How to Seek Wisdom (Some thoughts from morning pages 6-8-22)

I’m at Publix this morning per my usual daily habit of prayer and pages. This morning, I was reading through the proverb of the day (Proverbs 8) and noted the vast benefit of seeking wisdom and understanding. All of those benefits are something that I really want in my life to be able to better do the things that God has put on my heart to do. I want in on those benefits. How do I get the benefits? Read Proverbs 8 and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Since developing the daily habit of writing at least 3 pages a day, I’ve found that when I ask God questions and put my pen the the page, He is faithful to share His thoughts with me. It feels like I unlocked the ability to actually have a two way conversation with God. It’s interesting too to watch how the day progresses in light of what I write down when I ask Him for His side of the conversation. Many times, the day progresses according to what He has shared with me. Things that couldn’t be simply mustered by me making things happen. It happens in a way that is undeniably Him confirming what came out of the pen earlier that morning.

So, with almost 6 months of this kind of thing going on, I asked God this morning a simple question and then let the pen write, what I believe to be, at least in part, God’s answer to me. I’m not trying to re-write the bible or anything. I’m simply putting effort into cultivating a relationship with God and taking it seriously enough to write it down. So. I felt lead to share this mornings insights with you and I hope you find it inspiring.

God, help me to seek You, wisdom and understanding diligently. How do I seek wisdom?

“It looks like praying and asking me for wisdom daily. It looks like seeking out answers to your questions. It looks like asking questions & listening. It looks like observing, watching, taking in information. It looks like paying attention. It looks like pursuing and exploring the truth.

Seeking to understand. Being slow to state an opinion & fast to seek clarity. The pursuit of understanding, listening, learning, studying.

This is how you seek wisdom:

Follow your curiosity. Walk down the rabbit trails with me. Ask questions, pay attention and take note.

It looks like more questions and fewer statements.

Take your time before coming to conclusions.

Always check your assumptions. Assume that you have assumptions.

Eliminate those by being aware that they exist & by clarifying them until they no longer exist.

Seek understanding. Do this through observation void of judgement.

You’ll never have all the facts. It’s impossible for you to grasp ALL the facts but the more you actually know, the more you will understand My Grace, Mercy and Kindness.

Be like a child. Ask questions.

Asher asking…so many questions while on a hike in the Oregon Cascades.

Wonder.

Take time for wonder and awe. Seek out wonder-full things. When you find something wonder-full, stop and take it in.

Ask questions if you can but standing in awe is also highly valuable. Seek things that put you in a state of awe. When you find them, really soak them in. Stay in that state as long as possible. Soak in the wonder.

Allow your appetite for awe to drive you.

Rhema and T hiking to the top of Hinkle Butte, behind our house in Sisters, OR. God, I miss this season.

This pursuit will lead you into a vibrant life.

Include your loved ones on this journey. Let them in on your questions.

Erika and Rhema at Neskowin Beach on the Oregon Coast.

T at Neskowin Beach on the Oregon Coast.

Fam pic downtown Winter Garden, FL. June 8th, 2017.

A wholesome family life is one where you collectively follow your curiosity together. By living like this, you collectively seek and discover The Wisdom. The goodness. The vibrancy of life which is what all wisdom is unto. Wisdom is the culture of all creation. It’s the pathway through which I made all things. It’s the atmosphere that sustains all of life. Wisdom is the state of being in touch with reality. Seek Wisdom.”

There has been a phrase floating around my consciousness throughout the last few months. “Stay Lucid”. It’s in there constantly. The idea is to make a conscious effort to be in the present moment, totally connected to the immediacy of life. To rest in the fact that I have the power to effect change in my life in the present moment. I can’t control the past. The future is all speculation. The only thing I control is myself, right here, right now. Nothing else. Attempting to do more than this will result in disorder and the disruption of shalom in my life and the lives of others. Trying to control anything other than myself in the present moment disrupts the flow life.

Stay Lucid. Like lucid dreaming but with our waking life. So many times, we live in a numbed-out state. Distracted, overstimulated with a million racing thoughts about our past or countless ideas of a future that will likely never come to pass. Be here. Be here now. Be aware of yourself, and your world. The people around you, the song on the radio, the opportunity you do have as opposed to ones you lost or ones you wished you had. God is present. He’s here now. He’s as close as conversation. As near as turned attention.

The answers are right here. They are waiting to be chosen. It’s the same with our dreams and aspirations. They are simply waiting to be chosen by us. They are waiting to be pursued.

So I don’t know if this is inspirational or helpful to you at all but I felt compelled to write and share it even if it comes off as imperfect. The best things in life are imperfect.

I love you guys. Stay Lucid. Jesus loves yer face.

Matt