Morning Devotion
February 4, 2025
Today's Bible Verse
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Today's Bible Study
This verse reminds us to pray for wisdom. It's encouraging because it tells us that the Lord gives wisdom generously to all people and will not rebuke anyone who asks for it. We'll break the verse down by what it says about God and how we should respond.
The highlight of the verse is God's generosity: He is happy to give wisdom to those who seek it. The Lord isn't hoarding wisdom or making it privy to only a select few. Much to the contrary, He freely gives it. He is happy for people to ask for wisdom. He will not shame those who desire to become wise. It does not matter who the person asking for wisdom is, only that the person knows the Lord and believes that He will answer the request.
It is important to the Lord that we grow in wisdom. We should not be the same kind of Christian today that we were ten years ago; we should always be growing in our knowledge of the Lord and becoming more and more like Him. The Lord will help us do this by giving us wisdom as we ask for it.
The highlight of the verse is God's generosity: He is happy to give wisdom to those who seek it. The Lord isn't hoarding wisdom or making it privy to only a select few. Much to the contrary, He freely gives it. He is happy for people to ask for wisdom. He will not shame those who desire to become wise. It does not matter who the person asking for wisdom is, only that the person knows the Lord and believes that He will answer the request.
It is important to the Lord that we grow in wisdom. We should not be the same kind of Christian today that we were ten years ago; we should always be growing in our knowledge of the Lord and becoming more and more like Him. The Lord will help us do this by giving us wisdom as we ask for it.
And our only role is to ask for wisdom, because only then will the Lord grant it to us. Because of this, we know the wisdom that we have is from the Lord. We can ask for wisdom in prayer and read the Bible with a focus on learning more about who God is. Knowing the Lord will make us wiser because as we understand His character, we will become more like Him.
Once we have been granted wisdom by the Lord, we must apply it to our lives. If we're in a tough situation, for instance, we should remember to pray before making a decision. Applying wisdom to our lives means we'll know the kind of entertainment to enjoy, the right words to say, and how to respond to other people in difficult circumstances. Wisdom is using what God has graciously given us and then turning to Him, again and again, to help us become even wiser.
Once we have been granted wisdom by the Lord, we must apply it to our lives. If we're in a tough situation, for instance, we should remember to pray before making a decision. Applying wisdom to our lives means we'll know the kind of entertainment to enjoy, the right words to say, and how to respond to other people in difficult circumstances. Wisdom is using what God has graciously given us and then turning to Him, again and again, to help us become even wiser.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you so much for wisdom. Help me to see you above all else and continue to grow wiser day by day. Using the wisdom you have given me, help me to have discernment when I'm facing something difficult and to know what you want me to do. I love you, Lord, and I ask you to keep giving me wisdom. In Jesus' name, amen.
If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.
-C.S. Lewis
God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.
-Elbert Hubbard
The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.
-C.S. Lewis
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
Yesterday's Devotional
February 3, 2025
Yesterday's Bible Verse
Proverbs 3:24
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Yesterday's Bible Study
This morning's verse is in a section that describes what happens when we walk in wisdom. When we live honoring the Lord, we will not be troubled by our conscience at night; instead, we will be able to rest well. We will also know that even when we are most vulnerable asleep the Lord will protect us. Today, we'll look at how we can apply the wisdom of this verse to our lives beginning tonight when we sleep!
We have to walk in the wisdom of the Lord to rest well at night. Most of us probably know what it's like to be unable to rest because we're troubled by something that was said or done. Regret and frustration keep us awake into the wee hours of the night, when we should be sleeping.
Walking in wisdom does not mean we're perfect, however. Only Jesus was perfect! It means that we strive to be holy in every aspect of our lives. When we fail, we turn to the Lord in repentance, ask for forgiveness, make it right as much as possible with the people we wronged, and, finally, we can sleep trusting in the grace of the Lord. We can be assured that our sin was paid for after we repent. We do not need to dwell on it any longer.
We have to walk in the wisdom of the Lord to rest well at night. Most of us probably know what it's like to be unable to rest because we're troubled by something that was said or done. Regret and frustration keep us awake into the wee hours of the night, when we should be sleeping.
Walking in wisdom does not mean we're perfect, however. Only Jesus was perfect! It means that we strive to be holy in every aspect of our lives. When we fail, we turn to the Lord in repentance, ask for forgiveness, make it right as much as possible with the people we wronged, and, finally, we can sleep trusting in the grace of the Lord. We can be assured that our sin was paid for after we repent. We do not need to dwell on it any longer.
We can also trust that the Lord will protect us as we sleep. Sleeping, especially in the time Proverbs was written (long before electronic security systems and 911!), was when people were most vulnerable because they were unable to protect themselves. Yet this proverb tells them and us today not to be afraid while sleeping. God never sleeps, and we can trust that His plans for our lives will be accomplished even as we rest.
Today's proverb reminds us that the Lord cares about our sleep. We should walk in wisdom during the day, honoring Him with our thoughts and actions. At night, we can rest trusting in His cover. Indeed, Jesus wants us to rest. Even God rested on the seventh day of creation! Tonight, if you have trouble sleeping, remember this verse and lean into these truths.
Today's proverb reminds us that the Lord cares about our sleep. We should walk in wisdom during the day, honoring Him with our thoughts and actions. At night, we can rest trusting in His cover. Indeed, Jesus wants us to rest. Even God rested on the seventh day of creation! Tonight, if you have trouble sleeping, remember this verse and lean into these truths.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you so much that you care about my rest. You don't want me to wake up in the morning feeling weary from lack of sleep. Help me to have a sound mind when I lay my head down. I want to walk in wisdom during the day and to know that you are faithful to me at night. I love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.