Leaning In to Wisdom
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of being in various seminars and other informal settings where people would crowd around and listen to everything a particular person had to say on various topics. Often the leader that was surrounded didn’t act with any pride or present themselves as a know-it-all, but those around them knew that this particular man or woman had wisdom and insight to offer from their successes and failures. When you are in the presence of someone like that, you want to lean in or incline your ear to what they have to say.
How many times have you underlined some wise saying from a book you were reading? Sometimes we even memorize some piece of wisdom we have heard from a particular leader, professor, or preacher. These spiritual and intellectual nuggets that we hear, memorize, and quote often contain truth that can transform us.
In several passages of scripture in both the Old and New Testaments, we are told to listen, to pay attention, or, as is the case of Proverbs 22:17, to incline our ear and hear the words of the wise. Of course, God’s word contains pages and pages of divine guidance. My observation and personal experience suggest that we are pretty adept at listening to wisdom. What we often miss is what the wise saying of Proverbs tells us after we are told to listen:
“And apply your heart to my knowledge.”
Wisdom kept on the shelf, in our journal, or framed and hung on a wall will not help us improve our effectiveness or transform our hearts and minds. We can only grow in wisdom when we apply the truth and wisdom in our daily lives.
Father, today we incline our ears to the wisdom we find in your word. Now we pray that you would give us the discipline and courage to apply your wisdom to each step we take today. We want to live fully surrendered to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Proverbs 22:17-19 ESV
Photo by Pexels
To receive daily posts delivered directly to your inbox, complete the form at the bottom of our home page.
