SMART MOVE: REGAIN

This week we come to an end of our series Smart Move: Finding Wisdom for Your Life.   Although wisdom is a gift to God from all of humanity, it is always incomplete.  So many things blind us from the power of wisdom, our arrogance, desires, greed, anger, and in short, our sinfulness.  Regardless of our intellectual compacity or our educational level, we grow wiser when we live into the simple truth of Proverbs 1:7: Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (NLT) When we decide to grow in RESPECT (good fear, reverence) of the Lord it will lead us to a greater sense of righteousness, justice, and holiness.   When we commit our lives to put this wisdom into action through following spiritual disciplines and spending time with the Lord, then it becomes transformative. Deep in our hearts we know this, but there are many other forces at work to prevent us from making the needed choices to follow wisdom, especially the full expression of truth found in Jesus Christ.  What are we to do?  The last sermon in this series is Regain, and it is based upon Psalm 16:1-11.  These words contain the wisdom and the wonder of God’s intersection with our lives.  We make our plans but God knows the outcome.  We may determine our motive but God understand what is truly driving our decisions and actions.  Yet, there is also great assurance in these words for every believer.  If we are seeking wisdom, God does not leave us to our own devices.  God is not a disinterested deity who is unconcerned about our condition or welfare.  Instead, this awesome and all-knowing God desires to share with us the strength, hope, knowledge, and joy that can only be found in a relationship with him.  These words help us to determine what is lost and how it can be found once again in our lives.  We pray diligently that you will regain the direction and determination to live into the presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and be filled with power the Holy Spirit as you read Proverbs 16:1-11:

We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer.² People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. ³ Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. ⁴ The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. ⁵ The LORD detests the proud; they will surely be punished. ⁶ Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil. ⁷ When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them. ⁸ Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. ⁹ We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. ¹⁰ The king speaks with divine wisdom; he must never judge unfairly. ¹¹ The LORD demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.  (NLT)