The Source of Wisdom

In acquiring the wisdom of the Babylonians, Daniel and his companions were far more successful than their fellow students; but their learning did not come by chance…. They placed themselves in connection with the Source of all wisdom, making the knowledge of God the foundation of their education. In faith they prayed for wisdom, and they lived their prayers. They placed themselves where God could bless them. They avoided that which would weaken their powers, and improved every opportunity to become intelligent in all lines of learning. They followed the rules of life that could not fail to give them strength of intellect. They sought to acquire knowledge for one purpose—that they might honor God…. In order to stand as representatives of true religion amid the false religions of heathenism they must have clearness of intellect and must perfect a Christian character. And God Himself was their teacher. Constantly praying, conscientiously studying, keeping in touch with the Unseen, they walked with God as did Enoch.

True success in any line of work is not the result of chance or accident or destiny. It is the outworking of God’s providences, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and perseverance. Fine mental qualities and a high moral tone are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them….

His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. As the Lord cooperated with Daniel and his fellows, so He will cooperate with all who strive to do His will. And by the impartation of His Spirit He will strengthen every true purpose, every noble resolution. Those who walk in the path of obedience will encounter many hindrances. Strong, subtle influences may bind them to the world; but the Lord is able to render futile every agency that works for the defeat of His chosen ones; in His strength they may overcome every temptation, conquer every difficulty.
Conflict and Courage p. 247
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Prayer Requests
—–Requesting prayer for my daughter. She is sick. Ann
—–Thank-you everyone for your prayers for our daughter Meliseanna. She passed her 9 hour medical school exam. Kat
—–Asking for prayer as my throat has been sore for a while and I have been having mild consistant abdominal pain for a while as well and the doctors have not figured it out. Just want to be healed. John
—–I need prayer for my husband. He have very bad arthritis Ankylosing spondylitis and have been seriously ill for many months 5 weeks ago the doctors found that he have Tuberculosis. He is now on 5 types of medication who is giving him more problems. We got call today and the doctors found something else in his lungs, could be Cancer. We will get some answers next week. Please pray for Gunnar. Greta
—–Please pray for me that I will follow Gods purpose in my life for sharing my faith and bringing more people to Jesus I want to be the person Jesus planned for me to be. Dan
—–Asking for prayer as I travel today. Carl
—–I need your prayers for Ruben he needs God special touch the Lord knows the depth of this petition… may he seek God. Jenny
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Dear Friends,
While we were in Michigan some years ago, my cousin Larry gave me a small picture of a running horse that I had not seen for a very long time. My mother had embroidered it many years ago and had given it to her sister. When Auntie Joyce died, Larry inherited it. The picture was precious to him but he wanted to give it to me.
My mother was an artist with an artist’s temperament—nothing satisfied her for long and her solid embroidery work held her interest the longest. For years, when she wasn’t at work, she would make the most beautiful pictures, even going to the library to look at many photos of whatever she was embroidering in order to make it appear real. Everything that she made looked real and done to perfection, but she had to be in the mood to make it. She did beautiful glass etchings for awhile and then never did them again. Then she tried Indian beadwork, but that did not satisfy her. She did pen and ink drawings for awhile, but soon tired of that. Over the years her interest went from one thing to another, stuffed animals that looked so real that it was hard to believe that they weren’t alive, macrame, designing and making her own clothes, plastic canvas creations…. Still she was restless and dissatisfied.

It is that way in life. We feel like something is missing. We may try many different things to try to find happiness, but we soon realize that they do not satisfy. Our restlessness only increases. We often are attracted to the pleasures of this world to try to quiet that inner longing, but we find only emptiness there.

There is a song entitled, “Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul.” Indeed, without Jesus something is missing, we are not complete. He is the only answer to that inner longing that is within us. He is the only One Who can quiet our restlessness. When He dwells within our heart, all of our longings are satisfied. Jesus bids us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20

The Holy Spirit implants within us His fruit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance.”
We become changed. Paul tells us, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

As we behold our Dear Saviour and His great sacrifice for us, we find an inner peace and assurance that there is Someone Who truly loves us, Someone Who really cares about us. His love is more sure than even a mother’s love for her helpless babe. He assures us, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me.” Isa 49:15,16 “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” Ps 103:13 “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3

Let us praise the Lord as did David, “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.” Ps 36:7-10 Let us pray as did Moses, “O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Ps 90:14

Rose