Praying for wisdom

Proverbs 8:10-11 (NIV)
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

All of us (I hope) pray for wisdom, God’s wisdom, everyday.  When we need to make decisions, in our dealings with other people, how to handle our business or work, even for studies.  We should be a people praying for wisdom.  And why not, God in His grace allows us to enjoy the benefits of walking in His wisdom everyday!

James 1:5 (NIV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But have you ever stopped and thought about what this wisdom we’re praying for is?  How easy it is for us to pray and say “Father, give me Your wisdom”.  But what is it really that we are asking for?  Consider what Solomon says is Proverbs 8.  Speaking about wisdom he says:

Proverbs 8:27-29 (NIV)
27 I (wisdom) was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

It was God’s wisdom that brought about creation.  Every minute detail of the created universe all came out from God’s wisdom.  And this is what we are asking for – that same wisdom to help us with our problems and situations!  Wow, awesome, isn’t it?

When he set the heavens in place, and the horizons of the deep – places we have not fully discovered yet!  - these were all created with His wisdom!   This is the same wisdom that we pray for everyday.

And God, by His grace, will grant us that wisdom to fix our problems, handle our daily circumstances correctly.  No wonder Solomon also said:

Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Realizing the greatness of this wisdom we are praying for should move us to fear the Lord in what we are asking for.

We recognize the greatness and holiness of the God who is giving us wisdom.

We recognize the greatness and righteousness of the wisdom that God grants us.

We also recognize the grace that grants us a glimpse of that great wisdom.

And we obey, in reverence and fear.  God’s wisdom is not always pleasing to us, or easy to do.  But because we fear Him, and recognize who it comes from, we obey.

And God’s wisdom is the best.  It’s what brings glory to His name in our lives.  The next time we pray for wisdom, let’s realize what we are asking for, and bow in reverence and obedience before Him.