Wisdom

Again I decided to go to DCF this morning and I'm so glad I did! (Yes right now I should be studying but eh oh well I'll get it done sometime today). Anyways, at DCF we talked about wisdom and the guy who spoke today, basically said that he could give us the typical Sunday answers on how to seek wisdom- that we can seek wisdom through prayer, scripture, and talking to wise spiritual leaders- but if we also look in scripture wisdom is gained by being molded and refined by the Lord and the molding and refining processes are illustrated through trials.

I think the NLT version says Proverbs 17:3 best:

 ³ Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,

      but the LORD tests the heart. 

 And 1st Thessalonians 2:4 says: 

⁴ God has allowed us to be trusted with the Good News. Because of this, we preach it to please God, not man. God tests and proves our hearts. 

Just as fire molds and purifies silver and gold, the Lord molds and tests our hearts to purify us and help us gain wisdom. To do this we must accept change and lose control of our lives. Because we believe and trust in the Good News, God will test us to prove our hearts- to prove that our hearts are set for Him and are seeking Him. I mean I'm sure I've probably thought about this before but when he said it I just thought to myself man...you are so right- that is exactly how we gain wisdom. I know this seems to be a continuous topic in my posts but I think it all comes down to us not living fully in God's freedom and how we choose to take control for ourselves rather than giving it fully to God.  I know there are a lot of times when things don't happen the way I want them, or I'll pray for something that my heart wants so badly to happen and God never opens the door or he closes a door and I'll blame Him and get really upset but that is clearly a human weakness- it's me wanting control and not allowing God to have full control.

Also, during the service we had a time of testimony where people shared what was on their hearts and about the how the lord has molded them and tested their hearts but while people were sharing I was reading in Ruth. 

This is what I found- Ruth 1:20-21 "Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."

It struck such a cord with what we were talking about how the Lord molds us in order for us to gain wisdom. In this passage Naomi seemed to want complete control of her situation and it is evident that the Lord had other plans in mind for her. Naomi seems to be blaming the Lord and is being really kind of sassy about it. I found myself reading this passage and thinking to myself gosh she is so ungrateful and is clearly not seeing how the lord is working in her life she is just acting like woe is me, God has done this to me why should I even be called Naomi (which means pleasant) and instead you should call me Mara (which means bitter)- I'm sorry can we say DIVA (yes I know she has a very sad story and has lost everything important to her but the Lord uses those situations as well).  Anyways, then I thought to myself wow Cameron how many times do you do that? I can't even begin to count the number of times I am bitter and I blame God for the things that are not happening in my life.  I am so simple minded that I only look at the present and I never look at the big picture. Just like Naomi I am so ungrateful of what I have now and what is going on in my life now. I don't take the time to really reflect on the doors that are open and instead of dwelling on doors that are closed I should reflect on where I am now and be grateful.  

Here are some blurbs that I jotted down while people were giving their testimonies that really clicked with me: 

• God is reminding me that I need Him and should rely on Him solely
• He makes me dependent on Him
• Stay where God has you now and move when He moves you
• Love is not self-seeking

My prayer for you and for me this week is that we can be grateful for the Lord and what he is doing in your life in the NOW.  Let's be Naomi's instead of Mara's, lets not think of the small picture but live freely knowing that God knows what our BIG picture looks like.

With all my love- Cam