WISDOM
“God, what don’t I know that I need to know? I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.”
I prayed that simple prayer on January 16, 2019, on my knees, on the floor in my office. I had just reviewed my financial reports for my coaching practice and was AMAZED that I made budget for the first time (I had just launched my coaching practice eight months earlier). I was humbled by what God had done to this point, but I wanted more; I needed more.
What Did I Need?
Wisdom.
I needed God to show me things that I didn’t know. I needed Him to Change the WAY I think because I knew faulty thinking would get in the way of being the best Life Coach I could be.
God Answered My Prayer.
3 Sources for Gaining Wisdom
Source 1 – The Bible
If we want to know what God thinks, we have to start by reading the Bible. I have had a habit of daily Bible reading for over 30 years. Sure, there are days that I miss, but for the most part, I read the Bible daily. For the past five years, I have read a chapter of Proverbs almost EVERY day. I also like to read a Psalm every day. During different seasons of life, I will read the history sections, the stories of Christ, or the teachings of Paul. Here’s the point, the Bible is God’s book for wise living.
Source 2 – People
God uses people to give wisdom, and this is a crucial point. God created us incomplete, and I need others to help me. I know a lot about cars, but not everything, so I talk to an auto mechanic. I know some things about the law, but not everything, so I speak to a lawyer. I know some things about money, but not everything, so I talk to bankers and financial advisors. To gain wisdom, we must position ourselves around other people who know things we don’t – and listen to them.
Source 3 – Experience
Finally, God uses our life experiences to give us knowledge. As one person has said, the secret to success is learning to fail well. We have to learn from our mistakes.
Recently, I met with a client who is a serial entrepreneur; he is constantly coming up with new ways to make money. He told me that he had failed more times than succeeded, BUT the lessons he learned from failing have made him successful today.
One Last Thought
Proverbs state that we should seek wisdom as though we were seeking treasure or wealth. How will you seek wisdom today? What problem do you need to solve in your personal or professional life?
