” 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.” James 1:5 NIV
At ten years old, Ella was a lovely girl with high standards. She was enthusiastic and energetic. Her mom wasn’t surprised when she asked for permission to try out for her school’s Show Choir. She loved to sing, dance, and do gymnastics.
She tried out, and she was selected. Oh, the hours the entire group practiced after school, and the hard work their positive teacher expected and put in herself.
Then, as they began performing, a local group asked for them to sing at one of the community charity events. Pleased for the publicity, they all accepted eagerly.
At the event, the DJ introduced them and called them up to the performance area. He asked for them to free style dance to one song before they performed: a dance contest between the girls and the boys. The kids looked at each other excitedly. Then the DJ played the song, a completely inappropriate song for girls and boys of ten years of age.
Her mother sat in the stands watching her precious daughter. Ella caught her mom’s eye. Those innocent eyes asked, “What should I do?”
James 1:5 tells us what we can do, what we should do. Whenever we don’t know what to do, we should ask God. Sitting comfortably in a car or on a couch, it seems so simple. Yet, when faced with a sudden unexpected situation that requires a response now, it’s not always easy to remember what we should do,
How do we train ourselves? We need to remember the TRUTH.
T- This world is not our home. (Hebrews 13:14) This is all we’ve ever known, yet this is not all there is. We need to live in this world but not of it. We have hope of a better place for our eternity. Studying Scripture helps us keep that forefront in our minds.
R- Recall no one loves us like God. (John 3:16, Psalm 117:2, Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 103:11)
U- Understand that because we live on this earth, we will have trouble. (John 16:33)
T- Trust in God. (Proverbs 3:5-6) He will always supply the wisdom, the faith, and the love you need to do what He asks.
H- Heed His commands. There are reasons for His rules. Reasons we may not always see clearly at the moment, just as the two-year-old doesn’t understand why he can’t wander into the street at will. God wants the very best for His children, so we must obey Him in order to receive His very best. (John 14:23)
Jesus said “You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) We can train ourselves to focus on God and His instructions, His Word. We will still face difficult situations in this life, but we can face them completely confident that God will supply all our needs, including the need for His wisdom.
Reflections:
When have I been suddenly faced with a situation where others were looking to me or at me, to see just how I might handle it?
What were my thoughts, did I automatically ask God? Were my thoughts paralyzed?
What did I do and what was the outcome?
How can I handle future situations?
Prayer: Dear God, You are so holy and omniscient. You know all. You see all. You know my desires to serve and please You. You also know where I fall short. You know how the insults of others can hurt, and You care about that pain. Spending more time with You will ease that pain and that’s exactly what You want for me. Please show me more moments each day I can focus on You and Your Truth. Please help me implement those truths, especially when I’m put on the spot. Thank You for Your great love, Amen.
Suggested resource: You Are Special by Max Lucado. This children’s book perfectly illustrates how much a close relationship with God will ease our internal struggles with daily life on earth.
Thank you for reading! Please return Monday, October 27, for the next post.