Choose not to conform

"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, [and]  God gave [Daniel] knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds." 
Paraphrased from Daniel 1: 8, 17

When we choose to conform to God and not to man, God conforms us into miraculous beings - beings that defy the laws of human nature and science.

God is our witness

”...God is the witness between you and me.”

Genesis 31:50

If God is our witness, then let’s make sure he’s witnessing doing right by him in all things and in all ways.

Friends, always keep this knowledge in the forefront of your mind:

God sees everything, hears everything, knows everything... period!!

I can and I will

I can, and will, do ALL things through (and only through) Christ who infuses me with inner and outer strength, and knowledge and wisdom to do so.

-Jen’s version of Philippians 4:13

Wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning

 "He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”

-Daniel 2:21 NIV

Those who seek God’s wisdom through prayer and his Word will find it. and those who truly dedicate themselves to knowing him, will!

God gives us what we need

“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning...”

- Daniel 1:17

God gives us what we need to grow and succeed without cost, bribe, or hear-say.

However, the world gives us what it gets paid to give us - there is always a fee for us when all is said and done.  Hence, make sure you want to pay that fee before you dive in to what the world claims to be able to give you.

The life-giving Spirit of God

The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him,

the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding,

The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength,

the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.

Fear-of-God

will be all his joy and delight.”

Isaiah 11:1-5 MSG

The Spirit of God lives within you; through him you have wisdom, understanding, knowledge, strength, and direction, and by living in loving-fear of Gᴼᴰ,  you have joy and delight – LIFE - that goes beyond all worldly understanding.

Image copied from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=the+life+giving+spirit&view=detailv2&&id=28990E0545B48FD430AE8FCFFF917EE63C7E35D1&selectedIndex=30&ccid=FlQsuEtq&simid=608049799996376518&thid=OIP.M16542cb84b6a1d6d4fb02e9cafaa57bfo0&ajaxhist=0

Instruction and knowledge

“Give yourself to disciplined instruction;

open your ears to tested knowledge.”

Proverbs 23:12 MSG

Disciplined instruction and tested knowledge; wisdom and success for those who heed both.

Thank you for the image + http://www.coolnsmart.com/images/2013/06/Knowledge-41.jpg

Adultery

Proverbs 5 New International Version (NIV)

Warning Against Adultery

5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words of insight,
² that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.
³ For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
    and her speech is smoother than oil;
⁴ but in the end she is bitter as gall,
    sharp as a double-edged sword.
⁵ Her feet go down to death;
    her steps lead straight to the grave.
⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life;
    her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.

⁷ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.
⁸ Keep to a path far from her,
    do not go near the door of her house,
⁹ lest you lose your honor to others
    and your dignity^[a] to one who is cruel,
¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth
    and your toil enrich the house of another.
¹¹ At the end of your life you will groan,
    when your flesh and body are spent.
¹² You will say, “How I hated discipline!
    How my heart spurned correction!
¹³ I would not obey my teachers
    or turn my ear to my instructors.
¹⁴ And I was soon in serious trouble
    in the assembly of God’s people.”

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern,
    running water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    your streams of water in the public squares?
¹⁷ Let them be yours alone,
    never to be shared with strangers.
¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ A loving doe, a graceful deer—
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
²⁰ Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

²¹ For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
    and he examines all your paths.
²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
    the cords of their sins hold them fast.
²³ For lack of discipline they will die,
    led astray by their own great folly.






Thank you for the image +https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiwlNXngfjOAhUO2GMKHZdMAekQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fheartofashepherd.com%2F2015%2F06%2F05%2Fproverbs-56-the-toll-of-sexual-immorality%2F&bvm=bv.131783435,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNFJKDL9HzqIjMd5rhi4bar2qDABlg&ust=1473157392019311

Lady Wisdom

Proverbs 2:10-12New International Version (NIV)

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse...

The attributes of God

“And in exercising knowledge develop self control, and in exercising self control develop steadfastness, and in exercising steadfastness develop godliness, and in exercising godliness develop brotherly affection, and in exercising brotherly affection develop Christian love.  For these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful unto the full personal knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Peter 1:6-8

When you take time with God these attributes grow in you, which only lead to God-given blessings and knowledge.  As well, these attributes bring freedom to your soul - and freedom  is what living in Christ is all about.

Wisdom, knowledge, and insight

“In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.” Colossians 2:3 AMPC

Wisdom, knowledge, and insight are all found in God - found anywhere else, obstacles and curves are bound to happen.  Therefore, if you want divine wisdom, insight, and answers, the first time you ask, then call on God, He will give you the knowledge you need, and/or lead you in the direction to which you will find the answer.

The glory of Him

As Paul prayed over the people of Colossae, I would like to pray this over all of you reading this:

"That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]." 

Colossians 1:10 AMPC

You are God's child, and I pray that everyday you see the glory of Him shine through, and around, you more and more.

Lead every thought and purpose captive.

"[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (The Messiah, the Anointed One)." II Corinthians 10:5 AMPC

Every thought you think, every purpose you embark on, should align itself with God's Word.  If they don't, then what you are thinking, and what you are embarking on is not right, not true, and isn't worth your time.  Therefore, dig deep into God's Word and make His thoughts your thoughts, make His purpose your purpose, and know that every time you do you will crush Satan further and further into the ground, disabling his action plan of ever trying to hurt you.

God always knows what He's doing

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)!  And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!  Romans 11:33 AMP

No, you may not understand, but God does, and He knows what He’s doing!!  So, stay in faith – God has it under control!!

 

What you put in

“… The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you - and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.” Mark 4:24 AMP

Simply: The effort you put in will be the result that comes out!

 

Arrogance and pride: two ways to self-destruction

“And I, the Lord… will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease…” Isaiah 13:11

 As humans we need to be constantly on guard against the temptations of becoming prideful and arrogant by regularly staying in the Word of God and being in constant prayer and devotion with the Lord, both of which lead to more of His wisdom, knowledge and strength.  However, if we refuse to refrain from being arrogant and prideful, then there is no doubt that God will put an end to our ungodly mannerisms in His way, and friends, life won’t be fun; 'humbled' will be a gentle way of describing the events that will undoubtedly take place in our near futures.

Therefore, stay gentle, be loving and compassionate, and never forget who is in control.  Instead of fighting back in arrogance and pride, fight back with the strength found in God and in His Word, and you will always come out on top of any, and all, circumstances that happen to you in life.

Pleasing God

 

“For the person that pleases Him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner He gives the works of gathering… that he may give to the one who pleases God.” Ecclesiastes 2:26

More likely than not, we are knowingly in sin when we aren’t listening to God, and that only means that we are working for the blessing of someone else, which isn’t pleasing to our Lord.  Sin will never, ever lead us to blessing, so don’t waste your time anymore. Make your life easier, and do whatever it is that God is telling you to do. Yes, it will be challenging at times, but you can do it, and He will make sure that you have the skills and wisdom to succeed; hence, the blessings that come from the works of your own hands will then be yours for the taking.

Love this image from +footsoldiers4christ.com

 

Wisdom

"I [Wisdom] have counsel and sound knowledge.  I have understanding, I have might and power... I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me." Proverbs 8:14,17

True, godly, Wisdom isn't a verb, She is a noun.  She is real and she is here for you! Seek her and you will find her! Wisdom has what you need to succeed in all you do and she'll generously give it to you!

So, do your part: pray, seek, listen, wait, and stay faithful and soon She will fill your life with the wisdom and understanding you need..