Wisdom

On Voting and “What Would Jesus Do” – Isaiah 46:9-11

Our voter’s pamphlet arrived a couple days ago, and it’s calling me from the pile on my kitchen table.

How should I vote?

When you vote KD-Canva

Remember WWJD? Does it work during election time to ask myself what Jesus would do, how he would vote?

Such a question leads only to guessing, and I want something more solid than speculation.

A better stance to take is to come under God’s authority, seeking his wisdom. Candidates and measures come and go, but I want to keep my eyes on the bigger picture and work for what brings lasting value.

What if I don’t like the outcome?

“I am God, and there is none like me . . . I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do” (Isaiah 46:9-11 NIV).

Since he is God, how can I expect to comprehend how he weaves the strands of my choices together for his purpose? I can only declare he is God (praise), ask for his will to be done (request), and take action to the best of my ability and understanding (faith).

Elections and opinions are not secure forever. We will work through these things, but we’ll do better if we remember God is big enough to handle all that he has made, and if we trust him.

Prayer: Father of us all, let your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis

Wisdom is a Noisy Lady – Proverbs 1

I’m away at the Oregon Christian Writers coaching conference this week, so I’m sharing a favorite post from my archives.

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How much noise can you tolerate? Because of my sensitive hearing, I withdraw from situations where the noise level is uncomfortable. If I’m behaving foolishly, however, I want wisdom to raise her voice.

In the first chapter of Proverbs there’s a list of warnings for those who ignore wise counsel.

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice. At the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks” (Proverbs 1:20-21 ESV).

We don’t have to copy other people’s mistakes. We can learn discernment from paying attention and making changes. This will bring more desirable outcomes, as the last verses in this chapter promise.

“For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me (wisdom) will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster” (verses 32-33).

Do you hear me now?

These verses are telling me that if I listen to wisdom I will be secure, at ease, and not need to fear disaster. I want to hear what wisdom’s saying, and not turn away or become complacent. I don’t like being yelled at, but I’d prefer hearing her warnings than losing my way.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis

I’m away at the Oregon Christian Writers coaching conference this week, so I’m sharing one of my favorite posts from my archives.

In the first chapter of Proverbs there’s a list of warnings for those who ignore wise counsel. Wisdom is clearly a voice determined to be heard.

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice. At the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks” (Proverbs 1:20-21 ESV).

We don’t have to make the same mistakes as everyone else. We can learn good judgment, common sense, and discernment from paying attention to tried-and-true insights. And from these we will have more desirable rewards, as the last verses in this chapter promise.

“For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me (wisdom) will dwell…

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Marriage Tip #3 – How to Get What You Want

What do we really want from marriage? Isn’t it more than those first thoughts that pop into our heads like sexual fulfillment, companionship, life purpose, a stable home, etc.?

I Need Love.

“What a person desires is unfailing love” (Proverbs 19:22 NIV).

Though other translations interpret this verse differently, it’s still true that what we need and want most is to be loved deeply.

Early in our marriage I wallowed in my sad feelings that my husband didn’t love me the way he should, the way I needed him to, or the way he had in the past.

In prayer I whined, “Why doesn’t Jerry take my word for it and give me what I ask for, whether he understands it or not? Why doesn’t he step outside his world and be with me in mine?”

I Need to Give Love.

Sometimes I think God answers my prayers by holding up a mirror. This was one of those times, and I knew my answer was to stop trying to change Jerry. I needed to relinquish my gripes and concern myself more with Jerry’s desires and being more in his world.

KD fish 2mths preg. 1988 crop — My 8 lb. Dolly Varden trout 1987.

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14 NIV).

I made a list of the things I could remember him saying he wished for while we were courting and early in our marriage, and I took them to heart.

One thing he dreamed of was a wife and family who’d go camping and hunting with him. He wanted a wife who would enjoy shooting a gun and being in the wilderness.

KD shoot 1989 crop — Pregnant at the shooting range 1989.

It wasn’t a reach for me. My dad had taken our family camping and fishing many times. We loved being out in God’s creation. I’d been prepared for loving my husband this way.

Learning to shoot a gun was a real test, however, but Jerry patiently taught me till I brought home better target samples than his. It’s fun that I earned a new level of respect from our “shoot ’em up guy friends.”

Love grows.

Since I’m secure in God’s love I don’t have to worry about how I’m loved any more. It really is more blessed to give than receive, and my heart is happier when I’m content in God’s love and seeking to love others as I need to be loved.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis