Wisdom Takes Time: A Study of ProverbsSample

Wisdom Learns from Mistakes

Walking in wisdom and in the other principles found in the Book of Proverbs is a process that takes time. Just as the sun shines brighter and brighter as the day progresses (see Proverbs 4:18), so does our godly behavior. Let me encourage you: please don’t be disheartened if you realize you’ve made many mistakes because you did not use wisdom. Just begin now to search for it with all of your heart. 

Focusing on regret will hinder you from growing and making progress, so don’t waste your effort on it. All we can do about our mistakes is confess them, ask for and receive God’s forgiveness for them, and then learn from them. Our mistakes can probably educate us more than most other experiences if we will let them, but thankfully they do not have to define our future.

The apostle John wrote that if we continue in God’s Word, we will know the truth and it will make us free (see John 8:31-32). Continuing in God’s Word involves more than merely reading or hearing it. It involves meditating on the Scriptures and actually putting them into practice in our lives. Proverbs 4:21-22 teaches us to not let God’s words out of our sight and to keep them within our hearts, “for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” 

As we keep a humble attitude by consistently going to God’s Word for guidance and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, we’ll be free to learn from our past and move forward into the beautiful destiny He has planned for us. 

Prayer Starter: Father, please forgive me for the mistakes I’ve made by not using wisdom. I want to be able to grow and move forward, so I choose to receive Your forgiveness. Thank You for giving me the grace and strength to change and to follow wisdom in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Adapted from the book In Search of Wisdom by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2021 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.