Prov 8:12 [ESV] I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
I remember one of the first games of football I played when I lived in the Highlands. It was a local team that played in the local league and travelled up to 100km each weekend to play the away games. Home games for me meant a 100km round trip as did training nights. I had been playing in Edinburgh in a league team and was keen to continue if possible in my new location.
I was invited to start a game in a pre-season warm up game. I scored two goals and assisted in another and we ran out winners at 4-1. I was playing Right Back position.
I went to the training nights and when the season started I was picked for the team, replacing another man who had been a long time player. I understood we were competing for the same position so I worked hard to keep my place and valued being part of the team.
Years went by, I became accustomed to starting each game, went to less training days, turned up at the last minute for games, and one day found myself on the bench, not starting a game for the first time in a few years. I had drifted, my commitment had drifted, something I once valued, I had allowed myself to think I was entitled to. It was incremental changes over a long period.
KNOWLEDGE – Following God is not a Sunday activity, it’s not even a Monday-Fri activity, it’s a lifestyle and intentional and purposeful way of life. It’s ingrained not worn. It’s a constant radar that runs as a spiritual check, alerting us to the right way to live and empowering us to make the right choices daily. We willingly choose our path and the companions for that path.
Our life has inbuilt purpose and passion that is connected to God and his ways.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word used for “dwell” is pronounced as “sakan” in Hebrew. It carries the meaning, to dwell, abide, live among and stay. The idea is to make a home and to settle in – it’s not a visit, or a vacation, it’s a choice for a way of life.
The LXX reads as ” I wisdom encamped with counsel and knowledge; and I called upon reflection” The word for “encamped ” is κατεσκήνωσα [kateskenosa] which appears in Mat 8:20 and Luke 9.58 and is translated as “have nests”. [κατασκηνώσεις]
WISDOM
What do I have and what can I do each day to bless you Jesus?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Maximiser as a Gallup Strength loves to take something that is already working well and make it awesome. Even while you are evaluating, don’t forget to celebrate.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – I who have moral purity and skill in life, trade, war and spiritual matters, make myself a home with vigilance and shrewdness, and I discover and uncover understanding and learning as well as purpose and intentionality.
I, wisdom, – I who have moral purity and skill in life, trade, war and spiritual matters
dwell with – make myself a home with
prudence – vigilance and shrewdness
and I find – and I discover and uncover
knowledge – understanding and learning
and discretion – as well as purpose and intentionality.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to to take all you have imparted to me and live with intentionality each day.
To chat to me as a professional coach/mentor – [email protected]
I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to bless me?