Ask for Wisdom, Even While You Are a Fool! Strength is Inside.

[Michelle Reed]

I have often kept my mouth closed and not asked for wisdom from God because I have not felt worthy of asking Him, or because I have been in condemnation and guilt over my recent foolishness.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. - Proverbs 24:7

This verse says that the very act shows that my heart is foolish. Matthew Henry concise commentary on the Bible says of this verse: “A weak man thinks wisdom is too high for him, therefore he will take no pains for it.”

GOD WANTS YOU TO ASK
Sometimes we don’t know God’s word and promises and that is why we know not what to ask for. In one of my favorite scriptures in the bible, Jesus tells us that we can seek and we shall find and that our Father wants to bless us.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" - Luke 11:11-13

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU OR YOUR FOOLISHNESS

Sometimes I forget and I still think that this thing is about me, and not about God and His character, and so in my foolish state I don’t ask for wisdom, thinking it is unattainable to me. I think 'I am not worthy and have made too many mistakes to ask for wisdom at this point." or "I know better than this, God is going to be mad with me and is tired of me asking for wisdom." But what does the scripture say?

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5

This makes me excited! This scripture annuls the lies of the enemy who says I cannot have wisdom or you cannot have wisdom. God will not only give you wisdom, but will give generously without finding fault in you for your foolishness so far!

FAITH AND EXPECTANCY
Keep reading because there are conditions! Listen carefully to the next verse in James:

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. – James 1:6

DOUBT
If you don’t believe, then not only will you become unstable like the wind tossing the sea, your doubt will come to life. If you doubt, then you are right to doubt because you won’t get anything from the Lord. Read it in James 1:7. That man [who doubts when asking for wisdom] should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; - James 1:7

Henry Ford’s famous quote comes to mind “whether you think you can or you think you can’t you are right." As does another proverb: As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. – Proverbs 23:7

GOD REWARDS YOU FOR SEEKING HIM
Are you thinking of seeking God for wisdom? Then you are already on the path of seeking Him. The very suggestion to your mind to seek wisdom is from the Holy Spirit. And as you seek Him, He is pleased with you!

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. - Hebrews 6:11

DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH? GOD HAS THAT COVERED TOO

His word is a lamp to our paths and a light to our footsteps. Know what’s in it so you can draw wisdom from inside as the Holy Spirit quickens you and reminds you all of the Word you have read. Reading the Word will increase your faith too:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. - Romans 10:17

If you don’t feel you have faith, take a faith the size of a mustard seed and believe on it. To increase faith, pray and fast for a while. Sow into the spirit and you’ll gain harvest from it. Jesus said this [faith] comes only from fasting and prayer.

" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:23-24

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
He replied, "This kind can come out only by fasting and prayer. Mark 9:28-29

Take a mustard seed size of faith and believe God for wisdom. He will lead you on your path.

DON’T THINK YOU HAVE STRENGTH? - ANOTHER THING WISDOM IS GOOD FOR

Many times I thought "I'm a strong person" but if you really saw me in the midst of some adversities and heard me complain and go back to my default thinking, you'd see I was deceived and was not strong after all.

Times are hard when the devil is coming after us, our flesh is ruling us and circumstances get in the way of taking on the thoughts of God as our own! Hear what God says through His wise man, King Solomon about wisdom providing strength:

If you faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. – Proverbs 24:10

I am still learning to walk and live stronger and God has delivered me from so much weakness in my life by giving me wisdom. When adversity comes, give it to God. Seek wisdom and it will strengthen you –

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. It is yours for the taking. – Proverbs 24: 5

GET THIS!
When you go to the gate of wisdom, open your mouth and ask for it. God will help you and won’t find fault with you for asking. Even when circumstances look like they are not changing, go ahead and believe that He is giving you wisdom. God will give wisdom and in wisdom there is strength.

So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou has found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. - Proverbs 24:14

PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, Holy is your name, we ask for Your wisdom, strength, faith in Jesus name and believe that You will give it to us. Help us in our time of tribulation to cheer up and put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Help us to ask You for the good gifts You want to give us. Bring us revelation in Your love letter to us, Your Bible and give us the discipline and thirst for righteousness to read it and spend time with You through prayer and fasting.

AMEN

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

AMEN, AMEN and AMEN!!!
all I can say is WOW!!!!
U have no idea how this speaks to my soul this very day and how much I needed to read this. What you wrote is confirmation for me and my prayers. Confirmation on what my pastor has said and the instructor spoke unto me just last week during Vacation Bible School.
There was a great deal of talk about getting out of the mindset that we are not worthy. While the truth is we are not worthy and will never be, God blesses us anyway if we just come to Him and commune with Him and believe in Him. He is always knocking at the door but we have to open teh door and let Him in. He will never force His blessings or Will on us. We have to Believe, He is greater than anything we can face and that He will bless or use anyone he sees fit, just because.... it has nuthn to do with how worthiness... that is a trick of the enemy to get us to question ourselves, to doubt ourselves and GOD!
Thank you so much Sistah Michelle for this such a wonderful and encouraging post, this is confirmation for me. Welcome back to the site, we have missed you and the words of wisdom God speaks through you. Stay Blessed my Sistah, Stay faithful, never stop believing in He who is Alpha and Omega, The Creator, the All in all in all. Stay Spiritual Minded!
You have a great annointing on you and I have seen so much spiritual growth in you the short time we have known each other. You are a great source of inspiration for me and the true meaning of the word FRIEND!
be blessed my Sistah-In-Christ!
-AJ

[Michelle Reed]

wow, what a mighty God we serve. An awesome Creator who knows what His children want before they even ask. Thank you for blessing me with this testimony and confirming that this word was what God had released through me as His vessel. I have been away from the site for too long and I tell you, you have created something magnificent. Your hunger for God is all over this place and I'm honored that when God gave me a devotion, He had me publish it to your site first! He specifically had me post this to your site early hours in the morning for YOU! Yes, He loves you that much!


Thank you for the blessing and words of life you are speaking over me. Thank you!

God bless you,
M

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

What A Mighty GOD We Serve is right.... you said a mouthful...
I am both honored and humbled that He lead you to post this on Spiritual Minded before The Ink Well ( a very annointed site as well, which I must put my money where my mouth is and visit more often as well)
God has also created something magnificent thru you in the Ink Well Ministry (social network and upcoming book)
Thank you again for sowing spiritual minded seeds on this site my friend!
-AJ

[Timothy]

Godcidentally I was reading Proverbs 2 yesterday and to see this today says to me that I must really pursue wisdom. Thank you for your great insight and may you continue to increase in wisdom.

[Michelle Reed]

God bless you, Timothy! Thank you so much! I truly appreciate this blessing. God is amazing and I pray you enjoy you time with Him!

[SistahKenya]

AMEN! Thank you so much Michelle for posting these words...Yet by this I have gained strength from within to ask God for MORE wisdom on this day. I will seek, I shall find, and I will knock until the door is opened unto me!! Praise the Most High God for his wonderous blessings and words through this post. All hail Elohim you are majestic in all your ways. Thank you Lord for loving me so.

Shalom

[Michelle Reed]

AMEN!!!! Beautiful prayer!

[Logan]

Thank you Ms. Reed for sharing this discussion topic with us, encouraging us to seek the gifts of God. I have been told by "church folk" to be careful about asking for wisdom. This made me nervous about seeking God for His gifts. Im naturally passive and grew up carrying the feeling of unworthiness. Who am I to ask God for anything! Im happy that He does anything for me and don't want to bother Him. But God is teaching me how to love myself, so I can love others. Part of loving myself is receiving Christ love for me and accepting who I am in Christ. To be the soldier "My Father" has called me to be, I need His gifts. As your lesson teaches us, God wants to impart wisdom to us. Matthews 7:7 says "Ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find, Knock and the door will be open!" So I seek wisdom with enthusiasm!
God be with you,
Logan

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

Father God,
In the power invested in me by you as an encourager and prayer warrior,
I come to you in behalf of Brotha Logan
who seeks your wisdom with enthusism
Father God speaks to Brotha Logan
and make your presence known to Him like never before
fill up his Spirit with your annointing Father God
In the name of Jesus the Christ
Our Lord and Master also know as the Saviour
AMEN
AMEN
AMEN!!!!!

[Logan]

Thank you so much brother. I receive that and stand in agreement. In Jesus name. AMEN.
Logan

[SistahKenya]

I stand in agreement and pray that this is done according to the perfect will of God!! Be blessed Brotha Logan!

[Michelle Reed]

Logan, I'm grateful that God has chased you down! No matter what those people told you, God found a way to teach you. God is going to help you with that feeling of unworthiness. I pray that He heals you more and more and that every good gift He gives you will be enjoyable to you. I pray that as you seek His promises and ask Him for what He wants to give you, that you will not fear nor doubt what will happen. You will continue to understand your worth in terms of God. He says that you are a conqueror, He says all things are possible, He says with man it is not possible, but with God all things are possible, He says you are wonderfully and whole fully made, that all His works are beautiful, He says you are the first fruits of creation, He says He gifts good gifts to His children who ask. God is asking you to come higher, and all you need to do is walk to Him.

To disabuse the words of the "church folk" you discuss earlier, check out this poetic description of our relationship with wisdom from Proverbs chapter 1:21-33:

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.