How Do I Gain More Wisdom?

James 1:5-7

5 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. 
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,
because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

How Do I Gain More Wisdom?

Message #4: How Do I Gain More Wisdom?
James 1:5-8

"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. BUT - when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."
James 1:5-7

We live in a time we need greater wisdom than ever before.
God is just waiting to pour it out into your life.

Q: Are you seeing the evidence of God’s gift of wisdom in your life?
Q: What are the tangible, real, outcomes of God’s wisdom flowing through your life?

Ways to know if you have God’s Wisdom in your life:
 
1. Do you find that you cannot help but do something good for others? 
This is part of the flow of God’s Spirit in you.  You see and respond by God’s prompting.
 
2. Do you find that you have more peace in the decisions you are making?
Are you experiencing more peace in the confusion and chaos around you because God’s wisdom is giving you greater insights than the foolishness of the world around you?
Inner peace is the true sign that you ARE listening to God and allowing him to work in and through you.
 
3. Are you able to show mercy to those who mess up and offer forgiveness to those who hurt you and those you love? 
Max Lucado sees God’s mercy this way:
“Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, 'I can clean that if you want.' And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes our sin.”
When we show mercy to others it’s because we realize how merciful God has been to us!
 
4. Do you find yourself getting jealous towards others about their circumstance compared to yours? 
Are you always looking for something other than what our Lord is offering you to make you happy?
These are sure signs that God’s wisdom has NOT taken hold in you. 
What is holding you back from trusting Him?
 
5. Do you find yourself becoming more patient with people or less?
Are you building up walls of protection or have you observed yourself gently breaking down the walls that separate people from one another and from God?  

(Note: If actively raining, the outdoor worship service will be cancelled)

We will be back in the YMCA in October!