DAY 8 | Seeking Wisdom | Ansley Browning
When you need an answer, where do you go? If you’re anything like me, you probably reach for your phone before you even realize you’re doing it. If I want to know what year a movie came out, what fabric my sweater is made of, or the best way to slice an onion without crying, I look it up instantly. There’s something so instantly gratifying about having information at your fingertips.
But life isn’t always like that. When I’m unsure about a major life decision, I can’t type it into a search bar and expect a step-by-step plan. When someone comes to me for guidance or comfort, I can’t respond with, “Hold on, let me look that up real quick.” Those moments require something deeper. They require wisdom.
The challenging part is, we aren’t born wise. Wisdom is shaped through time, experience, relationships, and often through trials. But the good news is that God doesn’t make us walk through life dependent on our limited experience or our history of mistakes. He invites us to tap into His wisdom that is perfect, complete, and lacking nothing.
James 1:5 (NIV) tells us, “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.” He doesn’t withhold. He doesn’t shame us for not knowing enough. He gives wisdom freely, generously, and joyfully.
Scripture also reminds us in Proverbs 2:6 (ESV) that God is the source of all understanding. It says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” God’s wisdom isn’t just information; it’s direction. It’s clarity. It’s peace. It’s discernment that goes beyond what we see and reaches into what God already holds.
So where do you need wisdom today? Are you asking the Lord for clarity, or are you stuck cycling through the same patterns, hoping your experiences alone will teach you what to do? Are you leaning on your own understanding or inviting God to guide your next step?
During these 21 days of prayer is the perfect opportunity to ask the Lord for guidance in your situation, or to ask Him to elevate certain areas of your life where you might lack wisdom. The beautiful promise is that wisdom isn’t something you have to earn, it’s something God wants to give. All you have to do is seek it out.
But life isn’t always like that. When I’m unsure about a major life decision, I can’t type it into a search bar and expect a step-by-step plan. When someone comes to me for guidance or comfort, I can’t respond with, “Hold on, let me look that up real quick.” Those moments require something deeper. They require wisdom.
The challenging part is, we aren’t born wise. Wisdom is shaped through time, experience, relationships, and often through trials. But the good news is that God doesn’t make us walk through life dependent on our limited experience or our history of mistakes. He invites us to tap into His wisdom that is perfect, complete, and lacking nothing.
James 1:5 (NIV) tells us, “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.” He doesn’t withhold. He doesn’t shame us for not knowing enough. He gives wisdom freely, generously, and joyfully.
Scripture also reminds us in Proverbs 2:6 (ESV) that God is the source of all understanding. It says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” God’s wisdom isn’t just information; it’s direction. It’s clarity. It’s peace. It’s discernment that goes beyond what we see and reaches into what God already holds.
So where do you need wisdom today? Are you asking the Lord for clarity, or are you stuck cycling through the same patterns, hoping your experiences alone will teach you what to do? Are you leaning on your own understanding or inviting God to guide your next step?
During these 21 days of prayer is the perfect opportunity to ask the Lord for guidance in your situation, or to ask Him to elevate certain areas of your life where you might lack wisdom. The beautiful promise is that wisdom isn’t something you have to earn, it’s something God wants to give. All you have to do is seek it out.
Posted in 21 Days of Devos