Key Scripture- “Do not be wise in our own eyes; fear The Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8).

If we place our faith in our own wisdom, we are destined for failure. Proverbs 16:8 tells us, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Placing faith in our own wisdom is a form of pride because: we do not know anything for certain about the future; we don’t see all the motives of other people; and we don’t fully grasp the spiritual realities of God’s kingdom. God is the one who has a handle on all of these things, and we have a handle on none.

The Bible tells us how we can get wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 8:13 says, “to fear The Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” When we have wisdom and understanding from God it will change how we spend our time, talents, and our treasure (money). It will change how we approach our circumstances, our relationships, our work, and our attitudes. If you make decisions out of self interest your decisions will have devastating and destructive consequences. If you want to make wise decisions focus on God – His character, His ways, His eternal nature – and this will lead you to wisdom.

Job also tells us where wisdom comes from, “Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?… God understands the way to it, and He alone knows where it dwells… And He said to the human race. ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding'” (Job 28; 20, 23, 28).

You might be thinking, “How do I focus on God and get to know Him?” Start reading and meditating on the book He wrote about Himself, the Bible, and you will learn everything you need to know about God and you will be amazed at how wise you become. Then spend time with Him in prayer, be honest and very candid when you talk to Him, and call out to Him and ask Him to give you wisdom.

Try this next time you need to make a decision. Pray and ask God to give you wisdom and He will freely give it to you. In James it tells us, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6). Ask God to show you what to do so that you reflect His character, so that your motives are pure, and He will counsel you through the Holy Spirit and other Christians, then do exactly what He says to do without hesitation.

Our motives are at the root of why we are making the decisions that we make, they identify the center of our lives and what is important to us. If we are centered on ourselves, we’re fools; if we are centered on God and His purpose and character, we are wise and we will make wise decisions. “To God belong wisdom and power, counsel and understanding are His” (Job 12:13).

Are you relying on God’s wisdom or your own wisdom? If you want to make wise decisions read the Bible and start asking God what His will is before you do anything, then follow what He instructs you to do. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints” (Proverbs 2:6-8).

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I want You to make me holy like You are Holy. I am asking that You give me wisdom and understanding, and give me a hatred toward sin and a love for righteousness. I know that the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding is blessed, for the gain from wisdom is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing I desire can compare with her. Long life is in wisdom’s right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. (Proverbs 3:13-18 ). Show me what I need to do find wisdom. Show me what I need to do to reflect Your character so that my motives are pure. I want You to change me so that I am more like Christ and I make wise decisions that are centered on You and not on me. Father, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that means I respect and revere You because You are God and I am not. I am Your servant and I will show it by doing what You say to do or not do, instead of what I feel like doing or what I think is right. In the Precious Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

All rights reserved to their rightful owners. We do not profit from anything shared on this page.