A Wise Heart ...

A Wise Heart Cry

James, the half brother of Jesus, gives the Christian a powerful truth, “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).

The Body of Christ is called to make disciples and this calling is every bit as important as the calling that was laid upon King Solomon when he governed God’s people. Therefore, Christians need God’s wisdom just as much as Solomon did, because they are called to make disciples of God’s people, those who are called to come to Christ.

Solomon, in his early days, had a heart attitude that enabled him to receive the gift of wisdom from God. In 1 Kings chapter three we read that the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Consider carefully how Solomon answered the Lord, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day” (1 Kings 3:6).

Solomon sets the example for everyone who desires wisdom from God, he first gave credit to God for all that was happening, and through true humility in prayer he continued with, “Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people… So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong,” (1 Kings 3:7-9). It is only through a prayer of humility that Christians can enjoy walking in the wisdom of God.

The Bible says, “The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this” (1 Kings 3:10). “God said to [Solomon]… I will give you a wise and discerning heart…,”(1 Kings 3:12). Solomon asked for a “discerning” (Hebrew-“sama”) heart so he could hear, listen to and obey God so that he could govern God’s people. Because of this right heart, God gave Solomon a “discerning” (Hebrew – “biyn”) heart so that he could perceive, observe, pay attention to, and be intelligent so as to teach others. The relevant truth here is that when the heart is right before God, blessings and directions from God are sure to come.

Although you are not called to govern this nation, you, as a Christian, are called to teach new believers all that the Lord has taught you and desires to teach them (Matthew 28:20). You are to treat believers as God’s precious children, needing to be trained and cared for. Therefore, what James is teaching in asking for “wisdom” (Greek – sophia) is that Christians should ask the Lord to give them a divine wisdom to understand the deep things of God--that divine quality of spirit and heart that knows and practices righteous living resulting in the right conduct of life.

“A Wise Heart Cry” is prayer recognizing that it is God who has given you your talents, gifts, families and calling to make disciples of Christ. A wise heart will ask in humility how to use those talents and gifts in a way that will raise up God-fearing families that will be useful in the building of the Kingdom of God. Choose to be wise; call upon the Name of the Lord today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life.