TIMELY TUNE?

 KEY VERSE:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5

ESSAY:

            I was praying while driving in the car the other day. Yes, my eyes were open. I have been trying to make a decision for days, maybe weeks now. I was asking God whether or not I should take a particular risk. A ministry risk that involved a financial investment. I am unemployed right now so there is a lot of financial risk-taking going on. And with my son’s autism, cerebral palsy and brain malformation, his medical needs and expenses are always paramount on my mind.

As I was wrapping up my prayer, a specific song came on the radio.

It's called Walk on the Water by one of my favorite Christian artists, Britt Nicole. The lyrics certainly seem to imply that our faith warrants taking risks and that we shouldn't let our fears hold us back.

I apologize that I don’t have permission to reprint the lyrics in this book, but you can easily search for them on the Internet. It is a catchy tune and you may even already be familiar with it.

            Can James 1:5 wisdom from God come in the form of a song lyric? A timely song lyric? I'm not sure. Evidence of my unsureness is that another week has passed, and I still haven't decided whether to take that risk. And I acknowledge that not deciding is ultimately in fact deciding. I am willing to take the risk but don't feel like I have enough information yet. I guess I've been waiting for more confirmation from God that this is a wise risk to take. So far it hasn't come, so I haven't moved. Maybe I am waiting too long, wanting too much.

            I'll probably pray about it in the car some more tomorrow. I'll let you know if any more timely tunes have something to add to the conversation.

APPLICATION:

            Admittedly, James 1:5 is a verse I sometimes struggle with. I don’t doubt that God is wise and has wisdom to share. I am just not always sure how he specifically shares it with me. Have you ever heard the audible voice of God speaking to you? I believe some believers have, but I have not. Has a song on the radio or the seemingly random word of a friend ever conveyed the wisdom of God to you? However God shares His wisdom with you, I think we can all agree the Holy Scriptures are the most likely way that God communicates His wisdom. 2 Timothy 3:16 points out that, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” We all need God’s wisdom for our demanding decisions and day to day lives. Commit yourselves to reading His word every day for the next 30 days and write down the times you feel, sense or know He is sharing with you specific wisdom for your life.

This essay is from my book More Autism and Awesometism: Devotionals From and About a Special Needs Family.