"I don't know what to do"

James 1:5 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.

If there is any christian, who does not know what to do, then, here's what they can do. They can ask God for the wisdom they need, then, ( because God will give them wisdom ) they will know what to do.

Wisdom, is having the skill, or being clever, and knowing what to do when you face a challenge, or are in a trial. In fact, wisdom really is knowing what God wants you to do in the situation, it's understanding His will for you in your circumstance.

Asking God, is simply praying to God, and requesting from Him, the wisdom you need. We can pray, and God will answer, He will meet the need that we have. He will give you the wisdom you need.

We are told several things about God in this verse. God can hear you, that's number one. God will give the wisdom needed to any who ask Him, and He will give it liberally. Finally, He will give you the wisdom without reproach. This means that God will gladly give you wisdom, and He will tell you what He wants you to do. And, He will not resent your asking Him.

Let's pray together right now.........Father, I'd like to pray for myself, or for anyone I know who at this moment, and at this time in their life may not know what do to in a given situation. They do not know what Your will is. We are asking for ourselves, and praying for our brothers and sisters that You would according to Your promise, give us, and them the needed wisdom. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chape Visalia

Application/Promises

1. God's ears are open to the prayers of His children.

2. God never resents it when we come to Him with our requests.

3. God has the very thing that we need.

4. God is willing and ready to give to us what we need.

5. Praying, or talking to God is how we ask.

6. Let's believe God today, for the wisdom we need.

The fear of the Lord, the knowledge of God and wisdom, or scoffing.

Below, are 3 verses that describe what the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, and wisdom can bring into our lives, along with a sobering statement about the loneliness of being a scoffer.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 9:11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

Proverbs 9:12 f you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.

The verse about the Fear of the Lord comes right after a few verses which talk about scoffers who won't listen to God's counsel, and wise men who will.

Solomon is describing the Fear of the Lord in 9:10, it's the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

So, to break those down just a little.....To fear God is the starting place of wisdom, or skill in living, be it in battle, or the daily affairs of life, the spiritual life we live, and or having skill in matters of what is right and what is wrong.

Understanding, is to have insight, to be able to discern and distinguish what is right and wrong.

Both wisdom and understanding come from God, and our relationship with Him, our knowledge of Him. To know Him, is to have these things in our lives, they are some of the fruit that He brings to us.

We can have a long and fruitful life because of our association with God, and our knowledge of God, or we can not.

Scoffing, and scoffers are mentioned many, many times in the Book of Proverbs.

To scoff is to mock, it is to talk arrogantly, it is to be inflated with oneself, it is to deride others, ( act contemptuously towards others, to ridicule, to mock, to jeer, to sneer, taunt, disdain, denigrate, disrespect, insult, lampoon, and be satirical )

The truth in Proverbs, is that if you are a scoffer, ( one who will not really listen to wisdom when they should ) that you will incur it's penalty. You will be alone. You will find yourself cut off from others, you will not be growing in fellowship with others etc, etc......

So, God's wisdom is for us to live in the fear of the Lord ( Respecting God and letting that respect show up in the way we live. ) God's wisdom is for us to know Him personally, intimately, consistently, and to gain His understanding about life, and to be blessed in our lives with His blessings. We can enjoy the fruit of a relationship with God.......

Thank You Lord for the Book of Proverbs.

In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises.

1. We can walk in the fear of the Lord.

2. We can know the Lord.

3. God invites us to both of these things above.

4. There are wonderful consequences to be had.

5. God can keep us from our foolishness.

6. He wants to bless you.

7. The choice is up to us, day by day.

8. His Spirit will fill us day by day.

9. Keep Jesus central one day at a time.

How to find good and be happy

The answer to the statement is found right here in the verse below.

Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.

It has to do with the Word of God and the Lord.

First of all, we are told that the person who heeds the Word wisely, will find good. To heed the Word wisely, means, "those who listen to instruction" God gives us instruction through His Word, and we can listen to it by simply reading it, being in the Word regularly, etc, etc. Wisely, means, to give attention to, to consider and to ponder. The net result is that we find good in our lives. Or you will find what is pleasant, agreeable, beautiful, and prosperity. Those are all good things by definition.

Secondly, we are told that whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. I'm glad it says "whoever" because that opens the door for me, for you, and in truth for anyone, there is no one who cannot trust in the LORD. Because we all have a measure of faith.

LORD, is Jehovah, which means "the existing one" We can trust Him, we can have confidence in Him, we can hope in Him. And, what happens as a by-product of that trust, is that we find ourselves being happy, or blessed. Interestingly enough the word happy here, comes from a word meaning "to be straight, to be level, right, to go forward, relieve" Again, those all resonate with my soul. I enjoy being happy.

Lord, we thank You for your Word. May we take heed to Your Word, and receive Your instruction into our hearts and lives. And, thank You that we can rely upon You, we don't have to go it alone down here, trusting in ourselves, but we can put our confidence in You. Bring that happiness into our lives today, we enjoy the blessings that You bring.

In Jesus name. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier