Making Right Decisions

Here we are at the beginning of a new year and there are so many decisions ahead. Where God? When God? How God?

That’s why I love the godly counsel we can receive from reading the book of Proverbs. Let me recap a few verses that I’ve read so far this month.

 Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” Proverb 3:5-6 ERV

 I am teaching you about wisdom and guiding you on the right path. 12 As you walk on it, you will not step into a trap. Even if you run, you will not trip and fall. 13 Always remember this teaching. Don’t forget it. It is the key to life, so guard it well.” Proverbs 4:11-13 ERV

“The Law of the Lord is a lamp, and its teachings shine brightly. Correction and self-control will lead you through life.” Proverbs 6:23 CEV

“Let instruction and knowledge mean more to you than silver or the finest gold.” Proverbs 8:10 CEV

Wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord. Knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding. 11 Wisdom will help you live longer; she will add years to your life.” Proverbs 9:10-11 ERV

I think you can see just how important God’s wisdom is in our decision-making process. Now, let’s look at a few verses which stood out to me today.

“If you don’t ask for advice, your plans will fail. With many advisors, they will succeed. 23 People are happy when they give a good answer. And there is nothing better than the right word at the right time.” Proverbs 15:22-23 ERV

Wisdom isn’t something that just comes with age; wisdom is also for the young if they are following God’s instruction.

“These are the proverbs of Solomon,,, 2 They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings. 3 They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way. You will learn to do what is right and to be honest and fair. 4 These proverbs will make even those without education smart. They will teach young people what they need to know and how to use what they have learned. 5 Even the wise could become wiser by listening to these proverbs. They will gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems.” Proverbs 1:1-5 ERV

Before I close, I have two more verses to share.

“People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges their reason for doing it. 3 Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful. 4 The Lord has a plan for everything.,,” Proverbs 16:2-4 ERV

And here’s the key for gaining wisdom.

 ‘I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.’ This message is from the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

To make right decisions we need wisdom; to gain wisdom we need to call on the Lord and He will show us His good plans and cause us to succeed!

Ask for Wisdom

I was doing a search on wisdom and what I found was very interesting. Really it was!

I thought it might have been used for Adam naming the animals or Noah building the ark but no.

Wisdom is first used in Exodus chapters 28 – 36 when the Lord showed Moses how to make the Tabernacle. It talks about all the workers who were assigned the tasks of building. The Bible said that they were all filled with a spirit of wisdom.


Then it goes on to show that Joshua was filled with wisdom and Solomon was the wisest of all men.

God has promised to give wisdom to anyone who asks.

As you are looking at your day, your occupation, your marriage, your kids… Let God fill you with His wisdom and it will definitely make a much favorable outcome.


” I have chosen Bezalel from the Judah tribe to make the sacred tent and its furnishings. 3-5 Not only have I filled him with my Spirit, but I have given him wisdom and made him a skilled craftsman who can create objects of art with gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood.” Exodus 31:2-4 ERV


“So I never stop being grateful for you, as I mention you in my prayers. 17 I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. 18 My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.” Ephesians 1:16-18 ERV


“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. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm.” James 1:5-6 ERV


If you need wisdom today – ask and you will receive it.

Wisdom

We’ve discussed this before but there seems to be a lack of common sense and wisdom. Common sense isn’t so common anymore.

I used to read a chapter a day in Proverbs but the older I get I find that I need to break it down in smaller segments than that so I can really try to absorb what Solomon is saying. And after all these years, I am still finding new truths that I overlooked or didn’t see in the past.

I guess that’s wisdom!

“Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking. 29 The Lord never even hears the prayers of the wicked, but he answers the prayers of all who obey him. 30 A friendly smile makes you happy, and good news makes you feel strong. 31 Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it, you will be wise. 32 You hurt only yourself by rejecting instruction, but it makes good sense to accept it. 33 Showing respect to the Lord will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.” Proverbs 15:28-33 CEV

1) It’s important that we give thought to the words we speak. Jesus said that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Words can have a mighty impact and so we should choose them well. A wise person will do that.

” Your words show what is in your hearts. 35 Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts. ” Matthew 12:34b-35 CEV

2) Take time to smile and bring good news. I make a conscious effort to keep a smile on my face. It improves my own outlook. A smile shared is a smile multiplied. (If you smile at someone they generally smile back and that’s multiplication).

“Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you know more than others. Make friends with ordinary people.” Romans 12:16 CEV

3) Accept correction and good advice. It’s beneficial! We can learn from others. We don’t have all the answers or know everything about anything so accepting advice and correction is a step toward wisdom.

“My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions…4 Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure…6 All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding. 7 God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects those who live as they should.” Proverbs 2:1-7 CEV

4) Giving the Lord his rightful place, a place of reverence, is wise. When we give the Father and His Word first place we are truly wise.

 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 CEV

So, smile today and be willing to accept instruction or correction and keep the Lord first…you’ll have a near perfect day!

Wisdom and Success

The last two years that we were on the mountain we saw firsthand the result of hungry woodpeckers on our check-in station.

It often had campers asking us if someone had been shooting at the building in the winter months. No, just the woodpeckers retrieving their dinner of larvae and small insects from the wood siding.

Now, this year in the desert we are experiencing something different. Each morning we hear the sound of a rapid pecking, almost like the noise a nail gun makes, coming from the metal roofs and air conditioning units around us.

Woodpeckers!

We laugh and talk of the tremendous headache it must give them as they try to peck at the metal. Are there really that many bugs that draw them to the metal structures and draw them away from the trees?

Inquiring minds want to know – so, this morning I did an on-line search to see if I could find the answer. I found this answer on the avian control website.

“Woodpeckers peck wood for food, but they will also commonly drum away at plumbing vents, TV antennas, satellite dishes, drain pipes, gutters, chimney caps and metal poles or signs.

So why do they peck metal? Woodpeckers will drill their beaks on metal to attract a mate or establish their territory. 

The hard metal reverberates, making the sound carry farther than simply pecking on wood. Aluminum siding provides great amplification to carry their mating-song, so they often attract these feathered percussionists.”

I’m not sure who conducted that research but who am I to argue? If this is the case I need to ask another question. What type of cushioning must the Lord have put in their neck muscles to keep them from having a concussion or an extreme headache?

But before you wonder where I am going with this observation let me explain my thinking. There is an old saying that goes something like this, “I sometimes feel like I’m hitting my head against a wall”.

We work and we stress trying to figure out answers and solutions to questions and problems beyond our scope. Many times we repeat the same actions day after day with no success. Frustration and stress result.

Are we just making a loud racket or are we achieving a desired end?

“Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. 5 Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the Lord God. 6 All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding. 7 God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects those who live as they should.” Proverbs 2:4-7 CEV

Seeking God’s wisdom and counsel will keep us from foolish ways and unproductive adventures.

“Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.” Proverbs 16:3 ERV

When we start our day seeking the Lord and His counsel it will keep us being like those silly woodpeckers who are banging their beaks against a wall.