10 daily habits that will help you connect with God: Seek wise counsel (it's healthy)

Howdy! Being completely transparent, these past few weeks of blogging have been difficult. I haven't felt as inspired in this second half than I was in the first half, and with weekly deadlines, pressure has definitely been present, but each week the Lord has been faithful in giving me a testimony or a tidbit to share with y'all. How cool is that?! We serve a God who works in the background of our lives and provides for our needs even when we aren't feeling as in love with Him as He is with us. Faithful and present-- that is the King of our hearts. Woah!

Anyway, getting back on track, I want to treat this post as another opportunity to share a testimony of my experience seeking wise council this week.

But first things first:

What is wise counsel and why is it important?

Proverbs 19:20-21 says, "Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail," (New Living Translation). Seeking wise counsel means that you bring someone alongside you who is older and wiser in the things of God, and then applying what the author of Proverbs writes: listen to and be receptive of advice and instruction so that you will gain wisdom. By gaining Godly wisdom, you will become more in tune with God's plans for your life. We have to know God before we hear from Him and 90% of the time (fake statistic), the Lord speaks through people.

Who should you seek wisdom from?

So, should you seek Godly wisdom from just anyone at your church or in your bible study group? No. Someone you seek wise counsel from should first be someone who is close to you and that you trust (duh!). This person should also exhibit the fruits of the spirit in their lives, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation).

So, how can you tell whether someone is giving Godly advice and exhibiting fruits of the spirit? How can you know who to trust? Scripture tells us clearly the characteristics of Godly wisdom we should look out for:

James 3:17-18 says, "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness," (New Living Translation).

Now that we understand the basics of wisdom and wise counsel, let's get into this week's habit!

Daily habit #8: Seek wise counsel

Testimony Time!

I ran into an emotional situation this week that jarred me and caught me off-guard, and friends, it has actually been incredibly difficult to navigate and overcome the anger and confusion it's brought. My first response was to go to my College Station best friend and release my frustration by attempting to talk it through. When I did, you know what happened? She directed me to wise counsel. Pro-tip: be friends with people who point you to Jesus and want to see you become more like Him everyday.

Now, I know what you're thinking... Jess, you're basically sending yourself to free therapy. Not necessarily. The heart behind having a wise counsel is that you both want to push one another toward the heart of God, giving applicable wisdom not simply talk emotions. Remember, Jesus loves you too much to leave you where you are, He wants to see you grow.

That being said, I went to both of my BSM bible study leader's for advice and you know where they both directed me? Scripture.

The Bible is your best friend

My first week in College Station, I spent a significant amount of time at the Aggie BSM (I still do!!!) and I will never forget what a panelist said at our Thriving Spiritually Howdy Week event, "I made the Bible my best friend." Y'all, like I've mentioned before, if prayer is how we speak to God, His Word is how He speaks back to us, and while He speaks through people, Scripture is the direct words of God; direct communication and connection.

So, while having a friend or two who speak Godly wisdom in your life, truly wise friends will point you to scripture. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart," (English Standard Version). Since the word of God is living and breathing, that means that we will receive applicable wisdom from the scriptures if our hearts are open to receive it.

So, make the Bible your best friend, and seek wisdom from friends who are best friends with their bible, too! Remember, we were not created for loneliness, but for community with other Christians and to be in relationship with Christ.

Call to Action

Like a lot of blog posts recently, this one was short and sweet because the gospel of Jesus Christ beautifully simple and complex all in one, but don't let the length of my words take away from the magnitude of Christ and seeking Godly wisdom as we live to fulfill the purpose the Lord has uniquely give each of us. To recap: find someone you trust and who exhibits fruits of the Spirit, be friends with people who point you to Jesus and want to see you sanctified (look more like Jesus), and make your Bible your best friend-- there's nothing wiser than the alive Word of God.

XOXO,

Jess :)