The Power Of A Teenage Prayer

Chapter 12: Lord Help Me Make Wise Decision

One time I spent a week on vacation, and I stayed in a high rise beach front condominium. As I was standing out on the 7th story balcony overlooking the ocean, I had an interesting view of the water below. From where I was, I could clearly see where the shallow places were,and where the ocean floor suddenly fell off and the water was really deep. I watched people swim out a ways and suddenly find themselves in a shallow place and be forced to stand up. The water at those shallow places was barely knee level. It was fascinating to watch the swimmers walk around on the sandy plateau and then suddenly fall over the edge into deep water.

I realized that if I could have been connected to each of those swimmers by a waterproof cell phone, I could have told them when they were near the edge so they wouldn't fall off. But they had no contact with me, so I couldn't tell them what I saw from my perspective.

That's the way it is with God. He sees all that's happening to us because he is Above it all. If we were to connect with Him on a regular basis and say, "Lord,guide me so I won't fall," He could led us away from the edge. But so often we don't make that call. We don't seek out Hid guidance. We don't ask Him for wisdom. We don't consider His perspective. And too often we fall in over our heads because of it.

A man named Lot,Abraham's nephew in the Bible,ended up being captured by the enemy because he chose to be in a place that he thought was a good place to live (Genesis 13:10-11). But it was among wicked people who would eventually be a big part of his downfall (Genesis 13:13). He chose what he thought was best, rather than asking what God knew was best. How many times do people walk out from under God's umbrella of protection and away from His best,all because they have chosen what they think  is  best for their lives? They don't ask for God's wisdom and direction. We all do that at one time or another. Unfortunately,we sometimes to have learn a few hard lessons first.

Have you ever observed someone with no wisdom clearly doing the wrong thing or making a foolish decision? The consequences are crystal clear to you, but they don't see it all. It's always easier to see a lack of wisdom in someone else than it is to see it in ourselves. That's why we must pray for wisdom often.

Wisdom means having clear understanding and insight. It means knowing how to apply the truth in every situation. It's discerning what is right and wrong. It's having good judgement. It's being able to sense when you are getting too close to the edge. It's making the right choice or decisions. And often only God knows what that it is. "When He, the spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:13).

We have no idea how many times simple wisdom has saved our lives or kept us out of harm's way. Or how many times it will do so again in the future. That's why we need to ask God for wisdom to walk through everyday.

Ten Ways To Walk In Wisdom
1) Read the Bible. "My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my command within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom.,and apply your heart to understanding....then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1,2,5).

2) Pray for God to give you wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom,let him ask of God,who gives to all liberally and without reproach,and will be given to him" (James 1:5)

3) Bring God into everything you do. "In all your ways acknowledge Him,and He shall direct your paths"(Proverbs 3:6).

4) Have reverence in your Heart for God. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"(Proverbs 9:10)

5) Pay attention to what wise people say and do. "Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,and apply your heart to my knowledge" (Proverbs 22:17)