Wisdom and Instruction

“I am positive that one of the greatest ways the Lord shows me He loves me is when He corrects me with His wisdom and instruction.”

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

I broke out my concordance for this one to see if the Hebrew was hiding any gems, and this is what Proverbs 1:7 says literally: Our reverence for God is the principal thing, the first step in gaining knowledge. But silly, foolish people disrespect it and think that good sense, reproof, warning and restraint are beneath consideration; worthless and deserving of our scorn.

All life and wisdom start with recognizing God as the author of it all, the manual writer, the playmaker, and then living by the guidelines He gives us with holy reverence for who He is and what He is capable of. Like any good fence, reverence, referenced above as “fear of the Lord”, hems us in to enjoy the freedom we’re meant for. Like any good safety net, it stops us from rolling off the edge of this thing and falling to our ultimate demise. And the Word says that only those who are foolish will despise God's ways.

I’ve always said, “I’d rather hear the lord rebuke me than hear nothing at all.” God's voice and presence is precious to me (I know I’m not alone on this) and I am positive that one of the greatest ways the Lord shows me He loves me is when He corrects me with His wisdom and instruction. When He speaks to my dark places, He shows me again that He’s sticking with me even in the muck and teaches me how to walk more like Him. 

It brings to mind the scripture about loving parents disciplining their children. It hits my heart because we all know, as mommas, that we wouldn’t fight the fights, die on the proverbial hills and hold tight to the standard of God for our children IF WE DIDN’T LOVE THEM, right? I, often, remind my kids of this, sometimes calmly and in passing and sometimes in what I like to call a ‘motivational octave.’ 

It’s important for our kids to realize that what we ask, we ask for their own good; for the love of them. It’s even more important that we teach them that God is the same. That His ways are not antiquated, but are relevant to humanity in every era, and relevant to them personally in every season, hour and moment. Teaching our children reverence for God, respect for His name, and love for His Word is one of THE BEST things we can teach our kids; first by example and then by our words. And it’s never too late to start! Blessing your kids as I bless my own, to love the Lord and His word first and foremost.

Action steps:

• Listen to Brandon Lake’s “That’s Who I Praise”

• Set aside time this week to specifically pray for your kid’s hearts; bless them with reverence, love for God's Word, and the will to obey it.

Written by Brooke, mom of 3

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