“The Importance of GPS (God’s Priority System) in Walking in the Way of Wisdom” Big Idea: God’s will is clear: that we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and become more like Christ, which means we can make decisions out of our desire to love him. “Life is a matter of choice, and every choice you make makes you.” ~ John Maxwell “Think of the Book of Proverbs as God’s twitter feed to the human race. God’s giving advice to us in short bursts of communication, usually 140 characters or less per verse. It is God’s divinely designed self-improvement course. Think of Proverbs as portable wisdom-heavenly rules for earthly living. Each of the Proverbs either tells us: (1) how we will respond to life if we have a healthy fear of the Lord, or (2) how we will mess up if we don’t. The fear of the Lord is not unhealthy, dysfunctional, or debilitating fear. It means an appropriate respect, reverence, awe and wonder.” ~ Robert Morgan Proverbs 1:7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 2:1-6 1 My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 9:10 NLT Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Two Kinds of Fear: The fear that God will hurt me; but that is a selfish fear. The fear that I will hurt Him: a fear founded in love and producing holiness of character and righteousness of conduct. “The fear of God is… astonished reverence. I believe that the reverential fear of God mixed with love and fascination and astonishment and admiration and devotion is the most enjoyable state and the most satisfying emotion the human soul can know.” ~ A. W. Tozer What is Wisdom? (from Just Do Something) Wisdom is the fear of the Lord and finding the of God. (Remember all that we just read about what that fear of the Lord really means!) Wisdom in Proverbs is always . Wisdom is God and as He commands. Biblical wisdom means a disciplined and prudent life in the fear of the Lord. Why Do We Often Get Lost or Stuck on the Journey? We are because we have so many things to look at. We are and following the wrong map. We in making a decision because of over-spiritualizing, paralysis of analysis, fear of failure / getting it wrong, etc. What Should We Do? Walk in the way of Wisdom by reading, studying and meditating on . He wants . He wants us to know him so his thoughts become our thoughts, his ways our ways, his affections our affections. He wants us to drink so of his Word that we love what he loves and hate what he hates. Romans 12:1-2 NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Matthew 6:33-34 NLT 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Walk in the way of Wisdom by seeking . A key question to answer, are you ? Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. Proverbs 12:15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 19:20 Get all the advice and instruction you can, so that you will be wise the rest of your life. Walk in the way of Wisdom by spending time in . Pray for that God would open our minds so we can understand Scriptures and apply them to our lives. Pray for . Pray for things that you already know are God’s . “The way of wisdom is a way of life. If you are a person of prayer, full of regular good counsel from others, and steeped in the truth of the Word, you should begin to make many important decisions instinctively, and some of them even quickly.” ~ Kevin DeYoung — Why We Need to Act — Wisdom keeps you from wicked men. (Proverbs: 2:12) Wisdom keeps you from dark ways. (Proverbs 2:13) (1 Cor. 3:19) Wisdom keeps you from crooked paths and the adulterous woman with her seductive speech. (Proverbs 2:15) Wisdom is the path of righteousness, while foolishness is the path of death. (Proverbs 2:18-19) CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION Thinking back on your life, when & why did you come to “fear God”? (Fear: “The fear that I will hurt Him: a fear founded in love and producing holiness of character and righteousness of conduct.”) God uses three main ways (Scripture + wise counsel + prayer) to give us direction. What are you facing today where you need direction from God? As you absorb this quote: “The way of wisdom is a way of life. If you are a person of prayer, full of regular good counsel from others, and steeped in the truth of the Word, you should begin to make many important decisions instinctively, and some of them even quickly.” ~ Kevin DeYoung What do you sense God leading you to do next?