What's been your struggle?

I read one time that wisdom is:
"Making decisions today that I'll be glad about tomorrow."

I like that. It's simple and true.
I wish I would follow it more often though!

So often I feel like Paul when he says:

Rom 7:14
I don't understand myself at all,
for I really want to do what is right,
but I don't do it.
Instead, I do the very thing I hate.
NLT

I was reading Romans chapters 7 & 8 this morning and they are such a wonderful reminder of the fact that we can't live for God-without God.

We need Him and His Spirit to help us live this life. Our natural desires are sinful, they rush to sin, but if we belong to God we can rely on the Holy Spirit to help us in these weaknesses.

I encourage you to read those chapters if you are struggling with sin- and who among us is not?!

Romans 7 is a heavy read...but hold on because Romans 8 brings us hope. I re-wrote verses 9-14 into a confession/prayer using the word "I" in the place of "you." I was going to post it, but I think it would be much more effective if you did it yourself.

So, what's been your struggle??
It doesn't matter what the sin you stuggle with is...He already knows about it- in fact He's been talking to you about it (because He loves you so much), so why not choose today to address it.

Wisdom will make choices today that you will be glad you did tomorrow.

Awesome Prayer for God's Wisdom

Again, I'm in Colossians today, this time let's back up to chapter 1.

Col 1:9-14
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
NIV

I love this prayer Paul prayed and I have written it out
so you can pray it over yourself or someone else.
I love to pray the Word!
Not in a repetitive, meaningless way-
but speaking it out because it is life and power!!

(Insert "I" and "me" or the name of the one you are praying for.)

Lord, I ask You to fill _____________ with the knowledge of Your will through
all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

I pray this in order that ____________may live a life worthy of You Lord
and may please You in every way.

That _________ may bear fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of You God.

That ____________ would be strengthened with all power according to
Your glorious might.

So that ____________ may have great endurance and patience,
and joyfully give thanks to You Father, who has qualified ____________ to
share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

For You have rescued ___________ from the dominion of darkness
and brought ___________ into the kingdom of the Son You love,
in whom ___________ have been redeemed and forgiven!

In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen!

Wisdom

1 Cor 1:18-25
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

20 Where is the wise man?
Where is the scholar?
Where is the philosopher of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him,
God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

24 but to those whom God has called,
both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
NIV

As I watch the news these days (I am a FOXNEWS addict),
I am amazed at the foolishness of this world and how it clamors so desperately for wisdom.

God is the source of all wisdom.
To delete Him from the equation is mere foolishness.

He, after all, DID create everything we see.

Just a thought.