Posted on 02/16/2005 5:16:09 AM PST by Vision
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16
Amen to quiet time with the Lord...
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 8:14(KJV): "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength."
Thoughts for the Day:
Proverb's theme of God's wisdom runs throughout this book. These verses tell us that God's wisdom will give us sound counsel. Many people today are seeking their counsel in the wrong places and most of the time, the advice they are receiving is not based on God's Word, but rather, is usually telling people to be selfish and look after "number one." So many are going to fortune tellers, psychics, card readers, astrology books, etc. The Bible warns us that this type of counsel is not only wrong, but is opening one's spirit up to a form of witchcraft. When people are seeking advice from anyone who claims to have supernatural powers, (other than the true power of Christ and His prophets, and servants;) they are committing a sin, that the Lord calls an abomination.
Deuteronomy 18:9-15: "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."
These verses in Deuteronomy mention several very wicked things these nations were doing, because they did not know God. They were using divination, astrology (observering the times), and getting their advice or counsel from enchanters or witches and wizards. They were seeking the dead (necromancy) and having seances (consulting with familiar spirits). They were even offering their children to the god Molech to be burned (verse 10). Our civilized world today thinks how ghastly that was for people to murder their own children. However, our modern society does the same thing by committing abortion. Many nations of the world are killing their children before they are born. This is murder and is also an abomination in the sight of God.
God does not want us to seek counsel in the wrong places. He wants to direct us and give us His understanding. He declares that He is wisdom, understanding and strength. Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy and in Verse 15 he tells us that we are to seek the true Prophet, Jesus. If God shows us something that we should do and we feel we could not possibly do it or face it, His promise to His children is to give them the strength to accomplish it. One of the greatest scriptures we can quote for strength is found in the New Testament:
Philippians 4:1:3 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
We are also told that the way to overcome is not to rely on our own strength and wisdom, but to look to God for for His counsel and His advice and His strength to obey Him. He promises to give us the strength to resist and overcome the temptations that we face. We are told in Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." He did not tell me I had to be strong in my own strength, but rather, to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." I can rely on Him for all I need, He will give me His might. I can trust the Words of the Bible to be the right advice. I can trust that the Lord will enable me to keep it. In so doing I will walk in strength and victory!
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that You have guided me this far, and I trust You to continue to show me the right path to take and the right things I should do. I am asking for your wisdom and counsel in all that I do. You are all wise and I can trust Your advice in all of my affairs. I need you, Lord, in every area of my life. Lord, give me the strength I need daily, as I work and serve You. I also ask that you touch my family and friends and all of my loved ones. Lord, also touch each one who reads this prayer that they may feel Your love and strength in their life today. Bless all of those that you have placed in my life. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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