James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given. (ESV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. (NKJV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (NIV)

I think it’s important to establish context for the verse, in the previous verses it talks about counting it joy when you fall in various trials knowing that God is testing your faith. And when James is talking about having joy during the trial because it shows that God cares about us but, right in the middle of that he starts talking about wisdom. And James says if any of you lacks wisdom ask God, and he will give it to you freely without reproach. Not knowing what the word reproach meant I looked it up in the dictionary and it meant to blame and to make the person feel ashamed of themselves. So, when James said that God will give it freely without reproach that means that God won’t blame you or make you feel ashamed of myself. So, if you put that in the context of trials it means when you go through a trial and you cry out to God and say I need your wisdom to get through this he won’t say “what’s the matter with you!?! Just muscle your way through then I’ll help you.” Instead He knows you can’t do it on your own and offers His wisdom to get you through. And it says he will give it to you generously, which means God doesn’t make you go through a bunch of hoops to get His wisdom, God doesn’t say “Ok if you want wisdom, you must do this and this and this, then I’ll give you wisdom.” No!!!!!!! He gives it generously because He knows I am feeble and that I desperately need him, and he want me to get to him so, he will give it to me freely. All I must do is ask in faith and he will give it to me.

Application:

So that’s why when I enter a hard time I’m going to ask God for wisdom and ask for it in faith but, I know there is wisdom in preparing for the battle so, that’s why everyday for the next two weeks I will get up an hour early and pray for wisdom and apply Jordan message on praying and watching.

James 3:13-17

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his conduct let him show, let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

What I think James is trying to do here is show two different types of wisdom, one wisdom will Glorify yourself and one will Glorify God. Because James still cause it wisdom He calls it demonic but still wisdom, and I think its dangerous cause I know I confuse the two and think just because I made it out the other side “ok” then I most of done something eight and don’t consider the people I hurt along they way. For instances when I didn’t want to be around my family because it seem like every time I was home we hot into a huge argument, and it always ended badly. So, I decided that I would just leave and not be in the house for as long as possible. So everyday for two month I went to friends houses so I didn’t have to be around them. Demonic wisdom say that was ok cause I should look after myself and make sure that I don’t get hurt. But what I didn’t know is when I would leave I my mom and dad would ask themselves why I would always leave and get really depressed and angry about it. And what I didn’t know is that they wanted make up the time that the enemy took away. Godly wisdom told me I should stay and continue my walk with Christ, but instead went and was completely stupid for period time and paid for it.

Application:

In James it says if you ask for wisdom and believe it will happen, God will give you wisdom. So that is why everyday I will ask for wisdom and to get chance to use it.  But also I think there is wisdom in sitting under people and learning from the experiences so, that’s why I’ll sit under the leadership and learn from what they have to say and actually listen and act on it.

Matthew 8:9-10

“For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one ‘Go’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this’ and he does it” when Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. (esv)

I think what can be taken away from this passage is that the centurion even in his rank knew who Jesus was or he knew that there was something different about Jesus and decided to put his faith in that. But either way the centurion could have easily commanded Jesus to do it and if he didn’t Jesus would be thrown in prison if he didn’t. So, the fact that the centurion went up to Jesus humbly and asked Jesus to command him is amazing it show that the centurion knew that there was something different about Jesus or he knew that Jesus was God. And I think that the centurion lived out the Hebrews 11:1 and 11:6 and I think it’s a good practical example of what true faith looks like and it’s a perfect lead to follow.

            Application:

So, when I think of a soldier I think of someone who puts himself under his general cause his general typically see’s the bigger picture and because of that he does as that general asks. And a Good soldier will dedicate his body, soul, mind and strength into his duty so he could serve his general in his full capacity. So that’s why today I have decided to daily surrender and ask God for his help because I know I can’t do it.