Praying for Wisdom

I subscribe to BibleGateway.com to receive their daily Bible verse by email. Today’s verse is James 1:5,

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

I took that scripture as a challenge to write a “wisdom needed” prayer in my journal. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but it was long!

Here are a couple excerpts. Some of the wording is awkward. God doesn’t mind awkward prayers; hopefully you won’t either.

• I need Your wisdom in dealing with my past. I need Your wisdom to deal with how I relive the past. I cannot figure that out. I can’t fix it. I need Your wisdom and courage to deal with this.
• Father I need Your wisdom to use my gifts. Your gift of music given to me. All the creative gifts of Yours You’ve given me. I need Your wisdom to use Your gift of writing.

OK, this is painful to admit. But it shouldn’t be, because today’s scripture promises that God gives wisdom “without finding fault.”

• Father, I lack a lot of wisdom. I lack wisdom about my relationship with You. I don’t understand how to do the disciplines of relationship with You. I don’t understand how to WANT to do the work of being in relationship with You.

(That reveals a lot about my wrestling with grace versus works!)

Within the hour I was given wisdom as to how to handle one need from my prayer. And it wasn’t a simple thing like, “I need wisdom about getting a second cup of coffee!” No, it was a need that had been weighing heavily on my mind.

Receiving that answer encourages me to keep trusting God for the wisdom I still need, and will continue to need.

I encourage you to do this for yourself. Follow the wisdom of James 1:5 and pray a “wisdom needed” prayer. I wonder how you will see God respond.

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