This past week, I have to admit, I was reluctant and anxious. But why? With two exams next week, both in 400 level courses that are extremely demanding, I couldn’t help but wonder if Doubling Gap was where I was supposed to be. Would it be wise of me to stay in State College and finish, I mean start study guides and memorize the complete metabolism of B12 and Folate micro-vitamins or go to a weekend long conference? A conference that’s main purpose was to explore how to be ladies of wisdom. Yet, I kept asking myself: Was I being wise if I went?
Truth is, I went. I had the opportunity to explore what it is like to live and be a woman of wisdom, wisdom that starts with Gods design. An intricate design and lifestyle that must be lived with value and without shortcuts.
In Proverbs, Solomon addresses the younger generation to describe what wisdom is and to help God’s people (you and I) become wise. Wisdom as mentioned in Proverbs 2, helps us to gain the understanding of righteousness and justice. Wisdom is diligent and a treasure that comes and belongs to God, the ultimate source and creator. He created wisdom and he can decide wisdom. Wisdom takes root in our hearts and protects those who embrace it. We are called to trust in the Lord and not to trust in our own finite and often-mistaken understanding.
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil” Proverbs 3:5-7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9:10) Wisdom that is founded in the “fear of the Lord,” enables us to express our faith in practical ways in our everyday lives. God’s holy anger defends his word and his people. Fear of the Lord, and the terrifying fear of his wrath scare me, as it should to you too. Our God is a jealous and wrathful God, jealous to protect his relationship with his sons and daughters. The reality is, I am guilty. Really guilty of making God jealous.
“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.” –Nahum 1:2-3
My prayer spot surrounded by Gods creation.
He is jealous in the truth that I look towards material and earthly things to satisfy me. I turn to food during the late hours of the night when I should be wise and choose sleep. I choose to watch Netflix movies that are not helpful during times when I should be wise and study for exams or turn to scripture. I seek attention from men to determine my worth, when I should be wise and turn to the ultimate source. I choose to not turn to the Lord when I am lonely, sad, bored or frustrated but rather I turn to other things. God is jealous when I choose such things that offer temporary satisfaction in order to satisfy what only he can provide.
“Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 8:10-11
Paul, the author of Romans, exemplifies this wrath when writing to the Romans in order to unite Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome. In chapter 1, Paul explains the extent of Gods wrath on the sinfulness of the Gentiles, the Jews and all of the sinful people. That’s us. Paul describes that the Romans are filled with a manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, they gossip, slanders, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedience to parents, foolish, faithless and ruthless.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Romans 1:18
Friends, this is convicting and it should be. Sin is a lion that will destroy you and I, yet we are called to have a soft and repentant heart. A repentant heart that is needed to avoid God’s wrath on the day of wrath, the day we will all be judged. This repentance leads us to trust in Jesus Christ for his forgiveness of our sins.
Christ has called us to leave our simple ways, and live and walk in the way of insight. (Proverbs 9:6) Cultivate discernment from others and reject the foolish. Discern and set our faces towards wisdom and walk in love. In Ephesians, Paul who is writing to the churches in Ephesus and the surrounding region while imprisoned in Rome tells them to be imitators of God as his beloved children and discern what is pleasing to God. There is peace in knowing that Jesus is the one true king and only example of how we are to live our lives.
Finally friends, we need to apply Gods accurate perception of wisdom to our lives. Wisdom is not just known, its active. Its what we know and how we live. If we don’t apply wisdom into our lives, we simply don’t have it. Recognize fools by what they love, for they love what God hates. In the words of Megan Royes, a wise women and staff member for Disciple Makers said: repent in trusting yourself, ask questions that seek to know Gods design, immerse in Gods word and finally direct others to wisdom.
“So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.” Proverbs 2:20
For us women, Proverbs 31 calls us to be woman who fear the Lord, a prudent woman who looks ahead, anticipates, considers all factors, is dignified and ruled by God. She is strong and dresses herself with strength. She is not afraid. She builds up her husband and is respected by him by her character. She builds her friends up. She speaks with kindness. She is a wise woman, who fears the Lord,
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a women who fears the Lord Is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:30-31
So as I look back on this past weekend, I asked myself again, was it wise to go for a weekend long conference with sisters in Christ, worshiping my God, spending time in the word, learning about God’s wisdom and I even had time to study? My answer is YES, because friends, God is worth it.
Your friend-Amber
My beautiful friends!
The door in one of my favorite rooms of the mansion.
The endless rocking chairs, perfect for quite time!
AMBER.LYNN.DEEMER 