How to Develop Wisdom

My phone alarm goes off every afternoon at 1:05, serving as my daily reminder to pray for wisdom. The idea came from Mark Wessner, MB Seminary President, who chose the time because of its closeness to James 1:5 which says, "If anyone lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all and without finding fault, and it will be given to you." 

As this Scripture outlines, the first step toward acquiring wisdom is to ask for it. This implies, of course, an attitude of humility and dependence because we only ask for things we value and that are beyond our grasp. Praying for wisdom is an honest confession that greater insight and perspective is needed before we can act with proper understanding. This earnest request shows reverence for God from whom wisdom flows.

The wisest people I know are the same people who continually ask God for wisdom. And yet, those who need wisdom the most are the ones who despise it (Proverbs 1:7). This contrast goes beyond irony―it is the distinguishing mark between the foolish and the wise. The wise look beyond themselves, but the eyes of the foolish see only themselves.

Prayer is the foundation of wisdom, but there are additional steps we can take as well:  

Study the Bible

Wisdom flows from God's character and represents His knowledge and understanding. We encounter wisdom whenever we encounter God. Reading, reciting, and meditating on God's Word allows us to soak in God's thoughts so His perspective becomes our own.

The author of Proverbs 8 chooses to personify wisdom as the person of Lady Wisdom*. She raises her voice over the streets and invites people to listen to her instructions. Her words hold more value than choice gold or rare jewels (vv. 10-11). The implication of Lady Wisdom's call is to listen attentively. We do this by reading God's Word because God is the source of all wisdom.

Key verses: Proverbs 9:10, 3:5-6
Possible next step: develop a plan for reading or memorizing a portion of Scripture (click here for practical ways to memorize a passage). 

Walk with the Wise

Rubbing shoulders with wise people will have a tremendous impact on your development. It's not a flawless formula, but as your mind soaks up the wisdom you observe in others, you'll increase your chances of acting in similar ways. 

Any time you spend with wise people will be helpful, but you can maximize this impact even further by asking questions and allowing them to speak into your life. Watch how they budget their time so that you can adopt similar practices in your own life. 

Key verse: Proverbs 13:20
Possible next step: pursue a coaching relationship with a trusted person. 

Slow down

Hurry is a frequent enemy to wisdom. Lady Wisdom may be calling, but fools ran past her as they pursue something else. When we don't slow down, discernment becomes blurry and understanding is easily missed. 

Solitude, silence, and fasting are spiritual disciplines that incubate wisdom. Each replaces a mode of activity with intentional abstinence. This provides us with a means to reflect on our situation and to listen to how God would have us respond. 

Key verse: Mark 1:35
Possible next steps: schedule a prayer retreat; experiment with life journaling; schedule a time to fast.  

[Keith Reed is the Director of MinistryLift at MB Seminary. 

* Pierre Gilbert, PhD, Associate Professor of Bible and Theology at MB Seminary, explains why the author refers to Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8. "In order to market Yahweh wisdom, the teachers use a broad range of rhetorical strategies, one of which is to compare wisdom to a precious commodity to be acquired at all costs (cf. 8:11). One of the techniques used is to describe this commodity as most ancient, originating from God himself, and wielded by God to construct the universe (cf. 8:27-31). The metaphor of wisdom as a commodity in this case is powerful, for if it was adequate to build the amazing universe in which we live, surely it will be adequate to enable us to live a good and productive life."