August 5, 2022
Calling Out for Wisdom
Arlene Pellicane
Today’s Truth
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 (James 1:5 NIV).
Friend to Friend
You know when you get those unsolicited phone calls from telemarketers? My husband James has a funny way of dealing with them.
He picks up the phone and says cheerily, “You got the questions? We got the answers!” That usually causes unwanted callers to hang up abruptly. Sometimes he’ll answer, “Pizza Palace, what would you like to order?” which also confuses them. But one of the funniest things he does is ask them for money. “Do you have any money I can borrow?”
Isn’t it nice that talking to God is never like that?
When we call up to heaven, He never says to an angel, “Oh no, it’s this lady again! I better make up an excuse so I don’t have to talk with her too long. She really does go on and on!”
No – quite the contrary – the Lord welcomes our cries for help. When your toddler is screaming or your teen is withdrawing, you can call out to God for wisdom. When your financial picture seems bleak or your exercise efforts don’t seem to be paying off, you can look up to heaven for help.
Today’s truth James 1:5 (NIV) says, “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.”
The Living Bible reads this way, “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it.”
God is waiting to give you wisdom and He’s more than happy to give it. I like to think about wisdom as understanding God’s will and applying it to your life. King Solomon had a lot to say about wisdom:
“For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 8:11 NIV).
“Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse” (Proverbs 2:12 NIV).
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you” (Proverbs 4:6 NIV).
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established” (Proverbs 24:3 NIV).
Consider the inverse of these verses. What happens without wisdom?
Your life will lack the treasures God has available for you.
You will not be saved from the ways of wicked people.
You are left vulnerable and unprotected.
Your home is built on shaky ground.
That is a much grimmer picture. It can be tempting to seek help in your life in magazine articles, social media posts, or popular opinion. But that’s not where wisdom resides. We need to call out to God in prayer and to read the Bible to truly discover wisdom.
My husband James has teased the telemarketers by saying, “You got the questions? I have the answers!” But the only one who can really make this statement truthfully is God. To have some fun, you might imagine God answering the phone this way the next time you cry out to him with a question.
I know a mom who has a sign which reads, “Good morning, this is God. I will be handling all your problems today.” I like that. That mom understands where wisdom resides. How wonderful that we serve a God who doesn’t help us begrudgingly. Today’s truth reminds us that He gives generously without finding fault. Call on Him for wisdom today.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, thank You for the promises found in the Bible. I know when I ask for wisdom, You generously give it. Please give me wisdom today to discern between right and wrong. Help me to know how to respond to the people and circumstances around me according to Your ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What situation do you need wisdom for right now?
Thank God throughout the day that He will guide you along the right path and give you the wisdom you need.
More from the Girlfriends
Do you need wisdom to know whether your child is spending too much time with technology? Check out Arlene’s book Screen Kids and take a quiz about your child’s screen time at Happy Home University.
© 2022 by Arlene Pellicane. All rights reserved.