Working in Wisdom

I am a worker. My mother never had to motivate me to set goals for myself or had to motivate me to get involved at school or in my community. As I continued to grow into a woman, my work ethic only grew. Actually, it grew to a point that I didn’t really realize the value in resting. I became so familiar with working that I could not recognize when God was calling me to rest or when God was telling me no. It is easy for me to see opportunities and to jump right on them just because I am used to being busy. The problem with this is that not everything I have been involved in has been directed by God.

There are certain areas and opportunities that God specifically charges to us. When He calls us to these areas, He has also equipped us with the giftings, talents, patience, wisdom, faith, etc to accomplish the task. It is when we decide to take on areas because others have said we would be good at it; because it is an area of interest for us; or because we don’t know how to be still that we create stress, frustration, and a lack of balance for ourselves.

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah was able to go forward in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem not because of his personal attachment, but because he had been directed by God to do so. Nehemiah 2:12 says, “And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.” (KJV). He was aware that his work was directed by God and with God’s charge comes His favor, His guidance, and His grace. God will provide the people that are needed, the materials for the task, or whatever else is needed to accomplish His plan.

We are to be careful in adding more to our schedules simply because we are use to being busy. Now, I am more apt to go to God in prayer and to seek the counselor of the Elders of my church before taking on a new task. I must choose to exercise self control and discipline to keep my focus on those areas God has specifically charged to me rather than adding what I think I should be doing. I am thankful for learning how to work in wisdom.

So, I encourage you to move in wisdom in your goals and schedule. Seek God in prayer as to what you should be doing and the timing of the task. Allow God to also guide you in the value of resting in Him. It makes a world of difference.