Where's the Wisdom?

When I read James 1: 5, "If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking" (CEV), I want to say, "IF? IF? Of course we need wisdom!"

We need wisdom to have healthy relationships, to worship God in the way He deserves, to earn enough money to live on and help others, to do our jobs well . . . I'm sure you can finish this list with dozens more ways we need supernatural, divine wisdom. 

James has the perfect solution: ask God. Pretty simple. And pretty wonderful. Our loving God, who is wisdom personified, will give us all the wisdom we need, if we just ask. Hooray and Hallelujah! 

And the best part? God will not scold us for asking. Isn't He so sweet?

We do our part: we ask. God does His part: He gives. 

What do you need wisdom for today? Let us agree in prayer for each other. 

The Treasure of Good Advice

Last Wednesday we talked about bad advice we’ve received in our writing careers. I was impressed by your wisdom in discerning the difference between treasures worth keeping and junk masquerading as valuable.

Today let’s share some good advice we’ve received. For me, the recommendation to attend a writers’ conference, and the ensuing cheerleading I received at the two I’ve attended, have enriched my writing career beyond every dream. Another priceless gem I benefited from was to read excellent writing. It sounds almost too simple, but it works. As you read articles, books and poems that are well-written, you learn by example how to artfully craft your own works.

What valuable counsel has helped you most in your quest to improve your writing? What rubies of wisdom would you give to new writers needing some help?