"Be not wise in your eyes, fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8
Have you heard the song, "Dear Prudence" by the Beatles? Prudence was the 19 year old sister of famous actress Mia Farrow. She was into the yoga, hindu, transcendentalism movement. She once tucked herself away in some "whoo whoo" retreat and became so "enlightened" in her meditation that she became almost psychotic. She got an attack of the horrors, paranoia and wouldn't come out of her hut. Her friends and family tried to get her to come out at no avail, so John Lennon and Paul McCartney sang her a song called "Dear Prudence" to try and get her to come out The lyrics went something like this:
"Dear prudence, won't you come out and play?
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day.
The sun is up, the sky is blue,
It's beautiful, and so are you
Dear Prudence, won't you come out and play?"
Prudence is a good thing. We should always be on our watch, looking for the prowling lion in search of his next kill. However, prudence can't be found until wisdom is gained. It's a lifelong process. Wisdom is gained through time , pressure and putting arrogance in the trash. Listed below are are traits to be seen from and through wisdom:
*Wisdom is realizing it's enmity, not ethnicity.
*Wisdom is knowing it's a matter of heart not race.
*Wisdom is knowing when to speak and when to be silent.
*Wisdom comes from adversity in early life.
*Wisdom is gained through the years.
*Wisdom is not intelligence.
*Wisdom is accepting the unknown.
*Wisdom isn't defined by success.
*Wisdom is knowing our days are numbered.
*Wisdom is valuing character over reputation.
*Wisdom is listening first and asking questions later.
*Wisdom is having hope regardless of your circumstances.
*Wisdom is surrounding yourself with life-giving people.
*Wisdom is learning from, not living IN the past.
*Wisdom always moves forward.
*ALWAYS*
It's been said, that wisdom is the most coveted attribute to have. I can't say all people may feel that way, and from what we see, I am most certain it is not. Yet, human wisdom and God's wisdom are completely different. We will never reach the level of wisdom of God on earth, but the striving for wisdom should be that of. One thing is for sure. Wisdom will never be obtained unless we do at least one thing and one thing only.
Ask.
We can be cautious, discerning, proactive, kind, generous, humble, hard working, self controlled , all the things. But unless we ask God, for His wisdom, we will never obtain it. We have to submit (oooo I know "scary" word) to the Creator of Creation. We have to be "prudent" in guarding our hearts and not thinking as the world thinks. Not worrying as the world worries. Not arguing like the world argues. Not coveting the things of the world the world covets. Prudence, meet Wisdom.
I am so far away from wise it'st almost pathetic. Yet, I rise up , in Him. He can and He will make me as He sees fit, if I just ask. If I stop making excuses for this is this way and that is that way. If I surrender my anger, worries, frustrations, confusions and grief to Him. There is that old phrase, "God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason." It's true, I often have one partial hearing aid on and about 17 mouths blabbering at one time and for that, I am sorry.
Wisdom is asking, listening and using that knowledge from Him in a workable manner so that it benefits not only us, but the lives of others. That, and only then, will this world "change".
Wisdom won.
xoxo Sara
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