The price of wisdom
is beyond rubies.

JOB 28:18

Introduction

It’s easy to dismiss wisdom as an antiquated biblical term. It sounds so foreign to the modern mind-set, maybe a little lofty, and almost unattainable. But to God it’s a spiritually discerning way of living that never goes out of style. It’s as vital as air is to our lungs.

Wisdom isn’t about someone’s IQ or how many degrees one has. Wisdom is the perceptive and godly judgment that keeps a woman on track. Keeps her moving forward in grace, beauty, and love. A woman of wisdom is a woman of prayer, faith, and strength—a woman that everyone admires.

Where can we get such a beauty treatment for the heart? Since God is the Father who loves to give good gifts to His children, all you have to do is ask….

The Way of Heaven

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who
enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

HEBREWS 4:9–10

People have become a blur. We spend our lives racing from place to place, barely able to breathe. We have great intent but little purpose. Sometimes the only thing to slow us down is a severe health issue or death. Why do we wait for disaster to slow us down? Probably because the wild winds of the world beckon us to whirl forward in our careers, our agendas—to make the most of every hour, every minute. Even on Sunday.

But that’s not the way of God. He has another vantage point—the one from heaven. We humans are not machines; we are flesh—and spirit. We cannot go and go without collapsing. We need respite, refreshment, repose, and reflection. If the God of the universe felt it was important to rest after His labors in creating our earth, how much more vital is it for us frail beings to give up our labor one day each week?

One of the Ten Commandments tells us that Sunday is more than a day of rest; it is also a holy day. So let us worship our Lord on Sunday. Let us put up our feet. Let us be refreshed for a new week of loving and being loved.

That is the way to live—that is the way of heaven.

God, You know what’s best for me. Help me to follow in Your ways. Amen. —AH

My Sweetest Delight

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

MATTHEW 11:28–30

A yoke doesn’t make one think of a happy frolic in the meadow, but of some kind of heavy oppression. So much of the time that is the way we see life—as oppressive. That’s because life is cruel and can be as overwhelming as a tidal wave sweeping over a village. But God’s Word promises us a reprieve when we stay near Him.

The refrain from the old hymn, “His Yoke Is Easy” by Daniel S. Warner goes:

His yoke is easy, His burden is light,
I’ve found it so, I’ve found it so;
His service is my sweetest delight,
His blessings ever flow.

But even more stirring are two of Mr. Warner’s verses to the song:

My flesh recoiled before the cross,
And Satan whispered there,
“Thy gain will not repay the loss,
His yoke is hard to bear.”

I’ve tried the road of sin and found,
Its prospects all deceive;
I’ve proved the Lord, and joys abound,
More than I could believe.

Yes, so true. Satan’s finest hour holds nothing but deception and despair. But even in God’s discipline we discover mercy. Even when He allows struggles, there is joy!

Jesus, thank You
for giving me rest and
new life. Free me from
my burdens. Amen.

—AH

All of These Rhapsodies Are Ours

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you.”

EXODUS 33:14

Think of the most scrumptious meal. The most romantic sunset. The cuddliest pet. The most irresistible perfume. The most passionate love. The most achingly exquisite melody. All of these rhapsodies put together dim in comparison to one flashing, spellbinding moment in the Lord’s presence. After all, He is the one who created these delights, either directly or through humans gifted to produce them.

When it comes to God’s presence, we think too small, too finite. It’s as if we’re focused on a dirty penny fallen inside the sewer grate when all the beauty and wonder of the world is ours if we only gaze upward—if we bask in the presence of God. Look up to the heavens and grasp a more profound picture of the “who” of God. He is small enough to be inside your heart, and yet He is vast enough to rule the universe. He is beyond our understanding, and yet He wants to have a relationship with you—an intimate bond of friendship. Imagine. We are so dear to His heart, in fact, that He said His presence will go with us.

So ask for His nearness in your life. Sit at the foot of the Master and be ready for redemption. Be receptive to love. And, yes, be prepared to be staggered in awe.

Father, You are the origin of all richness, joy, and love.
Help me to seek You every moment of every day. Amen. —AH

The Foot of the Matterhorn

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green
pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

PSALM 23:1–3

Between Italy and Switzerland, not far from the base of the Matterhorn—which is one of the most spectacular peaks in the Alps—there are ponds and lakes sublime enough and wreathed in grasses verdant enough to have inspired David’s words in Psalm 23 when he writes, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.”

But you don’t have to travel great distances to find bodies of water like this. They are in abundance around the globe, and God, in His wisdom, will make full use of them. Of course, God can refresh us while we’re waiting at a traffic light on a busy street corner with blaring horns, but there is something about relaxing by the shore, listening to the waters lap, gurgle, and ripple away again, that gets into our souls and allows us to better hear that still, small voice of God.

There by those golden shores, those quiet waters, the Lord will work out the kinks in our spirits. He’ll prompt us to release what we thought we had under control but didn’t. He will remind us how He treasures us, how He loves us, and how He pursues us more diligently than a lover.

Lord, please refresh my spirit, and help me to rely solely on Your guidance. Amen. —AH

Just as Sure as You Draw Breath

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people
succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

PSALM 37:7

Did you ever have your day planned out to perfection, just to have it completely decimated? The source of your undoing might be a friend, a relative, or a coworker. Or it could even be someone you share a pew with at church. It’s not your imagination—just as sure as you draw breath, there is someone out there scheming against you. She might have good intentions or might not give a flying fig that she made your plans unravel like a ball of loose twine bouncing with wild abandon down the stairs. That is the nature of a fallen humanity.

But God has a few words for us on the matter: “stop fretting about it.”

Even if a fellow sojourner means us ill, we can commit that person to the Lord. We can let God handle our affairs. We can even sit back and wait patiently for Him. How hard is that? In our humanness, it is virtually impossible. Yet in God’s power, everything is possible. And no matter what the situation looks like from your end—no matter how much a fellow human being may think he or she has power over you—never forget, the Lord has the ultimate authority, the utmost power, and the final say in your life. Praise God!

Father, help me to remember that You are always
watching over me. I have nothing to fear. Amen. —AH

He’s Whispering Your Name

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

JOHN 14:27

You know the feeling. You’re sweaty. Your heart is beating outside your chest. You’re scared out of your mind. It’s like a panic attack on steroids, a nightmare that you can’t wake up from.

It’s called life.

What’s a body to do? According to the Bible, there’s plenty you can do. But there’s only one voice to listen to. Can you hear it? It’s God’s, and He’s whispering your name. He’s saying, “Don’t be troubled. I have been waiting for you. Run to Me. My arms are open wide. I will hold you every step of the way. Never succumb to fear. The worries of the day and the terrors of the night are ploys from the enemy.

“Perfect love hurls your fear into the pit of hell where it belongs. The world has no peace to give. It is as sturdy as paper, and its promises fade. The peace I offer is hand-molded and divinely cured. It’s usable, durable, and beautiful. It is forever.”

Lord, help me to make a home in the stronghold of Your love. I don’t want to rely on this
world for my comfort or fulfillment. You are my sustenance and my purpose. Amen. —AH

How Should I Talk to God?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

When you hear the words, “an anxious heart,” what do you think of? Perhaps a hummingbird’s fast heartbeat, which can beat 1,260 times per minute? Or an animal that paces back and forth restlessly in its cage with no hope of escape?

When we become nervous, and we feel trapped and alone, there’s a simple explanation—we have forgotten how to pray, how to trust. Fortunately, God gives us some excellent guidelines on prayer. In fact, Jesus gave us an example of how to pray in His famous petition that was recorded in Matthew 6:9–13:

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ”

We don’t need to suffer with an anxious heart or feel ensnared by this world with no one to hear our cry for help. We can talk to God, right now, and He will listen. The act of prayer is as simple as launching a boat into the Sea of Galilee, but it’s as miraculous as walking on water.

God, how wonderful it is that You hear me when I call out to You
and that You answer with exactly what I need. Amen. —AH

That Dress Is So You

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height,
for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

1 SAMUEL 16:7

Have you ever been shopping when the fashion planets seemed to align perfectly and your friend gasps and says, “That dress is so you“? Perhaps she means it fits well, it’s complimentary to your figure, it makes you look younger or smarter, or it brings out your skin tone or the color of your eyes. When that magical moment happens, we feel victorious. Nothing wrong with that. Buy the dress—enjoy the day.

However.

Just to keep things in perspective, the fashion industry cares only for the outer woman. That is, it’s not interested in how God wants to grow us into women of beauty from the inside out. Our true essence and “look” should come from the knowledge of who we are in Christ, not from a designer label. If we follow Christ with a whole heart, our reflection will be far more stunning than the finest haute couture, and that light and beauty will radiate and forever change a dark and hurting world. Yes, clothes are fun and necessary, but they shouldn’t “make” the woman. That’s the business of God.

Jesus, help me to remember that my worth isn’t defined by my outward appearance.
Transform me daily into a greater likeness of Yourself. Amen. —AH

A Masterpiece in the Making

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

JEREMIAH 29:11

When we’re in the midst of trials, we can become so focused on the details of our miseries it seems impossible to see the bigger picture—the divine plan. Life is a little like a mosaic, and we spend way too much of our time seeing only the tiny stained pieces that we place into the wall of our lives.

As the Master Craftsman, God can take those oddly shaped and mismatched fragments of this fallen world—of our lives—and make something beautiful. He can take what sin has wrought, what Satan has perverted, and what man has meant for evil, and create a grand and glorious picture.

So, the next time people tell you that life is random and unredeemable, without a plan, a hope, or a future, step back from the world’s view, and behold what others refuse to see—witness a masterpiece in the making.

God, help me to trust in Your perfect plan, even when I don’t understand it.
You are sovereign and all-knowing. I have no reason to fear because
You are in control. I place my life in Your hands. Amen. —AH

God Is Doing Something New

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

ISAIAH 43:19

So much of life depends on the flow of thirst-quenching water. Creeks, streams, and rivers draw people to congregate and build towns around them and to plant crops that grow into fields of harvest. On the other hand, to experience a dearth of water across the land can be devastating. It can make a verdant valley inhospitable. It can make what seems like a promise perilous.

Imagine that desert, dry and barren—with no hope of even a cactus flower to bloom—suddenly coming to life with bubbling pools of pure water. That is what God promises us. He is doing something new in our lives. He is making a path through what feels impassable, and He will command a stream to flow through the wilderness of our pasts, places where we had only known the wasteland of sin and a landscape of despair.

So believe in what God can do. Have faith, and bring your empty buckets to the stream. Lift the dipper to your parched lips, and taste the water that is sweet and new and refreshing.

Father, thank You for Your provision, hope, and joy. Without You,
life is dry and hostile. Come into my life and quench my thirst.
You are the only one who can fulfill me. Amen. —AH

What Is Our Defense?

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

EPHESIANS 6:12

Sometimes when people talk about the dark spiritual forces mentioned in the Bible, the words sound so otherworldly, as if they’re reading the script of a fantasy movie. If we haven’t witnessed the powers of darkness—demons—it’s easy to believe they don’t exist. But according to the Bible, they, a legion of angels that fell with Satan when he defied God, are very real.

Since our struggle includes what we cannot see, what is our defense? In Ephesians 6:13–17, the apostle Paul tells us to

Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground… Stand firm then, with the belt of truth…the breastplate of righteousness…with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition…take up the shield of faith…the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Those directives sound like a battle cry—and it is! There is a war going on in the spiritual realms—it’s a fight for your soul.

So, be watchful, and stay devoted to Christ who loves you and gave His life for you. Then, like Paul, you can say in that last hour, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Lord, You are my
strength and protection.
Defend me from evil,
unseen forces. Amen.

—AH

We Have the Keys to the Vault

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see
your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

MATTHEW 5:14–16

Christians sometimes cower around nonbelievers as if we only have trinkets of truth to offer the world. But God is the creator of all things. He is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end—who is, and who was, and who is to come. What the Almighty has to offer, no other god can give. God’s gift of salvation through Christ is awe-inspiring, unmatchable, eternal.

We as followers of Jesus have the keys to the vault, inside of which are the most beautiful riches ever seen. No earthly king, not even Solomon in all his glory, could offer such gems as forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life.

Let us unlock the vault, swing open the doors, and let the world see what we have—who we have. Christ is beautiful and without flaw, so much so, that He can pour pure light into every dark crevice of this fallen earth. So let this truth and light kept in the treasury of our hearts shine before everyone!

Jesus, help me to represent You and light the way for others in this
dark, fallen world. Thank You for Your saving grace. Amen. —AH

Seeing Others through “God Glasses”

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

COLOSSIANS 3:12

Your boss got a raise because he stole all your best ideas, your dearest friend of ten years can’t seem to remember your birthday if her life depended on it—not even an e-card, the line at the post office is held up because of a woman at the front counter who can’t stop jawing about the sweater she knitted for her poodle, and solicitors’ calls interrupted supper three times. So, realistically, how can anyone be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience every hour of every day? It’s just not possible. Humans are too annoying!

We can’t do anything on our own. But if we ask the Holy Spirit to help us, He will be faithful and provide a way for us to flee from those urges to lash out at people. To react in the flesh. He’ll help us to see others through “God glasses”—that is, seeing people the way they were meant to be and what they still can be in Christ.

Ask the Holy Spirit for “God glasses.” It will forever change the way you see other people, and the way you see yourself.

Holy Spirit, give me new eyes so that I can see others as God sees them.
Help me to love as Christ loves—without selfishness or limit. Amen. —AH

Good Reason to Smile

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

PSALM 23:6

If we wear a scowl, we can keep the whole world at bay, but with a smile, people will surely turn our way. It might even change their day! Okay, it’s a corny little rhyme, and yet there is truth in it. How many times have you been in a foul mood and someone gave you a smile—a big, gooey, genuine, glad-to-see-you smile—and it turned your heart the other way? So much so, you smiled back. Then maybe you gave someone else a smile later on, since you’d recovered some of your groove.

So what happens next? Perhaps the smiles have a rippling effect, and they travel all around the city. Perhaps, but not likely. But your smile might defuse somebody’s stink bomb—the one she was going to drop on some poor unsuspecting coworker later in the day. The person you disarmed might ask you what you have to smile about in such a grim-faced world, and she might even listen to what you have to say. So put on that happy face. After all, if the goodness and love of the Lord is following us all our days, and we are to live in the house of the Lord forever, we have good reason to share, to shout, and to celebrate. And at the very least, we have good reason to smile.

Heavenly Father, help me to be always mindful of my eternal home and to spread the
boundless joy and peace that comes from that knowledge. Amen. —AH

Living in the Now

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

PHILIPPIANS 3:13

Regret isn’t always bad—it can lead us to repentance. But once we’ve repented, we sometimes let the guilt of already pardoned sins build back up like a pile of trash. Even though we’ve been forgiven, we go back out to the street, lift the garbage lid—wince, of course, at the stench—and then proceed to pick through old sins as if God wasn’t capable of taking away the refuse of our transgressions.

We want to help Him out. Dig through things. Lift them up one by one, and stare at their smelly, raggedy carcasses. We choose to feel the shame all over again. And maybe through this unbiblical act, we believe we’ve done God a good service by feebly attempting to help Him absolve our iniquities. Yet our paltry efforts, our lack of faith, declare that the sacrifice Christ made with His very life wasn’t enough.

In the meantime, while we’re picking around in the rubbish like wild animals at a garbage dump, we aren’t able to live in the present—which is exactly where the enemy wants us. Burdened. Joyless. Unusable.

Let us agree together to allow Jesus to remove the rubbish of our past sins, once and for all, and rejoice in a clean heart. Praise God. We can indeed live in the now, and we can celebrate the future!

Jesus, may I never forget the power of Your sacrifice on the cross. Amen. —AH

The Sweet Aroma of Reconciliation

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother
or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.
First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

MATTHEW 5:23–24

God is into fragrances. In the Old Testament there are a number of places where He speaks of a pleasing aroma coming up from man’s sacrifices on the altar. In the New Testament, Jesus was deeply moved by the woman who poured expensive perfume on His feet. When people reconcile, surely it puts off a sweet scent like none other, one that wafts and curls its way up to heaven, one that makes God smile.

But reconciling with someone requires a humble attitude on our part. That is, coming to terms with our dark side—the little hiding places of resentment, and pride, and a host of other emotions that don’t put off such a lovely smell.

Putting things right means approaching someone who may be angry and confused. It means taking time to talk things through in love, having to say we’re sorry. But it also means we won’t have to carry the burden of that grudge any longer. We’ll have a lighter spirit. Less baggage. More room for God.

May we always be ready to open that bottle of reconciliation and let its pleasing scent flow into our heart—and then onto our lips.

God, please give me a humble heart so that I can make amends and let go of grudges.
May every area of my life be pleasing to You. Amen. —AH

Which Way Do I Go?

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

PSALM 32:8

Conversation wise, there are two kinds of folks in this world—the kind who are better at listening and the kind who are better at talking. Hmm. Which one are you? If you’re better at listening, then your friends, boss, and spouse must really love you!

Listening is important in all kinds of relationships, even the one with God. He is the master of all listeners, but God also has something to say, and you can be assured that whatever He has to tell you, it’s worth listening to.

God’s words of wisdom might be about your future. So much of the time people feel as though they’re floundering, not really knowing where to go or what to do next. But God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” That is truly what we need in a noisy world that may offer little reliable or usable advice. God not only promises to guide us, to teach us the way we should go, but He plans on doing it with a loving eye on us. That sounds irresistible.

So, for the most loving counsel, listen to the voice of God. He’s talking to you, and He has something important to say that will change your life.

Wonderful Counselor, help me to be receptive to Your voice
and to always trust in Your guidance. Amen. —AH

The Mission Bell Rings

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

JOHN 3:16

The locust is an insect that is feared in many parts of the world. That small, seemingly innocent-looking bug will come in a swarm, and that cloud of pestilence will descend upon a field, wiping out an entire crop. A year’s worth of living. Gone. Such needless destruction. Such massive loss.

That is so reminiscent of the way sin affected the Garden of Eden. The first couple listened to Satan, defied God in open rebellion by eating what was forbidden, and fell into decay. Such a seemingly innocent piece of fruit caused such great destruction. Such loss. The collapse of paradise. But in this story of mankind, God intervenes. He wanted to make a way. To rescue people from the devastation of their choice—the ruins of their sin. So He sent His Son, Jesus.

Have you ever embraced Christ as the One who is without sin, who took yours so that you could be free? Why not? There’s no reason to hesitate. No need for delay. The hour of your redemption has come. The mission bell of your heart is chiming, ready to acknowledge Him as the Savior, the greatest lover of mankind, the glorious “I Am.” Open the door and take Him into your arms.

For all time.

Sweet Savior,
thank You for enduring
the pain of the cross and for taking on
my sin so that I can enjoy all of
eternity with You. Amen.

—AH

A Word of Encouragement

A cheerful heart is good medicine.

PROVERBS 17:22

Instead of a cheerful heart, a sincere smile, and a word of encouragement for the nonbeliever, some Christians arrive on the scene with the black tar of judgment and the feathers of condemnation. These believers seem almost in a fit of gleeful anticipation, hoping for a chance to tar and feather some poor souls to show them just how wicked they are. It’s not the most uplifting way to live one’s life or the most fruitful method of winning folks to Christ.

Not only is a cheerful heart good medicine for our souls, but it’s a good way to win over someone who’s not known the love of Christ. Your joy may not make non-Christians come running to Christ, but it will make them curious to know more about who He is and why He came.

So the next time we have a chance to witness, to share what Christ has done in our lives, let us all wear a winsome smile, carry a humble attitude—rather than a big stick—and pass along a merry heart. We can leave the sour censures, the sanctimonious stance, and the Scrooge-like countenance for a Dickens play come Christmastime.

God, help me to accept others as You accepted me. How can I possibly judge
when You alone are the Source of my righteousness? Guide and sustain me
as I extend Your love and grace to the world. Amen. —AH

Jesus Is Asking, “Do You Trust Me?”

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD,
have never forsaken those who seek you.

PSALM 9:10

Shakespeare said, “Love all, trust a few.” That statement holds some wisdom. It is right and good to love everyone. As Christians we are called to do that very thing, and yet trust is a very different matter.

Who can we trust? Lots of people are reliable when it comes to small things, but when it comes to the serious stuff—the long-term commitments that require steadfast devotion—well, that’s where the rubber meets the road, doesn’t it? And some people aren’t all that steady and dependable. They flop around in the ruts of life like wobbly flat tires.