Journal Proverbs 2 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity—every good path—for wisdom will come into your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will watch over you; understanding will guard you…” Proverbs 2:1-11a
Observation: Do stuff or know Him? Which is more important? If I read Proverbs, knowing Him, increasing in the knowledge of God is the precursor to doing stuff that pleases Him…
Analysis: My wife and I used to have this discussion (read: argument) every Saturday morning after devotions. Not exactly the works or faith argument that James lays out in his letter, but the argument of putting effort (sweat, toil, public stuff like street witnessing) vs. study, contemplation, jackleg scholar stuff (like journaling for instance).
Transparency: I have been accused of piling on the theology so that it would enable me to argue more. In the past, this was spot on. Now, not so much.
To know Him, the one and mighty true God, all that I read, study, and promote is to know Him. That’s it. If I want to know Him, yes, I need to be still and know He is God. But the Trinitarian God has given His Word in written format to search through.
Searching through the Word for understanding and wisdom isn’t like taking a class or three; it isn’t even speeding through a 4-year degree in 2 and thinking that is all that is needed, “now, go to work.”
Seeking wisdom and understanding is a life commitment. I will never gain it all, and, if I think that I “got it, I don’t need this anymore”, that is the first step to losing it. I have been meditating on the Wisdom of God is akin to common sense of a renewed mind; common sense as most practice it is not “the Wisdom of God.” There’s a difference although I cannot quite define it in words yet.
Do I call out for insight and raise my voice for understanding? Not hardly—I am too quiet these days.
I have noticed that when it comes to seeking God, overboard in expression is the prevalent and preferable description of action.
Prayer: Father, I holler in my innermost being to You. What I don’t do enough is raise my voice. Being alone builds too many bad habits in me—not that my wife is not supportive; she is. It is: where is the brotherhood when I need them? Make me search for wisdom and understanding, O Lord. AMEN.