I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you Psalm 119:11
We study not only to avoid sin but to engage the enemy when he comes against us. Remember when Jesus Himself faced temptation He always answered the enemy with, "it is written." The enemy of your soul is the father of lies but your Father is the source of all truth. That truth is in His Word and we must believe it by faith and store up his wisdom in our hearts.
Secondly, we need to make a commitment to our faith. Verse two expresses that we need to turn our ear to wisdom and apply our heart to understanding. This verse indicates that these are conscious choices we have to make. There are many distractions in this life and the world we live in. There are many things competing for our attention and our time. It is easy to get caught up in the economy instead of remembering that He is our provider. It is easy to worry about the medical report instead of remembering that He is our healer. It is easy to feel defeated by this life instead of remembering that He is our banner and that the battle is the Lords. We need to make a conscious decision to turn our ear away from the emptiness of the world and turn it toward the wisdom of God. When problems come against us, it seems our first reaction is to ask everyone except God. We ask our friends, our families, or our counselor. Eventually we might get around to God. No matter how wise your friends are, they are not God. They do not see all time like God. Sure God gives us friends to rely upon for Godly counsel, but don't forget to leave God out of the equation! Do not apply your heart to the things of this world, as The Book of Romans teaches us:
Do not conform any longer 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
So, not only must we have faith in His Word and store it up within ourselves, but we also need to consciously choose to make a commitment to that faith. God chose us and we need to choose Him; especially in a world that is fighting for our attention and time.
The third step is prayer. Verse three says that we also need to call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding! It is God that we need to be crying out to. This is putting feet to our faith. If you say you believe but never talk to God, how can you possibly expect to hear Him and His wisdom? It will only be imparted unto us through an active relationship with God and that relationship is fostered through prayer. This is the model of Jesus Himself:
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7
God wants to impart His wisdom to us. He desires a relationship with us. It
is through the relationship that we can hear from God. It is where we receive
the understanding we are sorely lacking. The story of Joseph is a good example
of these principles. Joseph was sold into slavery at the age of 17 by his own
brothers. He would serve in the house of Potiphar and there rise in importance
only to have Potiphar's wife betray him and falsely accuse him of rape which
landed him in prison. He would stay in prison for close to a decade for
something he never even did. His entire youth taken from him and when he
correctly interpreted the Cupbearer's dream all he asked was that he remember
him to Pharaoh when he was restored. The Cupbearer also forgot Joseph and it
cost him two more years in prison. But at the right time, God's time; Joseph
was released and rose to be the Prime Minister of all Egypt. Through the wisdom
imparted to Joseph by God, he was able to plan for a seven year famine. Through
this wisdom the nation of
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." Genesis 41: 39-40
Joseph had plenty of distractions from his relationship with God. He could have turned his ear to the anger, resentment, and bitterness for being sold into slavery by his brothers. He could have applied his heart to the desire for revenge upon Potiphar's wife or the Cupbearer. Instead Joseph turned his ear to God. Each circumstance only bringing him closer to God; developing a relationship with Him. Learning to hear from God and His wisdom. His relationship was fostered in prison and ours is also often formed in our darkest hours. When the distractions of the world are minimized by the pressing need we have for God in our lives. We can either turn to God or away from God. Joseph turned toward him. Eventually Joseph would be able to put into words the bigger picture. His brothers, years later, were still worried that Joseph would seek revenge but Joseph shows us that he truly understood the wisdom behind the plan of God:
But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50: 19-20
No anger. No bitterness. No resentment. How many feel they could have done the same after losing 12 years of your life to a wilderness not of your own creation? Joseph was not superhuman. Remember, he was just a 17 year old boy when it all started. But he learned the hear God and understand His wisdom and plan. He developed that in prison. He was able to develop it because he valued it.
And that is the last step in the prescription for the wisdom of God. We must
value the attaining of that wisdom in our lives. In modern
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6: 19-21
Where are you storing up treasure beloved? Are you looking for His wisdom as you would silver; or are you seeking the silver of this world? What is the hidden treasure of your heart? Does it have value in this world or is it eternal? Eternal value does not fade with time. It does not rust. His wisdom is forever.
God wants your heart beloved and He wants it fixed on Him. Remember He knows your needs and will fulfill them. Jesus taught us:
