By Karen Friday

What if the wisdom God wants you to walk in is unlike anything you ever thought about wisdom? 

Perhaps like me, you’ve done your own search for sources of earthly wisdom at various stages of life. We find it in many forms: reading, education, online classes, asking experts or family and friends, Google searches and so on. 

But gaining knowledge doesn’t always equal wisely applying it to life. So what does this mean when it comes to heavenly wisdom?

Heavenly Wisdom

Wisdom from heaven, spiritual wisdom, is also meant to take knowledge and apply it to your life here on earth. Look at one way the Bible describes it. 

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 (NIV)

Let’s discuss these seven things mentioned for walking in heavenly wisdom.

1.     Pure. Heavenly wisdom is first pure. Pure wisdom is untainted by the world’s definitions and standards.

You walk in pure wisdom by applying it to areas of purity: pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4; Psalm 51:10), sexual purity/marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4), pure in thoughts (Philippians 4:8) and a pure path through God’s word (Psalm 119:9). 

2.     Peace-loving. Are you peace-loving, walking in wisdom that desires peace in your marriage, with your children, and in all your relationships? Are you wise by targeting peace as the end result in conflict-resolution? 

Do others know you as a wise woman? A woman of peace?

3.     Considerate. Some might say being considerate of others is a lost and forgotten art in our modern world. So how interesting to see it as an integral part of heaven’s wisdom.

At the heart of being a considerate woman is guarding against selfish ambition and not walking in pride but in humility. Even 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 describes love as considerate, not selfish or conceited. Are you considerate to friends, family, strangers and to other believers?

4.     Submissive. To become a woman who walks in heaven’s wisdom, you are submissive to God’s ways and commandments, the Holy Scriptures as truth and God’s counsel and voice.

As a heavenly wise woman, you are submissive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, especially in the conviction of  sin and your need to repent for forgiveness.

You also submit to governing authority and in a loving and mutual respect in your marriage (Ephesians 5).

5.     Full of mercy and good fruit. What a contrast to worldly wisdom. You may know someone wise by earthly standards, yet lacking in mercy and a life of good fruit.

You walk as a wise woman by giving mercy to others as you have received mercy from your heavenly Father. You don’t withhold mercy, but understand the value of a merciful heart. 

Heavenly wisdom is seen in your life by the good fruit you produce: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). 

6.     Impartial. God shows no partiality (Romans 2:11). Since you were created in God’s image and you are being made into the image of Christ daily, God wants to mold you into a woman who is impartial. 

Do you view all your children the same, not showing favoritism to one? Are you impartial in Christian groups and circles and Bible studies? Are you a leader who recognizes value in everyone you are called to lead? 

7.     Sincere. A heavenly wise woman does not go through the motions, pretend everything is OK or that she’s somebody other than who she is in Christ. 

You walk as a wise woman when you possess sincere faith, genuine feelings and honest speech.

Wife Step: Make a list of these seven ways to walk in heavenly wisdom and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you can become a wise woman by heaven’s standards.

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