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A Gentle Spirit
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Jeanne Stewart, Oklahoma
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Joy of Wisdom
In
the early light of morning, when night’s battle in prayer stills, joy comes
with a perfect peace and understanding from the throne room of Heaven.
Believing and accepting Christ Jesus as Lord and Redeemer does not
automatically remove the difficulties of life. But our attitude in which we
meet adversity does. Viewing each situation through prayer from God’s
perspective, we begin to learn His awe-inspiring wisdom.
We
are to take a different view of joy when facing difficult times. We have to
understand the purpose of God as a means to our spiritual growth. Negative
hardships carry the possibly of good results in their design of proving
genuineness and truth. Patience comes from the purging and stripping away of
our own way of thinking to bring forth His absolute purpose in us.
Joy and Patience ~
We
are to, ‘… count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of our faith produces patience. But let patience have its
perfect work, that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.’ (James
1:2-4)
God’s
depth of joy is not just our
emotional reaction, but a deliberate work of His amazing grace to build our
confidence in Him and His loving ways alone. Almighty God does not need our
flimsy ideas or help, but our surrendered heart in obeying His will in the
difficulty we are facing. Then patience
is not the defensive acceptance to adverse circumstances, but a positive
steadfastness that boldly endures and trusts as the situation is worked out in
God’s completeness of God’s perfect timing.
Ask in Faith for Wisdom ~
Then,
‘… if any of you lacks wisdom, let him
ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given
to him.’ (James 1:5)
The
word reproach originally has this
meaning according to Strong’s Concordance:
To behave in a very juvenile and immature way, describing youngsters who make
fun of, tease, and taunt each other. Then the word came to denote mocking,
ridiculing, scolding, insulting, and using words angrily or sarcastically.
Simply put, God takes your request seriously – He does not scold or ridicule.
Godly
wisdom is required in every hard place
or situation of life. As a true child of God we seek His wisdom. The greatness
of our Father God’s love for His children is in our assurance that He gives us
His best without reminding us of how unworthy we truly are.
So be
encouraged, ask for the Godly joy of
wisdom that separates the precious from the vile in that we can draw close
to Him and lack nothing.
