Silas
Beloved of All
Your heart to be useful to the kingdom of God is encouraging, and it is right to bring these needs before the Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
Scripture presents wisdom as a person calling out in the streets, inviting everyone to come and receive. She is described as better than rubies, and nothing we desire can compare with her. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. That is the starting place. Knowledge can give us facts, but wisdom gives us understanding for how to live and how to walk with God. It is wisdom that teaches prudence, that helps us make right judgments, and that gives life to those who have it.
This is why the example of Solomon is so instructive. When God offered him whatever he desired, he did not ask for riches or honor, but for an understanding heart to lead well. Because he asked for wisdom first, God was pleased and added to him the other things as well. The same invitation stands for you. When you ask for wisdom for your ministries and for your daily work, you are asking according to God's heart. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and God gives generously to those who ask. Pray that you will love wisdom, seek her as the principal thing, and grow in understanding.
There is a clear difference in Scripture between the wisdom that comes from above and the wisdom of this world. The wisdom of the world is earthly and leads to envy and strife, and God has shown it to be foolish. The wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, and produces a life of holiness and righteousness. You can see the difference by the fruit it bears. As you pray for your business, ask for that heavenly wisdom, that your work would be marked by diligence, faithfulness, and honesty. God delights in honest dealings and in a just measure, while a false balance is an abomination to Him. Even when others say you cannot succeed by being honest, the truth is that honesty honors the Lord and preserves your testimony. Bring your decisions, your goods, your customers, and your plans before Him, trusting Him to guide you and to give you clear direction for what is truly His will.
I join you in prayer for the practical pressures you mentioned. May the Lord grant you discernment in dealing with your supplier and with every customer and competitor, and may He protect you from deception and unfair dealings. Pray also for integrity in all financial matters, including invoices and taxes, that everything would be done truthfully and for His glory. For the new business idea you believe may be from the Lord, ask Him to confirm it clearly if it is from Him, and to close the door if it is not, so that you walk only in the path He establishes. Ask Him to provide your daily sustenance and to guard you, your family, and what He has entrusted to you from every evil intent, whether from people or from unclean spirits, knowing that He is able to rebuke and restrain what would harm you.
Concerning your physical needs, your teeth, eyes, leg, pelvis, and stomach and intestines, we bring them to the Lord who cares for the whole person. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah bearing our sicknesses, and Matthew by the Spirit applied that promise to the physical healings Jesus performed, healing all who were brought to Him. At communion we remember that His body was broken for us. It is not a lack of faith to lay these bodily needs before God, but wisdom and faith to say, Lord, Your will be done, trusting His power and His love to heal according to His perfect will.
May the Father give you opportunities, guidance, and grace to use every gift He has given you for His glory. May your ministries and your daily work bring joy to His heart and honor to His name, and may you be kept in purity, peace, and health as you continue to seek Him. We ask all this in the holy name of Jesus Christ.
Scripture presents wisdom as a person calling out in the streets, inviting everyone to come and receive. She is described as better than rubies, and nothing we desire can compare with her. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. That is the starting place. Knowledge can give us facts, but wisdom gives us understanding for how to live and how to walk with God. It is wisdom that teaches prudence, that helps us make right judgments, and that gives life to those who have it.
This is why the example of Solomon is so instructive. When God offered him whatever he desired, he did not ask for riches or honor, but for an understanding heart to lead well. Because he asked for wisdom first, God was pleased and added to him the other things as well. The same invitation stands for you. When you ask for wisdom for your ministries and for your daily work, you are asking according to God's heart. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and God gives generously to those who ask. Pray that you will love wisdom, seek her as the principal thing, and grow in understanding.
There is a clear difference in Scripture between the wisdom that comes from above and the wisdom of this world. The wisdom of the world is earthly and leads to envy and strife, and God has shown it to be foolish. The wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, and produces a life of holiness and righteousness. You can see the difference by the fruit it bears. As you pray for your business, ask for that heavenly wisdom, that your work would be marked by diligence, faithfulness, and honesty. God delights in honest dealings and in a just measure, while a false balance is an abomination to Him. Even when others say you cannot succeed by being honest, the truth is that honesty honors the Lord and preserves your testimony. Bring your decisions, your goods, your customers, and your plans before Him, trusting Him to guide you and to give you clear direction for what is truly His will.
I join you in prayer for the practical pressures you mentioned. May the Lord grant you discernment in dealing with your supplier and with every customer and competitor, and may He protect you from deception and unfair dealings. Pray also for integrity in all financial matters, including invoices and taxes, that everything would be done truthfully and for His glory. For the new business idea you believe may be from the Lord, ask Him to confirm it clearly if it is from Him, and to close the door if it is not, so that you walk only in the path He establishes. Ask Him to provide your daily sustenance and to guard you, your family, and what He has entrusted to you from every evil intent, whether from people or from unclean spirits, knowing that He is able to rebuke and restrain what would harm you.
Concerning your physical needs, your teeth, eyes, leg, pelvis, and stomach and intestines, we bring them to the Lord who cares for the whole person. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah bearing our sicknesses, and Matthew by the Spirit applied that promise to the physical healings Jesus performed, healing all who were brought to Him. At communion we remember that His body was broken for us. It is not a lack of faith to lay these bodily needs before God, but wisdom and faith to say, Lord, Your will be done, trusting His power and His love to heal according to His perfect will.
May the Father give you opportunities, guidance, and grace to use every gift He has given you for His glory. May your ministries and your daily work bring joy to His heart and honor to His name, and may you be kept in purity, peace, and health as you continue to seek Him. We ask all this in the holy name of Jesus Christ.
