Welcome to Living in the Light: Navigating Life with Biblical Wisdom. I’m Pastor Michael, and I’m so glad you’re joining me for this final episode in our series. In this episode, we’re going to explore the wisdom of God’s Word on how to make decisions that align with His will. As followers of Christ, we know that our decisions should be guided by Him, but how do we know we’re making the right choices? How can we discern God’s will in our lives? Today, we’ll explore two powerful Scriptures: James 1:5 and Proverbs 3:5-6. We’ll see how God calls us to seek His wisdom and trust Him completely in our decision-making.

Opening Prayer:

Father, thank You for this time to study Your Word. We acknowledge that we need Your wisdom in every decision we make. Teach us how to trust You with our choices and to seek Your will above our own. Help us to discern Your voice in the midst of all the noise and to follow the path You have set before us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Section 1: Asking God for Wisdom (James 1:5)

Let’s begin by reading James 1:5:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

This verse offers us an incredible promise. James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we are to ask God, and He will give it generously—without reproach. God does not begrudge us when we seek wisdom. In fact, He delights in it. He is the source of all wisdom, and He is eager to provide it to those who ask.

We can often feel uncertain about the decisions we face, big or small. We might be wondering if we’re making the right choice or if we’re heading in the right direction. In these moments, we are invited to come before God and ask for His guidance. He doesn’t want us to make decisions based on our own limited understanding. Instead, He wants us to seek His wisdom, knowing that He will generously give it to us when we ask in faith.

God’s wisdom is not like human wisdom. His wisdom is perfect, infinite, and always aligned with His will. When we ask God for wisdom, we can trust that He will provide what we need in order to make decisions that honor Him.

Reflection Question:

Is there a decision you’re facing right now where you need God’s wisdom? How can you ask Him for guidance in that situation?

Section 2: Trusting God in the Decision-Making Process (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Now, let’s take a closer look at Proverbs 3:5-6. We’re familiar with the well-known words:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."

While we’ve likely heard these verses many times, let’s explore them from a fresh perspective. We know that trusting in the Lord is essential, but what does it truly mean to trust Him with all our heart? It means surrendering our own understanding—our own logic, our own experiences—and acknowledging that God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Often, we try to make decisions based on what seems best to us in the moment. We lean on our own understanding, relying on our wisdom, past experiences, and our feelings. But Proverbs 3:5 tells us not to lean on our own understanding, because our understanding is limited. We are called to trust God’s understanding, which is perfect and eternal.

In the decision-making process, this requires a deep surrender. It’s not about simply seeking God’s opinion or asking Him to bless our own plans. It’s about acknowledging that His ways are best and that His will should guide our decisions. When we acknowledge Him in all our ways—whether it’s in our work, our relationships, or our daily life—He promises to make our paths straight. This means that as we seek to align our decisions with God’s will, He will guide us in the right direction.

Let’s also note that this verse encourages us to acknowledge God in all our ways. There is no area of our...