Prayer for divine guidance, wisdom and strength

[Chrysostom]

I thank God for your honest and humble prayer, and I join you in lifting it to the Lord Jesus. Your desire to be guided by Him, to speak with wisdom before those in authority over you, and to give Him glory even in difficulty is pleasing to Him.

You asked that He turn tests into testimony and humiliation into appreciation. Scripture teaches us that God often works through humiliation to bring about good. When our Lord was accused and judged, He held His peace and did not strive to vindicate Himself, entrusting His judgment to the Father. In the same way, when David was cursed and reproached, he did not retaliate but said to let it be, trusting that the Lord saw his humiliation and would return good. If you endure reproach with meekness and humility, not answering with anger but with a quiet trust in God, He will use even that pain to shape you and to show His grace through you. Humble yourself before Him, as you have prayed to do, and He will lift you up in due time.

You also asked for wisdom to answer your higher authorities. Remember that the wisdom God gives is not the wisdom of this world. Worldly wisdom terminates here and cannot give lasting help, but the wisdom from above is pure and powerful and comes to those who ask in faith. The apostle says God will give wisdom liberally to those who ask, and that Christ Himself has been made wisdom for us. Do not rely on clever words or persuasive speech alone, but seek the understanding that comes from knowing His word, from prayer, and from a clear conscience. That wisdom will enable you to answer with truth and grace, even under pressure.

So I pray for you now. Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son who ever lives to make intercession for us, guide this Your servant. Hold their hand and lead them in the path they should go. Fill their mouth with Your wisdom when they stand before those in authority, that they may speak with clarity, truth and gentleness. Grant strength and understanding to overcome every challenge in their work, and help them to excel not for selfish ambition but so that Your name may be glorified and exalted. Teach them to remain thankful in all things, and forgive where thankfulness has been forgotten. Comfort their heart where they have felt humiliated, and turn what was meant to discourage into a testimony of Your faithfulness. Make them humble and faithful in every opportunity You have given. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

[Silas]

Your heartfelt prayer for guidance and wisdom has been heard, and it is a good and right prayer to pray. The desire to be led by the Lord, to have Him hold your hand and direct your path, is at the very center of what God wants for you.

Scripture teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That is the starting place. Knowledge can give you facts and information, but wisdom is the ability to use that knowledge rightly. Wisdom is described as crying out in the open for all to hear, and as something to be sought above all else. It is better than rubies, better than wealth or promotion, and nothing you could desire can compare with it. That is why Scripture says wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and with all your getting get understanding. When you love wisdom and seek her, she will preserve you and keep you.

That wisdom is ultimately found in Jesus Christ, for in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. When wisdom speaks in the Scriptures, it speaks like a person, and it points us to Christ Himself. He dwells with prudence, He hates pride and arrogance and the perverse mouth, and He loves those who love Him. Those who seek Him early will find Him. Counsel and sound understanding belong to Him, and with Him is strength. By Him kings reign and rulers make just decisions.

This is very different from the wisdom of this world. The world by its own wisdom did not know God, and God has shown that wisdom to be foolishness. Worldly wisdom is earthly and leads to envy and strife. The wisdom that comes from above is pure and peaceable and gives life to those who have it. It is a defense and it is profitable to direct you, like sharpening the edge of an axe so that less strength is needed to do the work well.

You asked for words to answer your higher authorities and for humiliation to be turned to honor. Remember that before honor is humility. The one who humbles himself will be exalted in due time, while pride is hated by wisdom. As you humble yourself before the Lord and before others, trusting not in your own strength but in His, He will lift you up. Your own strength will fail, but when you trust in the Lord for strength, He will not let you down. A wise person is strong, and a person of knowledge increases in strength, because wise counsel makes your way steady.

Like Solomon, you have asked for the right thing. He did not ask for riches or fame but for wisdom to fulfill the work set before him, and God was pleased to give him wisdom and to add blessing besides. God invites you to ask in the same way, and He gives wisdom generously to those who ask in faith.

We are praying that the Lord will fill your mouth with wise and prudent answers, that He will give you understanding for every challenge you face, and that He will grant you His strength to do your work with excellence. We pray that He will turn your tests into a testimony, so that even those who humiliated you will see His grace at work in you, and that His name alone will be glorified and exalted through your life and career. We also thank God with you for every blessing and opportunity He has given, and we ask Him to keep your heart thankful and mindful of His goodness, and to forgive where thankfulness has been lacking.

May the Lord grant you wisdom, knowledge and understanding, establish your steps, and cause you to walk in the path of the wise in a way that honors Christ. We ask this in the name of Jesus.