Ask God For Wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally (generously) and without reproach (without finding fault), and it will be given to him.” — James 1:5

One of the greatest blessings we can request from God is the wisdom to do what is right. For example, when Solomon became the king of Israel, he asked God for wisdom. Because of this request, God gave him greater wisdom than any other man in history.

Knowledge vs. Wisdom

It is important to understand that wisdom and knowledge are not the same thing:

• Knowledge is an understanding of facts. We gain knowledge through study. The more we study, the more facts we learn. This is why we should read and study our Bibles every single day.
• Wisdom is the ability to use that knowledge to make good decisions.

How We Gain Wisdom

We typically gain wisdom in three main ways:

1. Personal Experience

We learn from our own actions and mistakes. For example, if you touch a hot pot on the stove and burn your finger, you quickly learn not to touch hot pots again.

2. Learning from Others

You can gain wisdom by observing other people. When you see someone make a foolish decision and get hurt, or make a wise decision and get rewarded, you learn how you should behave.

Learning from other people’s mistakes and successes is a sign of maturity. Fortunately, the Bible is filled with these real-life stories for our benefit.

3. Praying to God

James tells us that we can simply pray to God for wisdom. If we ask Him without doubting, God has promised to give it to us generously. Make it a habit to pray for wisdom every single day, and watch how God guides your decisions.