The other day, my husband, Joe, and I had a serious dilemma. We needed to make an important decision, and we needed to make it fast. We talked about it for a while, hesitating and realizing that if we made a mistake, we could suffer far-reaching consequences. Suddenly, it dawned on me that we should pray about it. Joe and I joined hands and petitioned the Lord for His wisdom. As soon as we finished praying, Joe knew exactly what we should do, and I wholeheartedly agreed with him.

The Lord showed me through this experience that sometimes, we make consulting Him more complicated than it has to be. Scripture says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10 NIV) The truth is that having wisdom starts with having a healthy fear of God. That doesn't mean that we have to be afraid of God, but that pleasing Him is always our number one priority. My husband is not a super-spiritual person by any means. But he can hear from God when he needs to because he has a deep reverence for Him and His laws. If God says in His Word that something is wrong, then Joe agrees with Him. The Living Bible translation of Proverbs 9:10 says, "For the reverence and fear of God are basic to all wisdom. Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding." Joe doesn't have a lot of head knowledge about God, but he knows Him personally, and that is what allows my husband to gain insight and understanding from above when he needs it.

Joe and I know people who make poor decisions on a regular basis. Why? Because they have no fear of God, and no respect for His Word. Some of these folks are well-educated. They do all kinds of research and collect all kinds of information before they make a decision, but they still suffer for it. This is because, as the Bible says, "Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn." (Proverbs 1:7 ERV) We all make mistakes, but those of us who love and revere the Lord are more likely to learn from our mistakes, and to see God make them work out for our good. (Romans 8:28) If you have an intimate and eternal relationship with God through Christ, then you have the potential to make wise decisions and live a good life. And that's my heartfelt prayer for you today!

Prayer: Lord, today I choose to make You and Your laws my number one priority. Fill me with a deep reverence for You, Your ways, and Your Word. Help me to know You personally and intimately. Fill me with divine wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Teach me how to make good decisions every time. Thank You that as I live my life for You, I will experience life at its very best!