“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”  Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

It is a well-known fact that whoever speaks into your life determines how you will move forward. Everyone connected to you is not called to travel with you on your road to destiny.

Have you placed people around you that will strengthen you, challenge you, and motivate you? Or have you only “yes-men” in your corner? Make it a point to surround yourself with others that will help keep you moving. Take inventory today of those in your circle; is it time to make  changes?

Lord, teach us how to choose wisely the people we allow close to us. Help us not to judge by sight of our eyes, by hearing of our ears, but with Godly wisdom as we connect with others. You have a set place for us and along that path You have predestined the relationships that are valuable in every area of our lives. Thank you for being concerned about each detail that concerns us in Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Mary Pinckney
used by permission

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“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” James 3:17

James describes two kinds of wisdom ? the kind from heaven and the one from earth (James 3:13-18). The wisdom of this world focuses on self. Selfish ambition and bitter envy naturally dwell in human hearts. People generally look out for their own interests.

On the other hand, “wisdom from above” or “God’s kind of wisdom” (NLT) flows from God’s character. In the passage above, James states that after the foundation of purity, being peace-loving appears as the second most important aspect of heavenly wisdom.

Loving peace requires all the elements of God’s wisdom ? purity, the consideration of others, and humble submission to God and His way. In order to truly live out God’s call to peace, we need God’s mercy, as found in His righteous character, and His unbiased and genuine love.

Peace-lovers desire unity and harmony more than being right. They consider listening to others as more important than airing their own opinions. Peace-lovers value people more than tasks.

Yet, loving peace doesn’t mean peace at any cost. Rather, peace-lovers willingly pay the cost of peace by denying themselves. In the journey toward wisdom, loving peace marks a significant milestone, because loving peace highlights the difference between worldly wisdom (self-promotion) and heavenly wisdom (submission to God).

Holy Spirit, make me a peace-lover. I want to live my life with heavenly wisdom, not the wisdom of this world. Amen.

Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

https://thelife.com/devotionals

FURTHER READING

Wisdom of God

Making Sense of God’s Wisdom

The Benefits of Acquiring Godly Wisdom

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The post Heavenly Wisdom appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“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

Wisdom and knowledge are related, but not synonymous. Wisdom is the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting. Knowledge is information gained through experience, reasoning, or study.

Knowledge involves the accumulation of facts and data, where wisdom focuses on how to use it wisely.

God wants us to have knowledge of Him. But knowing about God is not all there is. God blesses us with wisdom in order for us to glorify Him and use the knowledge we have of Him.

The great missionary, E. Stanley Jones said, “There are those in our churches who know about God, but don’t know Him. They are informed about Jesus, but not transformed by Him”

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. If knowledge is information, wisdom is the understanding and application of that knowledge. Knowledge is measuring a desert path. Wisdom is packing enough water for the hike.

Sadly, we can gain a lifetime of knowledge; yet never see the wisdom in it. We live in a world that worships knowledge, but lacks wisdom.

I am convinced that there are many great and educated theologians who will never see the gates of heaven. Their minds are packed with knowledge about God, but their hearts have not been transformed by His grace.

God sent His only Son that we might have the wisdom to accept His forgiveness and have life everlasting with Him, regardless of how much knowledge we may or may not have.

Focus on God and His Word, but drill down deeper from knowledge to spiritual transformation and the acceptance of His grace for life eternal through acceptance of His Son Jesus.

By John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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