Tag: Wisdom

The Past is the Past

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

The past is not a package one can lay away.

Emily Dickinson

“If only I knew then what I know now”. If only I could go back in time and redo this or that. Time is a good teacher, however, and regret can be a bully. The past should not be put on lay away in the mind and heart to pick up at a later date. I can view myself a failure over things I did wrong or I can see through to God telling the story of His faithfulness, forgiveness and fulfillment.

Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

The Best Light

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

Treat your friends as you do your pictures and place them in the best light.

Jennie J. Churchill

Looking for the best in those around us -whether in the home, out in town, or on social media – can turn someone’s day around. We never know what others are dealing with behind closed doors. The family member, the co-worker, the neighbor, the waitress, the cashier, the teacher, the pastor – they have needs and strengths, too. Compliment, love, be generous in encouragement.

Romans 15:5-6, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Rise Up Again

Published on by Rebecca GilbreathLeave a comment

I do not have it all together. Just because I write about self-discipline, compassion, love, faith, grace, I am, by no means, an expert on anything. I am far from it and mess up on a daily basis. In fact, my son gently said to me, “You were a little ‘sharp’ this morning.” And this was on Mother’s Day this year. ((sigh))) I have not forgotten his words or how gentle he was in telling me. I could accuse the people who try to talk to me before coffee (even after they have been warned). My son is ready for a full blown conversation if you even look him in the eye in the morning. I.am.not. My prayer in the morning should not be, “Give me coffee”, but rather, “Give me Jesus”.  I could excuse my behavior because I am not a morning person and everyone in the house should know this. I could blame my failure to ‘get it right’ on anyone and anything but myself. And I can scold myself ’til kingdom come for my too sharp tongue, but that is not what grace is about. God does not want us living constantly berating ourselves for our imperfections. We need to ask forgiveness, forgive ourselves, and move on. Every day there is new grace, new compassion, and new mercies. And I can say, “Amen” to that all day long, but I need to live it. Did you mess up this week already? Did you fail to ‘get it right’ today? That’s OK… me too. But remember this: “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is his faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. -Proverbs 24:16

365 new days. 365 new chances. I will fail to ‘get it right’ again, but how will I respond? I am a sinner saved by grace and when the Spirit tells me Himself of through another person that I have hurt someone, I can choose to stay frustrated, or rise up with dignity to a new morning, to new graces, to God’s ever present faithfulness.

When Wisdom Is Nearer

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Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar. -W. Wordsworth

Oh how hard it is to not let pride get in the way. To choose God’s righteousness over self-righteousness is a challenge some days because my flesh wants to have its own way. To let His will be done instead of forcing my ways and hoping I did the right thing goes against the Spirit who only wants what is best.

Concepts used around the word “wisdom” are usually; righteousness, understanding, integrity, knowledge, upright, just, peace, safety, honor, diligence, life. And so much more.

Wisdom is nearer when I bend to His will.

Wisdom is nearer when I listen for the still small voice which says, “This way”.

Wisdom is nearer when I wait for God’s direction, not rushing results.

Wisdom is nearer when I choose to live with integrity, knowledge, peace, safety, honor,…life.

Wisdom is nearer when I find myself kneeling before God first before expecting to soar.

Proverbs 11:6, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”

The Work of Spiritual Discernment

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Just like salvation through Christ cannot be passed down through another person, so it is with wisdom. It is a personal decision to seek Christ. It is a personal choice to seek knowledge and understanding. A solid spiritual life is not ‘just going to happen’ without any effort on the part of the believer.

Proverbs 2:3-5, “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”

I want to be a seeker of things that God cares for me to know about. I want to have the desire to search carefully and thoroughly for understanding as I would if I were mining for silver. Through crying out to God and digging through His word, spiritual discernment, understanding the heart of God, and knowledge of His faithfulness comes.

 

Embrace the Grace

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I will choose to listen to the wise who build and turn away from the critics who break.

I will choose to focus on faith in God and separate from those centered on faults and flaws.

I will choose to do the job God gave me and be untroubled about “keeping up” with anyone else.

I will choose to evaluate my worthiness by using God’s Word as my foundation and bypass the weighing measures of man.

I will choose to let go of the misconceptions, the broken trust, the self-imposed and others-imposed boundaries to embrace the grace. “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1b

Proverbs 3:31, “Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.”

Choose wisely.

To Be Yet Wiser

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 Teachable: adjective
1) capable of being instructed, as a person; docile; 2) capable of being taught, as a subject.

I can admit I do not know everything, but can I say that I am teachable? When I first set out to homeschool, I had a lot to learn even though I had taught children before. I asked a lot of questions from other homeschoolers, looked things up on the internet, and made phone calls to different curriculum distributors. If Jonathan wanted to know something about a particular subject, we went to the library and returned with stacks of books. It is one thing to look up information for my own curiosity, but how do I react when I am specifically given instructions? Do I seek to learn a few things or do I turn a deaf ear? Sometimes I would need to speak slower and enunciate just to make sure Jonathan heard and understood what I was asking him to do.  Do I listen to wise counsel and gain understanding or become ignorant– or as I have heard it said, “dumb on purpose”? Do I need God to speak slowly to me and enunciate because I just cannot seem to grasp what He wants? What value do I put on wise counsel from God or wise men/women?

Can I be taught to be more patient, kind, loving, giving? Am I content in my stubborn ways? Tough questions, the answers hard to admit.

I think of these things as my son is in college, being taught by others, and is readying for the future. Have I instilled in him respect for elders and for those who know more than he does? Have I helped him become a good listener and one who will receive instruction well? Have I been a good example?

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” -Albert Einstein

To accept, to follow, to grasp instruction is a hard thing due to pride. To master the art and grace of making wise decisions is a life long pursuit, but one well worth the effort as it brings glory and honor to God.

Open my heart, Lord. Help me to be open to wise instruction, available for godly understanding, and ready to increase learning about You.

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel.” Proverbs 1:5

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase learning.” Proverbs 9:9