Daily Verse
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Wisdom
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Thursday's Reflection
James 1:5 — If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
This is one of the most encouraging promises in the entire Bible, and it is almost too simple to believe. If you lack wisdom — and we all do — just ask God for it. He gives generously to everyone who asks. And here is the part that should melt away our hesitation: He does not upbraid. That old word means He does not scold, does not make us feel foolish for asking, does not throw our past failures back in our faces. He simply gives. There is no smarter way to get wisdom than to ask the One who has all of it and loves to share it.
Notice that James does not say "if any of you lack wisdom, study harder" or "consult the experts" or "trust your gut." Those things have their place, but they are not where wisdom ultimately comes from. Wisdom is not finally an achievement we earn through effort — it is a gift we receive through asking. That is humbling, because it means the brilliant and the simple stand on level ground before God. Both have to ask. Neither can manufacture true wisdom on their own. The PhD and the person who never finished school both get wisdom the same way: on their knees, with an honest request.
This changes how we face the decisions in front of us. The difficult conversation we are dreading, the choice we cannot see our way through, the situation where every option seems wrong — we do not have to figure these out alone by sheer mental effort. We can stop, and ask. The God who flung the stars into place and who knows the end from the beginning has invited us to come to Him for wisdom in the smallest details of an ordinary day. The only people who go without are the ones who never think to ask.
Prayer: Father, thank You that You give wisdom generously and never scold us for needing it. In the decisions we face today, remind us to stop and ask You before we lean on ourselves. We come humbly, asking for the wisdom only You can give. Amen.