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Need Some Advice?

August 2, 2020

August 2, 2020 • Emily Tenter

Where do you turn when you need advice?

With smartphones, we carry around more information in our pockets than most people throughout history have ever had access to. But here’s the problem: our lives are not filled with identical, cookie-cutter problems. No quick video can fix our every relationship problem. No search engine can pull up articles for the exact struggles we face day in and day out.

James offers a solution in chapter one of his letter to the church. He starts out by saying we all face hard times in this broken world. But he also tells us where to turn when we don’t know what to do. When we need wisdom in our lives, James gives us real hope and clarity by reminding us that God has the wisdom we need and gives it without holding back or holding it against us. Jesus isn’t stingy with His help but wants us to have what we need.

To take hold of this wisdom, James explains that, as Christians, we simply need to go to Jesus and ask for it in faith. The word faith carries the concept of being proactive in seeking wisdom because we have confidence God will follow through. James points out that this confidence in Christ means we must not doubt. This is because Jesus is faithful, and we can trust Him to provide what we need.

When we seek God’s wisdom, we seek it confidently—without doubting. God has given us everything we need to live godly lives in the knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 1:3). He fully equips us for life through His Word, the Bible, because it shows us the good news of Jesus and the way it affects every facet of our lives (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Therefore, let’s confidently run to Christ for His wisdom (Hebrews 4:14-16). • Phil Cox

• What decisions are you facing right now? What questions do you have?

• Have you talked with Jesus about these decisions or questions?

• One way God gives us wisdom is through Christian friends. Who are wise Christians you can reach out to when you’re facing tough decisions?

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 (NIV)