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Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're glad to

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Speaker 1: have you listening with us. Today's topic is what is Wisdom.

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Speaker 1: We'll return with the devotional after a brief message from

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Speaker 1: our sponsors. What is Wisdom Written and read by Megan J. Connor.

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Speaker 1: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

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Speaker 1: and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding Proverbs nine

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Speaker 1: ten NIV. The Bible is full of references to the

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Speaker 1: concept of wisdom. We are exhorted throughout the Word to

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Speaker 1: seek wisdom, to employ it when making decisions, to represent

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Speaker 1: it through our interactions with others, and to prayerfully request

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Speaker 1: an increase of it in our lives. There are entire

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Speaker 1: books in the Bible dedicated to the value of wisdom,

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Speaker 1: Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, to name a few. With all of

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Speaker 1: these references to wisdom and the Word, it is clear

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Speaker 1: the Lord is trying to teach us something. But what

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Speaker 1: what does wisdom really mean for us in our modern,

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Speaker 1: everyday lives. When we look up the definition of wisdom

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Speaker 1: in the dictionary or Biblical concordance, we can see descriptions

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Speaker 1: such as having good sense or judgment, the ability to

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Speaker 1: discern inner qualities, teaching stemming from ancient knowledge, shrewdness, or prudence.

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Speaker 1: Based on these definitions, true wisdom is more than intellect

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Speaker 1: or knowledge. It is much deeper. It extends far beyond

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Speaker 1: human limitations, which is why we must look to the

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Speaker 1: supernatural as our source of importation and increase. I don't

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Speaker 1: know about you, but I struggle with the idea of

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Speaker 1: possessing and successfully employing wisdom in everyday life. Our lives

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Speaker 1: move at such a fast pace, and whether real or

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Speaker 1: project did, it feels like our choices must be instantaneous

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Speaker 1: rather than carefully considered. Even if I am able to

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Speaker 1: carve out space for thoughtful deliberation, it seems like I

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Speaker 1: rely more readily on my ever present, very forward emotions

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Speaker 1: rather than sage discernment when making decisions. Perhaps you struggle

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Speaker 1: with this as well. How then, can we attempt to

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Speaker 1: gain and prioritize wisdom? Our key scripture today states the

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Speaker 1: fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and

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Speaker 1: knowledge of the Holy One is understanding Proverbs nine, ten

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Speaker 1: and IV. Any search we embark on to gain wisdom

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Speaker 1: must begin with the fear of the Lord. Fear in

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Speaker 1: this passage isn't being afraid. Rather, it is a sincere

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Speaker 1: reverence and respect for our creator God. It is an

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Speaker 1: acknowledgment that He is the Alpha and the omega, the

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Speaker 1: beginning and the end Revelation twenty two thirteen that all

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Speaker 1: things were created by him, and without him nothing was made.

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Speaker 1: John one three. He is the answer, He is the soul.

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Speaker 1: If we desire to gain greater insight and understanding, we

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Speaker 1: must depend heavily on the Lord. We must look to

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Speaker 1: him first. This all sounds great, but how can we

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Speaker 1: practically apply this to our lives by intentionally asking the

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Speaker 1: Lord to grant and increase our wisdom? Proverbs four seven

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Speaker 1: says getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do,

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Speaker 1: and whatever else you do, develop good judgment. If the

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Speaker 1: smartest thing we can do to gain wisdom is to

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Speaker 1: simply ask for it, then that is the best place

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Speaker 1: to start. The Word promises that if we ask, we

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Speaker 1: shall receive, and if we seek, we shall find Matthew

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Speaker 1: seven seven. The next time you are uncertain of what

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Speaker 1: decision to make or how to proceed forward in an

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Speaker 1: unpredictable scenario, stop and pray ask the Lord to grant

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Speaker 1: you his wisdom, create space for those whispers of the

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Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, and God will provide. He is faithful to

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Speaker 1: do all he has promised. Intersecting faith and life, the

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Speaker 1: concept of wisdom in the Word of God. Have you

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Speaker 1: seen it as treasured and valuable? Or do you struggle

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Speaker 1: to believe you can possess such a quality? I shared earlier,

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Speaker 1: I have wrestled with possessing and employing wisdom. However, I

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Speaker 1: fully believe in the truth of God's word. If he

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Speaker 1: tells us to seek wisdom and ask for it, then

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Speaker 1: that is exactly what we should do. Understanding this, I

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Speaker 1: started praying for wisdom every morning several years ago. My

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Speaker 1: prayer is simple, nothing fancy, But when I recite this

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Speaker 1: daily prayer, I sense a connection to the Word and

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Speaker 1: God's desire for me to grow in my faith. It

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Speaker 1: is a small act of obedience that I believe has

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Speaker 1: drawn me closer and more dependent upon the Lord. If

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Speaker 1: you feel led, please join me in this petition today.

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Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, would you grant my family and I wisdom today?

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Speaker 1: Help us to be present in this natural world, but

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Speaker 1: live and work with your supernatural wisdom that is beyond

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Speaker 1: this world. Amen. For further reading. Take a look at

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Speaker 1: John chapter one, verses one through five and Matthew chapter seven,

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Speaker 1: verses seven through eleven. Thanks for listening to today's devotional.

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Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, we want to

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Speaker 1: make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer.

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Speaker 1: When you follow your daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app,

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Speaker 1: so your days begin in conversation with God. If you're

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Speaker 1: looking to grow in prayer or start your day with

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Speaker 1: your heart focused on the right things, search for your

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Speaker 1: daily prayer in your favorite podcast app and be sure

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Speaker 1: to follow the show so you get a new prayer

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