Wisdom Comes From Seeking His Face Daily
ICS Daily Devotions
James 1:5-8 (NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
God encourages us through the book of James to seek Him for wisdom when we face trials. God has more than sufficient wisdom available to help us through every circumstance. However, we need to start by having faith that this wisdom is available to us and believe that we will receive it when we ask Him. Then, we will be able to apply this wisdom with confidence, knowing that we have heard from God.
This faith and confidence arise from our close relationship with God because we have cultivated the godly habit of seeking His face daily, rather than turning to Him only in emergencies. Seeking the face of God for guidance must be a daily practice for us. When Daniel interpreted the secret to King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream for him, he did not seek God’s face only in a crisis and demanded that God speak immediately. Even if he had heard from God then, he would have doubted if it was the first time that he had heard from God. Instead, it was Daniel’s close relationship with God that gave him his faith and confidence.
God promised that He would draw near to us if we draw near to Him (James 4:8). He longs to fellowship with us whenever we give Him the opportunity, and desires to connect with us throughout the day, just like how branches are connected to the vine. There is a calm in our spirit when we are quiet before the Lord, and a simple awareness of His presence as our heart seeks Him out and opens to receive His love.
You will be able to tap into God’s wisdom in the boardroom. But it has to start with the closet in your home, where you spend quiet moments in God’s presence to listen to Him. God will meet the real us as we bare our souls to Him.
The Great Shepherd is a good shepherd who protects His sheep from predators. He leads us to green pastures and still waters. Many voices clamour for our attention, and there is no shortage of good suggestions from other people and media outlets. However, unless we listen to the voice of Jesus, there is a tendency for us to stray, go our way, and leave the sheepfold, where there is no protection. What we want to do is to tune in to one voice—the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. It is when we tune in to His voice that we will follow Him. There is protection in the presence of the Good Shepherd who will lay down His life for us. Learn to trust the Good Shepherd! He will not harm you because He has your best interests at heart.
Sermon Series：Promotion Comes From God
