DaleTedder.com
  • Home
  • About
    • Natalie Tedder
    • The Fellowship of Ailbe
    • Reflections Ministries
  • Here I Stand
    • Heidelberg Catechism
    • Apologetics
    • C.S. Lewis
  • A Far Green Country
    • Spiritual Direction
  • Podcast
  • Bible Studies
    • Old Testament Essentials
    • New Testament Essentials >
      • Ephesians: Growing Up in Christ
      • Philippians
    • Lord of All
    • Costly Discipleship
    • Ten Commandments
    • Spiritual Power
    • Master Plan of Evangelism >
      • How to Interpret Scripture
      • A Different Gospel
  • Sermons
    • Pastoral Ministry
    • Richard Baxter
  • Prayer Journal
    • Spiritual Life Checkup
  • My Books & Study Guides
  • Southside Men
    • Men's Discipleship Basics
    • Links for Godly Manhood
    • Southside Men History

Devotions

​

Pursuing Wisdom

6/18/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Joshua 1:8 - May I not let Your word depart from my mouth, but meditate on it day and night, so that I may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then I will make my way prosperous, and I will act wisely. (Ken Boa paraphrase)

This Verse is for You

This verse, from the first chapter of Joshua, has been paraphrased in the first person to remind us that God’s Word has application in our lives. It is, in a manner of speaking, addressed to us.

That’s relevant in light of the fact that this single verse is exhorting and instructing us to saturate ourselves in God’s Word. Why? Because that’s where we meet God, hear God, are confronted and instructed by God. In short, it is where we learn to “act wisely.”

But It’s Not Magic

Scripture encourages us to pursue wisdom on a daily basis. James puts it bluntly in the first chapter of the book that bears his name. Verse five reads,

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.

It doesn’t get any plainer than that. Ask for wisdom and God will give it, generously. That seems simple enough. Yet what I have learned over the years of my spiritual pilgrimage is that this “formula” does not work like a magic genie in a lamp. You don’t rub the lamp and make a wish. It doesn’t operate like taking an aspirin for a headache. You don’t take two tablets and get wisdom in the morning.

Instead, our text from Joshua gives us a pretty good understanding about how to attain wisdom. If the wisdom we want is God’s wisdom, and God has revealed his wisdom to us in and through his Word, then it would behoove us to read, study, mediate upon, pray over, and apply that source of wisdom.

If we want God’s wisdom to rub off on us and get into our spiritual bloodstreams – into our hearts and minds – then we have to do the hard work of “not letting it depart from us.” We will want to “meditate on it day and night.” We will “be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” Only then will we become prosperous and begin to act wisely.

That’s the cost to this component of faithful discipleship. It’s not easy and it certainly does not come instantly. This is not for the lazy or the faint of heart. But wisdom is a pearl of great price that is worth more than we can possibly imagine.

Walking Points

·         Read through the Book of Proverbs and write down all the descriptions of wisdom you find.
·         What is it about wisdom that makes it so important to acquire?
·         How is wisdom different than knowledge?
·         What are three things you can start doing today that will help you grow in wisdom? Write them down and then share your list with a friend.

Prayer

All-wise and loving God, you have graciously revealed your wisdom to us in and through your written Word, and most especially, through the Word, Incarnate. I pray for wisdom. I desire it. I need it. I’m lost without it. And yet, O Lord, I have been guilty far too often of not doing what it takes to have such wisdom. I have expected you to dispense it like cheap grace. I know you desire to give it generously to those who ask, but please forgive me for neglecting your treasure chest of wisdom found in Scripture. Please, fill and lead me with your Holy Spirit so that I will turn to your Word, and then read, pray over, meditate upon, study, and apply it. Only then can I expect to truly act wisely. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

This Week’s Prayer Guide

[You can use this prayer guide in your own personal prayer time. However, I encourage you to use it with a group of Christian men. Each week you should spend time praising God for who he is, confessing your sin to him (be specific) as well as expressing gratitude to him for his gracious forgiveness. Also, don’t forget to thank God for the many ways he has poured out his goodness in your life. Then, focus on the following areas of supplication, which will change from week to week.]

Petitions – prayers for yourself

·         Lord, help me to faithfully participate in the life of my congregation and for the sake of my community…
Ø  By my prayers
Ø  By my presence
Ø  By my gifts
Ø  By my service
Ø  By my witness
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs

Intercession – prayers for others
​

·         My family
·         For those who serve in government, at the national, state, and local levels
·         For those who serve in law-enforcement
·         For those who serve in fire and rescue
·         For those who serve in our nation’s military
·         Other needs
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Click the images above to learn more about my books for men.

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017

    Categories

    All
    Accountability
    Advent
    Ambassador
    Being
    Bible
    Bible Reading
    Bible Study
    Calling
    Change
    Children
    Choices
    Christianity
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church
    Comfort
    Commitment
    Confession
    Courage
    Covenant
    Cross
    Culture
    Desire
    Devotional
    Discernment
    Discipleship
    Discipline
    Doing
    Easter
    Encouragement
    Epistemology
    Eternal Perspective
    Evangelism
    Every Sphere
    Evil
    Faith
    Faithfulness
    Family
    Fatherhood
    Fellowship
    Freedom
    Gifts For Ministry
    God
    God-Centered
    Godliness
    Godly Men
    God's Attributes
    God's Character
    God's Glory
    God's Love
    God's Will
    Good
    Gospel
    Grace
    Healing
    Heart
    Heaven
    Holiness
    Holy Communion
    Holy Spirit
    Hope
    Hypocrisy
    Idolatry
    Integrity
    Jesus
    Jesus Christ
    Kingdom Discipleship
    Kingdom Of God
    Knowing God
    Knowledge
    Leadership
    Legacy
    Longing
    Longing For God
    Lordship
    Love
    Loyalty
    Manhood
    Means Of Grace
    Men
    Men's Ministry
    Mentoring
    Ministry
    Mission
    Missions
    Obedience
    Parenting
    Passion
    Perseverance
    Prayer
    Preparation
    Priorities
    Purpose
    Pursuit Of God
    Redeem Your Time
    Reformation
    Relationship
    Resurrection
    Revival
    Righteousness
    Sacrifice
    Salt And Light
    Salvation
    Sanctification
    Scriptural Holiness
    Scripture
    Secularism
    Sermon On The Mount
    Shepherd
    Shepherding
    Sin
    Small Group
    Sovereignty
    Spiritual Growth
    Stewardship
    Study
    Teaching
    Temptation
    Tests And Trials
    Theology
    Thinking
    Trust
    Truth
    Vision
    Wisdom
    Witness
    Worldview
    Worship

    RSS Feed

Contact Us

The Right Path

Thanks for visiting my site! Here you will find Bible studies, books, blog posts, devotions, and more. I pray these resources will be a blessing to you. Please click here to learn more about the website, my ministry, and me.

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
  • Home
  • About
    • Natalie Tedder
    • The Fellowship of Ailbe
    • Reflections Ministries
  • Here I Stand
    • Heidelberg Catechism
    • Apologetics
    • C.S. Lewis
  • A Far Green Country
    • Spiritual Direction
  • Podcast
  • Bible Studies
    • Old Testament Essentials
    • New Testament Essentials >
      • Ephesians: Growing Up in Christ
      • Philippians
    • Lord of All
    • Costly Discipleship
    • Ten Commandments
    • Spiritual Power
    • Master Plan of Evangelism >
      • How to Interpret Scripture
      • A Different Gospel
  • Sermons
    • Pastoral Ministry
    • Richard Baxter
  • Prayer Journal
    • Spiritual Life Checkup
  • My Books & Study Guides
  • Southside Men
    • Men's Discipleship Basics
    • Links for Godly Manhood
    • Southside Men History