AskForWisdom | Kristi's Morning Devotional

May 19, 2025May 19, 2025

Fenced In

Last night was another one of those times when I tried to sleep but got up in the wee hours to pray.

Praying over family, friends and life’s situations.

I’m needing answers to some questions that are past my knowledge. I don’t want to be held back because of my ignorance so I got up, seeking the Father and His wisdom.

One thing that has been proven over the years, not just of my lifetime but of time itself, is God is faithful and His word is true. When He tells us to ask for wisdom and He will give it liberally, He does! When He says ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open, you will and it does!

When we call – He answers!

“Moreover, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard, saying, 2 Thus says the Lord Who made [the earth], the Lord Who formed it to establish it—the Lord is His name: 3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” Jeremiah 33:1-3 AMP

When it seems like we are fenced in, in the prison of our circumstances or held back by our limited knowledge, He reminds us of who He is, His power and His willingness to help.

Call on Me and I WILL answer and I’ll show you the things that were hidden, the things that you don’t recognize or understand. CALL!

And after we call “Be still and know that I am God.”

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalm 46:10-11 NKJV

The wonderful work of the Holy Spirit is to teach.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27 NKJV

As we ask for wisdom, we wait for the answers. The key is to wait in peace and not be afraid. God’s plan for us is good and He is faithful!

May 6, 2025May 6, 2025

God Is Greater

Yesterday I told you the story about our grandson and the fear he experienced in the swimming pool. He is now a good swimmer, advancing quickly in his abilities at swim lessons and his confidence has grown by leaps and bounds.

This is the kind of confidence that comes from knowledge and experience. That’s also how faith in Christ comes, through knowledge and experience.

Have you ever wondered why the Apostle James says we are “to count it all joy when we fall into different kinds of trials”? Joyful in a trial? Are you kidding me?

“My Christian brothers, you should be happy when you have all kinds of tests. ³You know these prove your faith. It helps you not to give up. ⁴Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing.

⁵If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking.” James 1:2-5 NLV

What if David had never faced Goliath, Daniel hadn’t experienced the lions’ den, Peter only sailed on smooth seas and Paul never faced any jail time?

Without their testimonies of the Father’s faithfulness, power, deliverance and grace we would be void of examples of His promises to save and protect. Each of these men faced hardship and each of them trusted God through those trials. They grew in wisdom and faith.

When trials come, and they will, we can face them joyfully knowing that our heavenly Father promises to bring us through. We will be stronger in faith, trusting Him.

God is greater than the trial, greater than the storm and He has promised to never leave us or abandon us.

“My dear children, you belong to God, so you have already defeated these false prophets. That’s because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” I John 4:4 ERV

“I know the Lord is great! Our Lord is greater than all the gods!” Psalm 135:5 ERV

Come to the Father in times of trial. Find courage, find hope, find joy. God is greater!

December 19, 2022December 19, 2022

In Need of Assistance

I wish I could say that I learned things on the first try but that just wouldn’t be the truth. Learning is a process!

I love to cook and bake but I am no chef. I’ve had some epic fails in the kitchen and I have learned from them. I never really learned to play piano the way I had hoped even though I had years of lessons and practice. Career choices and relationships have also been by trial and error.

Yes, learning is a process but the key to the process is having a good teacher, a wonderful counselor!

“This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be ‘Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.’” Isaiah 9:6-7 ERV

It’s best if we want to know something to ask an expert. Many are willing to offer advice – some of it’s wrong, some unsolicited, some unhelpful, but the advice of an expert is always spot on.

Jesus came to be an expert advisor on daily life.

“Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. ¹⁶With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:15-16 ERV

He understands our weaknesses; He was tempted in every area that we will be, and He was victorious in everything He did. Who better to go to for help?

Just the other day I was talking to Dave about something, actually, I was complaining. I had only gotten a couple words out of my mouth when I was hit with such a strong conviction that I was doing wrong and I knew it was time to hush, immediately.

“So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. ²³We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us.” Hebrews 10:22-23 CEV

God knows how to get my attention, not to punish me but to correct me. He wants me to keep a clean conscience and a pure heart. Nothing profitable is accomplished by complaining. With His instruction, His advice, as my Counselor I certainly learn to do things in a better way with a better outcome.

It would be foolish not to listen to the instruction of the One who knows the beginning and the end. The One who is omniscient, who knows all and is willing to be my Counselor.

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.” James 1:5 CEV

King Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom. God told him he asked for a good thing. We have also been given a gift, a Wonderful Counselor, His name is Jesus!