speak with confidence His truth to tired and fearful friends.

How valuable are you to your Heavenly Father? What worth does He place on your life? If He knows and cares about the death of a sparrow, how many times more is He concerned about your cares? Embrace His interest in your body, soul and mind. The Lord’s appraisal of your life is not at a discount, but a premium. You can be sure that He sees tremendous value in you. So only fear not reaching your full potential for Him.

Have you deployed your gifts for God? You may say, “I did, but not now”. Why? If fear has frozen your faith, so that you have stopped attempting great things for God, let trust thaw out your inertia. Draw on the resources of heaven and your confidence will return. You are on assignment from Almighty God and His mission is very meaningful. Fear God, but don’t be afraid, because His will is where you walk in security and peace with Jesus.

What is the difference between fearing God and being afraid? What am I worth to God?

Related Readings: Isaiah 8:12; 41:10; John 12:42; 1 Corinthians 16:10

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ require a level of shrewdness that is pure in motivation and innocent in intentions. Christians are not to create their own naïve world; rather we engage the realities of the world with keen insights and discernment. We have been given the mind of Christ, so we can comprehend through His eyes problems and solutions.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Furthermore, be on guard against those who leverage the Lord for their own agenda. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing whose cause is to use the church and Christianity to fill their coffers. These imposters of light deliver dark outcomes, instead of righteous results. Don’t be duped by those who only want to use your creditability for their cause.

“For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people” (Romans 16:8). Shrewdness is able to see past shallow words into the depth of the heart. Discernment goes deep and knows.

Is your Christianity practical and purposeful? Are you willing to suffer even when your intentions are innocent and pure? The wolves of the world do not care about Christ; they only want their way. Thus stay true to truth and transparency, and trust the Lord to keep you in times of danger and uncertainty. Be wise and walk in His ways, not the world’s .

This is why your Savior Jesus sends His shepherds to accompany you on your faith journey. Your minister of the Gospel is God’s representative to guide you. His teaching exposes lies, so you are able to apply truth and understanding to relationships. Your great shepherd is Jesus, but His ministers represent His authority and insights. Shrewdness and innocence comes to those who follow Christ and His shepherds in faith and hope.

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

How do I balance shrewdness and innocence in negotiating business deals? How can I submit to the shepherding of the minister at my local church?

Related Readings: 2 Samuel 13:3; Micah 5:4; Luke 16:1-8; Philippians 4:7

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

What is your motivation for giving? Is it to freely give, or is it to give expecting something in return? This is an ongoing tension for the generous giver. We give our time, our expertise, our money, our friendship, our commitment; we even give our very life, but with what expectation in mind? Disappointment follows gifts with strings attached, but gifts given freely lead to fulfillment. Can we be hilariously generous and still trust Christ?

But you may ask, what about my stewardship in giving gifts responsibly? Wise givers do give prayerfully and responsibly, but not to the exclusion of the Spirit’s leading. If the Lord is leading you to invest time and money in a person, ministry or church, then obey and trust Him with the outcomes. Everything we have is His to begin with, so He is ultimately responsible for the fruit from your generosity. He blesses His work, done His way.

Because Christ’s gifts are not conditional, our gifts are not conditional. For example, at your conversion God freely gave you His Spirit for comfort, conviction and direction. The Bible says, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

So, even when we grieve the Spirit with our disobedience, He still remains. The gift of the Holy Spirit does not come and go from our life, as He is here to stay. His resolve to reside in our soul is reassurance that we are not alone. In the same way when people you trust are in turmoil, stay with them through the rough ride until things smooth out. Anyone can give in the good times, so be there to give when they need you the most.

Faithfulness freely gives not to gain, but to do good deeds. The Lord’s freeness to extend goodness to you compels you to freely give back goodness. Grace is a gift to be received gratefully and given liberally. Give freely and observe how much more is freely given to you. Your Heavenly Father gave you His Son, because He loves and forgives you freely.

“He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:5-7).

What are the Lord’s expectations for His gifts to me? Am I freed up to give freely?

Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 29:9; Proverbs 11:24; Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 2:12

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

Where does compassion come from? From where do these deep feelings of sympathy and sorrow spring up? Compassion originates, for Christians, from the compassion they have experienced from Christ. He calls us by His grace to alleviate pain and suffering. The gospel is all about healing and making whole broken people in the name of Jesus.

“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18, NKJV).

Compassion from Christ is a bridge to somewhere. It is a bridge to hope and happiness. It is a bridge to belief and blessing. It is a bridge to recovery and righteousness. It is a bridge to forgiveness and freedom. It is a bridge to peace and productivity. It is a bridge to heaven and healing. Compassion cuts into hard hearts and softens them for our Savior.

What is your perspective of people? Are you distant and aloof, or emotional and engaged? Yes, they can be cranky and quirky, but so can you. It is a shepherd’s heart that summons us to empathy and kindness. Who in your life needs EGR (Extra Grace Required)? Extend them grace and watch God work through your compassionate care. It may be an unruly work associate, a loved one in hospice, or a prodigal child who needs your time.

Don’t shy away from showing compassion. Partner with Christ and you will have an unlimited supply from which to draw. A soul starves for want of a Savior; a body starves for want of sustenance. Compassionate Christians feed both in the name of Christ. Be a believer who builds bridges of compassion, and you will never lack people who travel to the other side. See souls like your Savior and you will be filled with His compassion.

Jesus was moved to tears for His city, “He saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41).

Am I compelled by Christ’s compassion to build bridges to men and women’s souls?

Related Readings: 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:2; Luke 15:20; Colossians 3:12

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

Do you feel at times you have to prove yourself, before you are taken seriously? If so, you are in good company, because even Jesus had to silence skeptics. He knew there would be those skeptical of the supernatural, but He let His actions do the defending. Are you facing someone or something that questions your creditability? Do not let another’s lack of confidence shake your confidence–stay faithful and critics will grow silent.

Some may laugh out loud at your newfound faith, or your big vision for God, but use this to motivate, not discourage you. If the Lord is leading you to do something out of the ordinary, lean into His extraordinary resources. Dismiss any fanfare of words and focus on the steady implementation of goals and good deeds. Faith without works is dead.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26, NKJV). “But wisdom is proved right by her actions” (Matthew 11:19).

It may be in your marriage or dating relationships– your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend is weary of your words. They don’t desire more promises, only progress. So take the time to build back their trust by serving them unselfishly. Do what needs to be done with a grateful heart and trust God with the results. Even after you enjoy a pattern of advancement they may not warm up until they see more evidence of your authenticity.

It may not be fair that you have to prove yourself, but it is the reality of where you live. So avoid making excuses or blaming circumstances, and instead steadily gain back your creditability with your growing character and your compelling competence. Don’t defend yourself; if they laughed at Jesus, they will laugh at His followers. Heal don’t hurt.

Fortunately your Heavenly Father accepts you just as you are, you have nothing to prove. Thus, you can rest in His total acceptance and appropriate the confidence of Christ into your attitude. Stay the course of humble obedience– trust Christ with your creditability. The world questions and laughs, but Jesus has proven His sacrificial love on the cross.

“They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true” (Psalm 105:18-19).

Who do I need to serve in silence and trust the Lord for validation?

Related Readings: Genesis 18:12-15; Job 12:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Peter 1:7

Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?