Wisdom.

I was reading Proverbs chapter 8 this morning and found it deeply interesting how Wisdom is personified as a woman calling out to those in the streets pleading with people to listen to her. I underlined the attributes of wisdom:

Truth
Justice
Hating evil
Knowledge
Discretion
Counsel
Judgement
Understanding
Power
Righteousness

The chapter ends with, "Whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."

I have always prayed that I might love people and now I will pray for this Wisdom from God.

I love the image of God calling out to us asking us to follow Him. How much he wants us to live!

Doubt

"If you lack wisdom, ask God who gives to all generously and without reproach. But you must ask in faith without any doubting..." James 1:5

James also goes on to say not to expect anything from the Lord if you doubt.

James is here talking about asking for wisdom. We know this is God's will for all of us. In the verses immediately before this he is explaining about having joy in the midst of troubles. We need wisdom to understand this.

If we are praying to get a certain job, we should ask that God's will be done and then accept whatever happens. But in asking for wisdom, goodness or faith, we know these things are his will for us. That is why James says not to doubt. If we do, we are saying, "I don't know if God will really do this for me."