wisdom.

insert photo of Ariel’s father, King Triton?

insert photo of the most iconic wizard, Dumbledore?

insert photo of my ethics professor?

what is wisdom.. how do we become wise.. and is wisdom some sort of fruit coveted only for those of an elite age, 55, 65?

Wisdom is a gift from God. It is a holy, beautiful gift that He has made available for all of His children… it is a good, good fruit and it is in reach, brothers and sisters. But no, wisdom doesn’t have an age requirement, you don’t need a master’s degree, or even a 4.0 GPA; however, wisdom does require a certain level of maturity. I’m not talking about physical maturity, or even a mature mentality…. I’m talking about a maturity of prayer.

Let me preface by explaining that all prayer is precious and good. Every time we call out to our Father, we are answering His knock. (Rev 3:20) Every time we speak to Him we are opening our hearts to know His, and we are revealing our hearts to Him. Every time we engage Christ in prayer, even one word, we are blooming our relationship with Him. With that being said, prayer can grow…. it can bear more fruit; it can ripen in maturity.

I’m going to share a story about my own prayer journey through 1 Kings 3. Let us begin with…

“…so God said to him: because you asked for this—you did not ask for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies…” (1 Kings 3:11) and pause…

When I was younger, I spent a lot of time in prayer about my future. From a very young age I knew my vocation would be marriage.. I remember praying for a long life of marriage, with children and grandchildren. I prayed countless prayers for my career… for the success of my career, and therefore strong financial stability. When I was younger, I had my fair share of mean and hurtful people stir my heart… and I prayed for deliverance from them. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time in prayer about my future… and that is good.

Our Father wants us to share our lives with Him. He wants to know about the little parts of our days… He wants us to pray for our vocation, He wants to hear about our dreams, and He cares about our struggles. When I was younger, I was worried about a lot of worldly things. When I was younger, I prayed about these worldly things. But we are not created for this world. Jesus is molding our hearts with this world so we may become the masterpiece He has intended. My heart and my prayer had room for growth… I had room to bear more fruit and it needed to ripen in maturity.

Through college, I matured both mentally and spiritually as I grew in my prayer journey. I remember counseling a friend in prayer and I stumbled across this Word that would resonate in my soul for years.

“The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you, but to those outside everything comes in parables, so they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

“Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path were the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and hundredfold.” (Mark 4:11-20)

My breath left me. My heart cracked wide open. I ran my finger back over .. “Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. “ I poured it out… my whole cup… I’ve been a vulnerable seed on the path, I’ve been a seed on the rocks without roots, and the most painful… I’d been a seed in the thorns of this world. I felt an overwhelming thirst to be deep in God’s rich soil. I felt a panic, like I needed a fresh start… I needed to start everything over with my seed in rich soil… and then peace washed over me like a gentle rain. Sitting there with my friend in the church, I looked up at my Father on the cross. He reminded me of His gentle, gracious, and merciful love. He wanted me there, just as I was. I hadn’t been praying wrong… my faith didn’t need a redo… He was gifting me wisdom. Jesus was opening my eyes to spiritual maturity, spiritual wisdom.

My prayer didn’t become mature overnight. I didn’t have one breakthrough that immediately gave me eyes of knowledge and complete understanding… but, from that moment my prayer was evolved. With every Bible study I prayed to be that rich soil, soil that took in His living Word… soaked in it, understood it, and left it to prosper good, beautiful fruit in this world. In my prayer I prayed for understanding… to know Him and His will deeply.

I still had a vocation to marriage… but I prayed for my husband. I prayed for our marriage to reflect God’s love for His people into this world. I still had dreams of a career… but I prayed for God to make my paths straight for His plans and for His glory… I asked Him to guide any work I do so that I may have a servant’s heart for His people. There are still people in this world that are unkind… I pray for their hearts, and I ask Him to make me a light in their lives.

Brothers and sisters, the things of this world don’t change… there will always be a future of uncertainty. There will always be work and riches to steal away His joyful message. There will always be struggles and darkness to dim His promises… but we are children of the day, we are daughters of the light (1 Thes 5:5). This world may not change, but our hearts can. We can become wise. Jesus holds this beautiful, good fruit for our taking… accept the gift, and understand the deep love of the Father.

and go …. “- but you asked for discernment to know what is right - I now do as you request. I give you a heart so wise and discerning that there has never been anyone like you until now, nor after you will there be anyone equal.” (1 Kings 3:12)

So how has my life changed as my prayer life matures… as I accept wisdom as a spiritual gift from God… as I live in rich soil.

Fruit, my friend… thirty and sixty and hundredfold. When I was younger, I longed for ‘days when I finally’ insert goal. Now I’m not living for this world. Nothing I accomplish here can determine my joy. I can hear the whisper of the Father… whispers of hope, calls to action, affirmations of love. I can feel the Father’s comfort… like a rainfall of peace He waters my soil. Every day, every prayer, and friend counseled… enriches my soil and brings to life deep understanding and fruitful works of my spirit for the glory of God my Father.

I pray that you reach out, reach for the fruit… the good and beautiful gift of wisdom.

x courtney.