A Wisdom Diploma

What if all those students who recently graduated had taken “wisdom” courses that gave them the keys for a life of success -- no matter what profession they chose?

For sure, those wisdom courses would have helped us avoid the School of Hard Knocks! That’s a school we go to without realizing we enrolled.

Despite all our time and effort, we still haven’t graduated. Why? Because we haven't tapped into the Godly wisdom found in the Bible’s Book of Proverbs.

Not to disappoint Forrest Gump but, “life isn’t a box of chocolates”! No matter our pay grade or the Easy Street we live on – our lives will still be a series of pop quizzes and surprise exams. That’s why we need wisdom. That's why our Grand Professor, Father God, gave us nuggets of gold aka wisdom to ensure our success.

Proverbs 4:7 tells us, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all your getting, get understanding.”

Sounds simple enough, but how often do we seek out this wisdom before diving headfirst into our latest challenge? We tend to rely more on our gut feelings, which doesn't provide God the opportunity to insert His plans and His wisdom.

So, how do we start using Godly wisdom and not just our own instincts? I want to graduate from the School of Hard Knocks and into a daily routine of hearing God's voice and making decisions based on His wisdom.

Here are ways that help us increase in wisdom:
1. Enroll in a daily Proverbs Class: Set aside a few minutes daily to read a chapter from Proverbs. There are 31 chapters, perfect for a monthly rotation.

2. Apply what we learn: Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

3. Learn from mistakes: Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again.” Graduation isn’t about never failing; it’s about getting up and trying again -- hopefully with more wisdom each time.

4. Surround ourselves with wise counsel: Proverbs 13:20 says, “He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” If our inner circle consists of people who think jumping off the roof with an umbrella is a good idea, it might be time to make new friends.

Graduating from the School of Hard Knocks isn’t about acing every test or never making mistakes. It’s about realizing the importance of Godly wisdom and applying it while growing in understanding.

Let’s dust off our Proverbs textbooks, seek out Godly wisdom, and walk across the graduation stage with confidence. And if we trip up on our way to our diploma? Wisdom will be there to catch us!