There is a certain cyclic nature to my thinking, that is, I think on a thing for a time, lay it aside for reasons of being busy, getting stuck in progress, or overwhelmed with how to proceed (1). Then at a later date, I return to the subject out of need or random reminder, pushing it forward with further insight procured from the Source through various secondary agents (2).
October 31st, 2023 was the 506th Reformation Day Celebration. I wrote as follows in my journal:
Reformation Day”! We are always in need of reformation though the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. I am musing on how wisdom is acquired. Certainly a right worldview is precursory (Proverbs 1:7) and the Scripture is the source text (John 17:17), but Proverbs and Christ and others point to perspective and procedures for acquiring wisdom. I have some preliminary thoughts, which I hope to later support with references to Scripture.
One must be teachable which requires humility. You can learn from anyone. Jesus references the sons of this age and their prudence. He does not condone their evil, but He does point out that their ways regarding certain issues are instructive. One should be observant, a practiced skill which should be challenged regularly as to how it is done in order to increase perceptiveness. Hone the skill. Gain knowledge, and with it understanding which is knowing what the knowledge means. This gain will involve much time in Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and listening to deep preaching for the purpose of developing discernment. Discernment is beyond understanding in that it enables the discerning to perceive what motives and origins undergird attitudes and actions and what the ramifications of choices may be. From these one may take experiences and wisdom which is the awareness of what right actions and reactions are applicable to circumstances of life and then act accordingly with prudence.
In my preliminary look at the subject these nine perspectives and procedures are the tools of wisdom. Have I left anything out? Might several of them be combined into one?
- https://creatorworship.net/2020/08/18/wisdom-part-0/
- You know, the Scriptures, the folly or wisdom of others, observation of nature or people, reading, etc.