2020 Daily Devotion - Day 90
Norman Cousins once said, "Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences."
The older I get, the more I have had to learn to think about the “unexpected consequences” of my actions. When you are young, you often just react to situations. Often, you don’t even really think about what you are doing. You just take action. Sometimes it works, but most of the time it really doesn’t. When we just react, and don’t care about the consequences, someone or something is damaged.
So, Norman Cousins is right. Growing in wisdom means growing in considering the consequences of our actions. During this pandemic and all of the other things which have happened, we would be wise to think before we speak. As we still have to wait for life to return to some kind of normal, we need to consider what could happen if we are not patient. This is what the book of Proverbs is telling us:
Proverbs 12:15 ESV
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Let’s get in the habit of stopping and thinking. Let’s make it a habit to ask others, who we trust, for advice before we take action. Let’s stop and pray and ask God what He would have us do. And as we do, we will grow in wisdom.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, sometimes we get so frustrated with the way things are, that we take actions without thinking. But You are teaching us to grow in wisdom by considering the consequences before we act. Help us to grow in wisdom by calling on You and others to guide and lead us, before taking important next steps. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
The older I get, the more I have had to learn to think about the “unexpected consequences” of my actions. When you are young, you often just react to situations. Often, you don’t even really think about what you are doing. You just take action. Sometimes it works, but most of the time it really doesn’t. When we just react, and don’t care about the consequences, someone or something is damaged.
So, Norman Cousins is right. Growing in wisdom means growing in considering the consequences of our actions. During this pandemic and all of the other things which have happened, we would be wise to think before we speak. As we still have to wait for life to return to some kind of normal, we need to consider what could happen if we are not patient. This is what the book of Proverbs is telling us:
Proverbs 12:15 ESV
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Let’s get in the habit of stopping and thinking. Let’s make it a habit to ask others, who we trust, for advice before we take action. Let’s stop and pray and ask God what He would have us do. And as we do, we will grow in wisdom.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, sometimes we get so frustrated with the way things are, that we take actions without thinking. But You are teaching us to grow in wisdom by considering the consequences before we act. Help us to grow in wisdom by calling on You and others to guide and lead us, before taking important next steps. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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