Ask God for Wisdom

September 16 – Ask God for Wisdom

Scripture

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

James 1:5 (ESV)

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (KJV)

Encouragement

How often do we try to figure everything out before we remember to pray?

We weigh the possibilities. We ask others what they think. We replay the situation in our minds. We worry about making the wrong choice.

Yet James gives us a wonderfully simple instruction: if you need wisdom, ask God.

The context of this verse is especially encouraging. James has just written about facing trials and the way God uses them to produce steadfastness in us. In the middle of circumstances we do not understand, we need wisdom to see our situation from God’s perspective and know how He wants us to respond.

And God invites us to ask.

He does not criticize us for needing help. James says He “gives generously to all without reproach.”

Perhaps you are facing a decision today. Maybe you are dealing with a difficult relationship, an uncertain future, or a situation where there seems to be no clear answer.

Before trying to solve it on your own, pray.

Ask God to give you wisdom grounded in His Word. Ask Him to help you see the situation clearly, recognize what honors Him, and have the courage to follow what is right.

God may not reveal everything you want to know about what lies ahead.

But He promises wisdom for walking faithfully through what is in front of you.

Prayer

Dear gracious Father,

Thank You that I can come to You when I do not know what to do. I need Your wisdom today. Help me see my circumstances from Your perspective and guide my decisions through the truth of Your Word. Keep me from depending only on my own understanding. Give me wisdom to know what honors You and courage to obey You when You show me the way. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought for Today

When I do not know what to do, my first response can be to ask God for wisdom.