Good Morning. James 1, verses 5 - 8

Wisdom may be broken down into six areas: understanding, discretion, prudence, discernment, knowledge,

action. I believe it is critical to comprehend these, and to desire them enough that we ask God for

them daily. Let me give you an example where I lacked the discretion of wisdom, and blew it years ago,

10 to be exact, as a parent--Matthew, then 15, asked me to go see the movie Titanic; I hadn't read a

review of the content, but acquiesced because of the other kids who were going, knowing their parents

were discriminating--all of our teens attended a Christian high school together. When he got in the car

after, I said, "Well, how was it?" To which he stretched his arms straight out in front of him,

hands against the dash, and turned to me and said, "Mom, I never should have been there. . ."

"Why would you say that?" "There was a naked woman, and I was sitting between two girls. . ."

I blew it. I lacked discretion in parenting my son, and put this hormone-driven, teen-aged young man

in a compromising position. We never know at what point in the day--a teen-ager asking to do something

that requires a judgment call, a work situation that calls for a split-second decision, a 'learning experience',

cloaked in criticism from your boss--wisdom. . . how we need it. . . . daily.

Ask God for wisdom in the morning, as you start your day.

Let me go back to our text--James 1, verses 5 through 8 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask

God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith,

never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind;

for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive

anything from the Lord.

--note to self: James is not talking about doubt here in the sense of lacking confidence or even

questioning, but rather being divided between being self-centered or God-centered.

So, we ask God for wisdom--understanding what it entails (the 6)

God gives it to us, generously,

as long as we have the faith that He will indeed supply it.

Faith. . . . . we will talk about it throughout James. Faith isn't faith unless we use it.

Hebrews 11.6 tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please God..."

And, here's the deal, our Supplier has bottomless pockets, His resources are limitless.

James says He will give to us generously--but it requires of us faith in God.

It reminds me of two conversations I had with businessmen this past week. . . they were in

situations that required keen judgment, and somehow the letter that needed to be written, upon

which a lot of business hinged, almost seemed effortless in the writing;

the conversation with a customer just flowed. Wisdom--there when you need it, supplied by God.

wisdom -/- by 6 {understanding, prudence, discretion, discernment, knowledge, action]F

God gives generously--do you believe that? God, by His nature, is generous. It is our finite

minds that limit His generosity, how He will give to us.

God, would You grant us Your wisdom today?

In Faith,

Christine