And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

Ecclesiastes 1

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. Ecclesiastes 1:13

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, which is the second division of Ecclesiastes chapter 1 per the commentary.  As a backdrop, Solomon, who (see 1 Kings 3) "loved the Lord....only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places," prayed to God for wisdom and God not only gave him great wisdom, but also riches and honor.  1 Kings 3:14 shares that God also told Solomon "if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."  God created everything (see Genesis 1) - the universe, the heavens, man and woman, all of its inhabitants (creatures, etc.) as well as wisdom and knowledge - yet God's plan from the very beginning was for all of this to be used for His glory and for everything to be done in service to Him.  Unfortunately, as Solomon looks back at his life (and then authoring this book), having fallen prey to sinful pursuits, he sees the futility of a worldly pursuit of knowledge and wisdom apart from God.  These things are not bad pursuits on their face, but when chased as an idol they become bad.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1 Corinthians 8

Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:12-13

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 8.  Based on the ESV footnote from v1, Paul responds "to a question in the Corinthians' letter" to him - see also the same language in 7:1 - where he admonishes those who believe in how eating foods offered to idols somehow offer a benefit.  

v1-2: Paul draws a distinction from knowing something - perhaps facts, and this may serve to "puff" us up and by extension make others feel inferior (when this person whom supposedly knows something does not really know anything as it is God who reveals wisdom and knowledge) - vs love which "builds up" another.  

v3: Paul goes further with this distinction by stating that if we "love God, [we are] known by God."

v4-6: Paul now writes that "therefore" gaining knowledge through the eating of food offered to idols is a fool-hearty pursuit - since idols are not real and only God reveals wisdom and knowledge.  All things come from God and from Him we exist, and though Him all things, including people, exist.

v7-13: Some who do not know the Good News or are new to faith in Jesus Christ are weakened by thoughts and beliefs that might believe that good offered to idols provide some benefit.  Paul is explicit that what we eat is not of concern or care to God.  God does care however when we pursue theology that weakens faith.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives my wisdom and knowledge - it all comes from You.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving because I often get haughty and arrogant and I have other sin - lots of it and daily!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.   Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.

Proverbs 1

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. Psalm 111:10

As part of my D-Group's study of Proverbs using the Knowing the Bible study series for this book, I continue with an examination of Proverbs 1:1-7 for week 2. My study looks at the text of Proverbs 1:7 and where this text appears elsewhere in the Bible and how knowledge and wisdom are closely tied together in Proverbs, stating that "[k]nowledge has to do with developing a correct understanding of the world, while wisdom is the acquired skill of applying that knowledge rightly."  Endeavors to seek either knowledge or wisdom without fear of the Lord is a destructive path - and we should avoid such efforts. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible and amazing God and all knowledge and wisdom comes from You - thank You for how You have provided both in my life - I know this is a journey where I lack knowledge and wisdom in many areas in life but You provide!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings of how You provide.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 8-9, 1-4

The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 8:22-23, 2:6

Day 134 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the Proverbs - primarily of Solomon, but including the Proverbs of other authors as well. My commentary* indicates that "[t]he proverbs are short poems, usually in the form of couplets, which set high ethical standards and give practical advice for daily living through the use of comparative, or perhaps antithetical, imagery....[they] place high value on wisdom and sharply contrast good and evil, righteousness and wickedness, justice and injustice."  My commentary* also indicates that although other cultures may have influenced each other with regards to how similar writings/poetry appear during this time in history when Proverbs was written, "...the Hebrew proverbs are distinct in that all wisdom is seen as flowing from the true God, rather than being a mere accumulation of human observation and experience."  

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Similar to my study of the Psalms, individual Proverbs are categorized into topic areas and this morning my focus includes an introduction to wisdom, the benefits of wisdom, the dangers of rejecting wisdom, and Solomon's personal plea to his sons to seek wisdom.

Similar to my post yesterday, I am highlighting how wisdom comes from God alone.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You alone produce wisdom - worthy of my study and reflection, and my obedience.  Your wisdom has indeed produced blessings in my life and I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry, and I have other sins.  I am grateful for Your forgiveness and mercy and I need it once again today...this morning.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”[d] But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. v16

Building on chapter 1 (see post yesterday), Paul continues to remind us of the source and purpose of wisdom.  He tells us that he has no wisdom apart from the Holy Spirit in him (v2-5) and that God reveals to believers this wisdom (v9-10, 12, 13).  This is of course very humbling and exciting at the same time - that we don't possess wisdom from and for ourselves but from and for God.  If we consider that God is all knowing isn't it amazing that God would even disclose a sliver of this wisdom to us?

See also posts here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has shown my great wisdom and this has helped me through great difficulties and helped me grow closer to You - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful!  Yet I am humbled and undeserving.  I worry and my sin is great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. v6

God is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  He wants us to have life and to have it to the "full" (John 10:10).  If we turn towards Him and focus on a renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) we overcome the damning consequences of our free will. 

God directs us towards truth as He gives us wisdom and knowledge.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  Psalm 119:105

More from John Piper on free will.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are an amazing God who has helped me with truth and knowledge - thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such a gift.  I often place other gods and idols above You.  Please forgive me!  Help me see the surpassing worth of You and You alone!  Help me turn towards You and love with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

1 Kings 4

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. v29-30

Solomon was not just wise in terms of his ability to synthesize inputs and to solve problems (see the Wise Rulings 1 Kings 3:16-28), but also in his knowledge of worldly matters.

He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.  v32-33

What is interesting here is that Solomon was not born with such wisdom - Solomon ASKED for it (to be equipped as king) and God GAVE it to him.

This is really critical for all of us to understand because all of us struggle from time to time with weighty decisions, and with whether we are equipped to serve in areas where God calls us.

We should understand that if we ask for wisdom and to be equipped He will answer our call.  

There are many examples of how God equips people in the Bible - Moses, Gideon, Jonah, etc. - and how he takes ordinary people who love Him and submit to Him, and He accomplishes amazing and miraculous things through these people.

Praise God!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is able to accomplish all things - You are all powerful and yet You came to rescue me.  thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses for Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?

Proverbs 17

Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it? v16

One of the key themes of Solomon in Proverbs is the importance of wisdom and most importantly wisdom that comes from God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Proverbs 1 is filled with many wise sayings as received from God.  In 2 Chronicles 1, God grants Solomon whatever he wishes for and God is pleased that Solomon chooses wisdom (as ordained by God) above earthly possessions.  God wants us to love Him first and He promises that for those that hunger and thirst for righteousness they will be filled (Matthew 5:6). 

The subject of wisdom and God as a priority is an important consideration right now as Zach grows into his high school years.  I don't want to fret about his career success but instead want to focus on his relationship with Jesus as I believe his career success - as do all things during our time here - hinge on making God a priority, just as David and Solomon did (at least for part of their lives).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are!  You are truth, wisdom, and life...and life to the full!  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve...thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus.  I am impatient and harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You and have them choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Proverbs 4

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. v7

Solomon encourages us to pursue God above all else.  Although he states wisdom, we know that fear of God is the beginning of knowledge.  We must understand that our faith will cost us something.  The number one command (Exodus 20:3-4, Matthew 22:37-40) is to love God and to love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind.  

When we pursue God above all else, there is a cost.  Solomon refers to this cost as "all you have].  Elsewhere in scripture we see this cost:

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew:20:26-28

Yet our earthly loss pales in comparison to the riches of Jesus Christ.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  Philippians 3:8-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are!  You gave up Your life for me and You ask that I do the same in the sense that I must be prepared to transform my heart and life to become more like in Your thoughts and ways so that I may glorify You in all that I do because that is why exist.  I am thankful that You would allow me to be Your ambassador!  I am not worthy.  I am broken and in need of Your forgiveness.  For my worry, stress, impatience, arrogance, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

Proverbs 3

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. v13-14

Wisdom based on God's word through study, prayer, reflection, silence, etc. is indeed profitable. I can say this based on my own life experiencing life change as only Jesus can do.  Jesus, in the Beatitudes, gives us this same promise:


Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Mathew 5:6

We must also remain in Him.  Not only because we can do nothing without Him, but because we hope to avoid getting thrown into the fire.


“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. John 15:5-6

 Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

 

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God full of love, compassion, mercy, patience, etc. I am so deeply thankful that I have a God so great!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worthy of such efforts.  I continue to fall down...in my arrogance, pride, and with my worry.  Please forgive me Jesus - help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin..and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. v5-6

As I have started my study of Proverbs, I am finding there are many promises about how love and fear of God and His Word will bless us. Today is slightly different in the sense that we are warned to avoid trusting in ourselves - such arrogance and hubris will only get us in trouble.  God is the source of all wisdom and knowledge and if we have a hunger and thirst for righteousness we will be filled (Matthew 5:6).  Today we read that if we trust in Him with all of our heart and avoid arrogance and hubris God will make our paths straight.  Yet one thing we should consider is that God never promises a life of comfort for us and we don't know what is in store for us.  In fact, Jesus tells us that we WILL have trouble:

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Proverbs is a source of wisdom but we must understand Proverbs in the context of the entire Bible.  This reference indicates that relative to other books of the Bible, Proverbs is to be seen as wise sayings and guidelines not so much law or commandments.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are the source of all wisdom and knowledge.  I can do no good things without You.  You direct my path.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet often I worry and stress and I desire to do things my way and I often act on my own understanding and impulses.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin.  Help me turn towards You and love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. v1-5

Key here in my view are verses 3-5 where Solomon encourages his son - wisely - to seek out insight and understanding and to look for it with great desire as if it is the most valuable of all treasures.  Solomon, in chapter 1, rightly points out that "...fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (verse 7).  

In John 1 it says:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:1-3

God is not only the source of all knowledge and wisdom, He is the source of "all good and perfect things":

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Why would we not hunger after God with Him being so valuable?


Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

My Prayer: Jesus, You are valuable beyond what words can describe.  You HAVE blessed me beyond what earthly riches can provide - thank You Jesus!  I AM blessed and I AM filled.  Yet I am not worth such love and blessing.  I worry, I stress, and I am filled with pride, rage, etc.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[B]ut whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Proverbs 1

[B]ut whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” v33

God promises to protect us, provide peace of mind, and to fill us with wisdom if we approach Him in fear and with humility.

Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. v23

Lord help me empty myself of my desires...renew my mind and transform my heart and life.  Make me more like You. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You are the source of all wisdom and knowledge.  All good and perfect things are from You.  Thank You for blessing me with Your wisdom and Your Word.  I am not worth such love.  I often put my thoughts and desires above Yours.  Please forgive me. Help me repent and turn from such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. v7

If I love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and I love others as myself (and as Jesus does), then I will surely fear the Lord. With such desire for God, He promises much including from the Beatitudes:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

I also know that God will direct my thoughts and ways and by staying near to Him I will better understand the path He wants me to take in all things.


Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion, mercy, wisdom, knowledge...and You know have a plan for me that is awesome; one that glorifies You and is good for me.  Thank You for all that You are for me - You are my God and I am Your son.  I love You and I know You love me.  I am nothing without You and I know that no good thing is possible without You.  I stress and I worry too much - I should not.  Forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.

Psalm 119

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. v73

I know that "all good and perfect gifts come from above" (James 1:17).

Psalm 24 says: 

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it[.] v1

Here in Psalm 119, the implication is that that knowledge (head understanding) and wisdom (heart understanding) comes from God.

See also Job 28 and Proverbs 2. 

BTW...faith itself is also a gift from God.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God and it is incredible to watch You work - You created all things, are in all things, and hold things together.  All good and perfect gifts come from You including faith itself.  I know You love me and I cannot fully comprehend the depth of Your love.  Thank You Jesus for Your love.  I am not worthy of such love.  I continue to be distracted by things of this world - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects of chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.

Psalm 119

Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. v34

I do want understanding...I don't want to just read the words of the Bible and walk away without understanding - in both an absolute sense (head understanding) and a personal sense (heart understanding; or what is God saying specifically to me).  I want to understand God's character and His attributes.  I want to be in relationship and conversation with God.  Jesus is my personal Lord savior who is worthy of my full devotion and attention. 

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. Psalm 12:6

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and Your words ARE valuable to me.  I can no good thing apart from You and Your Word.  Yet I often am either lazy in spending time with You, too easily distracted by the patterns of this world, etc.  Thank You for Your Word and for spending time with me, and for being so full of patience and compassion.  I am not worthy of such love.  Forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Psalm 69

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. v5

God knows everything - He is omniscient.  Knowledge and wisdom comes from the Lord and we are to lean on Him (not ourselves) for our understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  He reveals deep and hidden things he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:21-22

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  Proverbs 2:6

 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:17

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God - all truth, knowledge, wisdom and understanding comes from and flows through You.  I know apart from You I can do no good thing.  I know that when I stay near to You and abide in You that You will bless and You have - I am rich as You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus for the many blessings in my life.  Yet I continue to sin as we all do and I am desperate need of cleansing...today and every day.  Forgive me for my lack of grace, impatience, etc. for others.  Forgive me for my pride and arrogance.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Our Fathers Acceptance
Psalms 139

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. v6

Today's devotion encourages me to focus daily on renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2).  God is indeed the source of all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and if we focus on Him and our relationship with Him we can be assured that we are equipped for God's plan for us...indeed as the devotion states we are freed from fear, the need of approval, acceptance, etc....we KNOW God love us and that is sufficient to carry us.  

See also posts here on knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an incredible God You are...You are worthy of ALL of my attention...yet I am easily distracted...and I very often lack grace and patience of others...please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin...help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You Jesus.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. v10-11

I do desire to have a rich welcome to the eternal kingdom.  I also wish to not stumble...and according to Peter I am to do these things:

 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. v5-8

...and I must "make every effort to confirm my calling and election".  Key it appears is being ineffective and unproductive in my knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ineffective implies both a head (absolute truth) and heart (application) understanding of scripture.  I certainly desire this.  Help me Jesus with these things.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love, patience, kindness, mercy, compassion, etc. for me...even though I know I am not worthy of such things.  Thank You Jesus that You bless me with these things.  I am deeply grateful for them and for everything that You do.  Yet again I am undeserving.  I am full of anger, impatience, harshness, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith - my effectiveness and productivity in my knowledge of You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing.

1 Timothy 6

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. v3-4

All understanding - wisdom, knowledge, etc - comes from Jesus Christ.  We cannot claim to have wisdom and knowledge without also claiming that it comes from God alone - otherwise we are incorrectly attributing such understanding to Christ. The second part of these verses is also important...if we make false claims we are not only conceited but foolish!  We must attribute our understanding to Christ!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God and the source of all things.  You have given people understanding, knowledge, wisdom, etc. and these have been great blessings to me and others who are able to use such gifts for Your glory - hopefully.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I know I sometimes use such understanding for my own glory or I lean too heavily or entirely on my own understanding - and this is sinful.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me lean ONLY on You and Your word.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.