Organizing the Inside 365 Days
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Organizing the Inside – Day 237 The Wise Seek God First
27Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. 28And this is what he says to all humanity: The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding. Job 28:27, 28
Be careful in your quest for wisdom.
There is so much great information out there. So many blogs, books and manuscripts; many countless words of great wisdom and immeasurable knowledge, much of which is easy to find. Endless streams of words are strung along on the pages left for us by great writers we may never meet. Wise men and women of God who understand the importance of embracing wisdom and obtaining knowledge have created for us volumes that collect and display their divine intellect. Great and hard to resist, they are like hidden treasures; these nuggets of wisdom guide us, remind us and speak to us. Surely knowledge has taken her seat among royalty, yes great kings rule by its trusted friend wisdom.
Should one’s search go on forever?
Voices in our lives often speak truths that nudge us along the way. These voices are helpful, yet endless. God guides many teachers and writers to capture and classify the timeless capsules of rich life lessons. Yes, infinite lessons, but for those whose time to grasp it all is finite. We must seek wisdom and understanding Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. Ecclesiastes 12:12 (NLT) To everything there is a beginning and an ending. For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to search and a time to quit searching. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6 (NLT)
Pure wisdom and true understanding come from God.
Books are plentiful and the words of men are endless…absolutely endless. All the collections of works and words, who can find the end? Be mindful in your search for knowledge; remember that your capacity to retain will far exceed your strength to obtain. In all our many tasks, both great and small there must be balance. In your quest to find truth, just remember to live, live, live the truth you have found so far. For life is so much more than a great study meet; it doesn’t consist of an endless search for answers in books, and words, and writings. Life consists of our deliberate desire to love God with our whole heart, which is displayed in a willingness to honor and serve Him with our entire life.
Organizing the Inside – Day 150 Much Deeper Than The Surface
33“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” ~Luke 11:33-36
The eyes that Jesus spoke about is your spiritual understanding.
This is spiritual discernment, your ability to perceive spiritual truth. If there is sin or sinful desires in your life, this represents the darkness that maybe in you. Consider this, you may think that something you desire is perfectly okay, but I believe part of what Jesus is teaching is that, you must look deeper to gain insight into your personal motivation. For example you may want to start a bible study group to share God’s word with others. A bible study group is a good thing to do as service to the Lord. It’s important however that you pause, and look at your motives behind wanting to start this bible study. If your real reason for starting the study is so that you will have an avenue to later promote your new project or book or even just yourself, than the light you think you may have, could very well be darkness to this day. Often what you think is right you later realized wasn’t right at all.
Seeing deeper than the surface.
Seeing deeper than the surface is like perceiving something beyond your intellectual ability to know. I sometimes consider this as putting on my (except they are not mine at all, only God can give this gift) spiritual eyeglasses; although I think that oversimplified my point.
Being able to look within your own heart, thoughts, and ideas to see your true desires is not always easy. But, taking an honest look at you through the Word of God and prayer makes this a much simpler undertaking. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16
Once you prayerfully allow the Word of God to have access, and apply it to every area of your life darkness of any kind cannot remain. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Psalm 119:130 Perhaps it’s time for some introspection as you decide in your heart to have no hidden corners where you don’t allow God to have full access. Jesus gives us a heads-up that what you are thinking is light, may not be light after all. Maybe it’s time to allow the Holy Spirit to walk through the inner most personal spaces of your heart and mind. Jesus said, “…see to it” but we have to be willing to take time out to do the work. Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Psalm 51:6
May I be first partaker of His truth.
Organizing the Inside – Day 124 Progress Takes Time
3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. James 1:3-5
Growth is progressive.
Consider the flowers in a garden. First the seed must be planted and then watered. Soon if all goes well you will start to see the first little sprout of what’s to come. In life we often want God to fix it now. Half the time, we may not even know what we want Him to fix. We only know we wanted it yesterday, so we can feel better today. We want Him to pull out a miracle just for us and make it happen now. Rarely does God intervene in this way. There are times when we may need a supernatural manifestation of His great power to work in our lives, but most growth happens a little at a time.
Embracing God’s Word is the beginning of change.
When you spend time reading the Word of God and the Holy Spirit speaks to you about something you need to change in your life, change usually occurs gradually, it doesn’t often happen overnight. However, when you hear the Word you have a choice to make, and if you receive it, that’s when the growth begins. Saying yes to God is the first step, but most likely there is more work in progress. So then you keep revisiting that scripture, keep considering what He said, continue to meditate on it and it will soon take root in you; changing your poor attitude or your broken heart or whatever you need and making you whole. (Also read James 1:23-25)
Instant gratification is an unrealistic expectation.
When you first gave your life to God change happened immediately. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 God gave us a new spirit; one that is alive in Christ. We still however, because we live in a sinful world need to have our minds renewed daily. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Make the investment and growth will happen.
The biggest part of living a life that is not hindered by the complexities of the world is to make sure you allow God to renew your mind daily. No matter the cost, increase your knowledge of Him. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 Dig in and look deep inside your heart. What are you really lacking, what is really missing or causing you so much frustration? I guarantee you that whatever you are in need of, whatever area of your life has stopped growing; the answer is in the Word of God. “But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are His. Job 12:13 The inerrant Word of God can meet you at your point of need, then go exceedingly, abundantly above all you could ever ask, or even think to ask for and bless you beyond measure. Make it first place in your life and nothing can keep you from growing.
Day 36- Today I Answered the Call of Wisdom
1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud: 4“To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. 6Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. 7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. 8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. 9To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. 10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, 11for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 12“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
~Proverbs 8:1-12
I realize something today that I’m not certain I clearly understood before; the value of wisdom. God wants me to do my very best to gain wisdom and get understanding. Wisdom is living the Word; it is putting into practice what you are taught; knowledge being lived out in one’s life. I’ve come to understand that God see wisdom as supreme. It ranks higher than many things that I’ve spent my time pursuing.
I want to invest my money, time, and focus in one thing that God has put high value upon; wisdom and understanding. Proverb 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. This, for me adds considerably more value to a coach’s word, or a teacher’s insight, or a mother’s instructions that I did not fully understand before.
As I look for ways to make my life simpler, I know that getting that which is supreme will help me avoid a lot of obstacles that most likely would have obscured my path.
Organizing the Inside 365 Days 