Java & Journaling: WISDOM.

The journal prompt for today is: WISDOM (James 3:17)

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James 3:17 says, "But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest." (ERV)

James 3:17-18- "Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor." (The Message)

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Wisdom, according to the dictionary, is "knowledge of what is true or right, coupled with just judgment as to action; discernment, or insight- sense, understanding, enlightenment."

Pure.

1- The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is first PURE. 

Pure means- free from anything contaminating, free from extraneous matter, free from inappropriate or foreign elements, clear, blemish free.

The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is first free from anything contaminating, free from inappropriate element- no blemishes.

The wisdom that comes from God does not have ulterior motives when interacting with others. The wisdom that comes from God is not inappropriate. The wisdom that comes from God seeks what is best for others, not what is good for the individual in that moment. It is holy- it is simple. 

Peaceful.

2-  The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is PEACEFUL.

Peaceful means- free from war, strife, violence, commotion, or disorder.

The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is free from war, strife, violence, commotion, or disorder.

The wisdom that comes from God is not consistently looking for an argument. The wisdom that comes from God does not give weight to fear. The wisdom that comes from God strives to keep harmony between others and situations. It does not like disorder or confusion. 

Gentle.

3- The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is GENTLE.

Gentle means- kind, mild, not severe/rough/violent.

The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is kind, mild- not severe, rough, or violent.

The wisdom that comes from God is kind. The wisdom that comes from God is considerate. Love pours out of this person. There is no severity or harshness in their voice. They are not violent. 

Easy to Please.

4- The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is EASY TO PLEASE.

Easy to please means- not hard or difficult to satisfy.

The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is not hard or difficult to satisfy.

Have you ever met a person that no matter what you do, they are never happy? You have to do all these tiny thing just to satisfy them. They're not happy with the big picture. One small thing can go wrong and they're instantly mad or upset. The wisdom that comes from God finds satisfaction in the small things. They are not difficult to please. They go with the flow- which is probably why kindness and peace oozes out of them.

Helpful.

5- The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is ALWAYS READY TO HELP PEOPLE.

Help means- give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; render assistance to.

The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is always ready to contribute strength to others- render assistance to others- provide a need to others. 

The wisdom that comes from God is always ready to give. The wisdom that comes from God is always ready to contribute strength to others whether it is through words of wisdom, through prayer, through interaction, through a conversation, through a hug, or through a donation. The wisdom that comes from God is not selfish. It is loving. It provides assistance. 

Fair.

6- The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is FAIR.

Fair means- free from bias or injustice; legitimately pursued. 

The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is free from bias or injustice. 

There's no preconceived notions when it comes to the wisdom that is from God. People with this wisdom do not hear things about people and judge them-- they're minds are free from that kind of prejudice. 

Honest.

7- The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is HONEST.

Honest means- honorable in principles, intentions, and actions; upright; sincere; free from deceit or hypocrisy. 

The insight, discernment, understanding, and moral knowledge of God is honorable in intentions and actions- sincere.

There's no hidden agenda with the wisdom of God. There is honor in every word spoken- in every action taken. There is sincerity. There's no hidden motive. All of the cards are on the table. There is freedom from deceit. No hypocrisy. 

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All of this works together to create the wisdom that comes from God. It takes work. James 1:5 says, "If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking." We must ask for it. We must strive for it. He will give us what we desire-- we just have to seek it.

The one thing I noticed about almost every definition we just talked about is almost ALL of them included the word

FREEDOM.

Free from deceit.
Free from bias.
Free from injustice.
Free from violence.
Free from war.
Free from strife.
Free from commotion.
Free from anything contaminating.
Free from extraneous matters.
Free from inappropriate elements.

FREE.

There is freedom found in the wisdom of God.