Charles F. Stanley - Walking Wisely: Real Life Solutions for Lifes Journey

T here are only two ways to walk in this lifewisely or unwisely. There are only two types of choiceswise or unwise.

Throughout the Scriptures God admonishes His people to walk wisely. His Word declares boldly:

Happy is the man who finds wisdom,

And the man who gains understanding;

For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,

And her gain than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies,

And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

Length of days is in her right hand,

In her left hand riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

And all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,

And happy are all who retain her. (Prov. 3:1318)

Nothing man may acquire, earn, or achieve in the natural realm is as valuable as wisdom. One of the reasons God places such a high value on wisdom is no doubt because the stakes related to living wisely are so high. If you choose to walk wisely, heres what you can expect:

Contentmentbeyond happiness into the realm of pure joy, based upon an abiding knowledge within your spirit that your life has a purpose

Couragefrom having faith that God is with you at all times, in all situations, and that He will defeat the enemy of your soul and bring you to wholeness

Confidenceborn of knowing that God loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love

Peacerooted in the knowledge that God is working all things for your eternal benefit

Progressbased upon your belief that forgiveness, mercy, renewal, and growth are Gods plan for every believer

Prosperityto the degree that God chooses to pour His spiritual, emotional, and material blessings into your life

The person who walks in wisdom experiences Gods presence, power, and wonderful, boundless approval.

On the other hand, if you choose to walk unwisely, you can expect a far different set of outcomes:

Conflictnot only with others, but in your own mind and soul

Consternationanxiety, worry, and fear of the future, including a fear of entering eternity

Disappointmentthe unsettled feeling that there must be more to life than what you are experiencing

Disillusionmenta persistent degree of deep, inner bitterness and resentment that life hasnt turned out the way you had hoped, expected, or desired

Discontentmentthat gnaws continually at your soul, leading you to seek satisfaction in the fleshly lusts of human nature

If a person chooses habitually to walk apart from wisdom, he can expect Gods disapproval of his life. If he walks without wisdom long enough and excludes God from his life until the day he dies, he will die without Christ as his Savior and spend eternity separated from God.

The truth of Gods Word is very clear: You never lose if you choose to live wisely. You always lose if you choose to live foolishly.

If the consequences are so clear-cut, why is it that the majority of people, including many Christians, choose not to pursue wisdom with their whole heart?

Walking in wisdom is difficult. I make no claim that it is easy to walk wisely, or that it is without obstacles. To walk wisely day in and day out is one of the most challenging things any person can ever face.

Most Christians know that when they go through a difficult time, they are wise to keep their eyes on the Lord. It is difficult, however, not to become afraid and to falter in our faith.

Most Christians know that when they are faced with temptation, the wise response is to say no. It is difficult to do so, however, if a loved one presents the temptation or there is social pressure to participate.

Most Christians know that it is wise to forgive a person who has wronged them. Still, it is difficult to do, especially if immense emotional, physical, or material harm has taken place.

Most Christians know that it is wise to tithe their income. It is difficult to do, especially when a person has debt or has serious financial pressures.

Most Christians know that it is wise to witness about Jesus Christ. It is difficult to do, however, when it places our reputation or career on the line due to office politics.

How can we walk in wisdom when there are so many voices clamoring for us to ignore Gods wisdom and pursue our own desires? This book aims to answer these and many other questions. The good news is that Gods Word has the answersnot only to these questions but also to any question a person may ask. Gods Word provides answers related to our beliefs, our relationships, and our behavior in very practical areas of life. The Bible is a comprehensive manual for how to walk in wisdom.

As you read this book, I encourage you to pray these words continually: Father, please give me Your wisdom. I have no doubt if you pray with a humble and sincere heart, God will give you His wisdom. His delight is to impart to you what will ultimately give you joy, peace, and blessings.

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T HE C HALLENGE OF G ODS W ORD :
W ALK IN W ISDOM