Lacking Wisdom? Just Ask! by Robert Ricciardelli

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

There was a young man once long ago, who grew up in a wealthy household. He had all the luxuries of wealth. He also grew up in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. He was not ensnared by many of the trappings of wealth as he was taught from a very young age, the virtues of God.

As the young man grew, he finally replaced his father David on the throne of the family kingdom. Because he was taught well, and knew the God of His father David, he began to talk to God often as a new king. The Lord loved his heart and his communication and wanted to bless him with any desire of his choosing.

This new king could have asked for endless wealth, or long life, but instead asked for wisdom. He asked the Lord for help in ruling the people with godly wisdom and understanding. As I look at myself and other leaders around the globe who are stewarding resources and our very lives for Father God, the great question is;

Are we asking the Father for the right and most proper thing a leader can lead with, His wisdom?

The reality is, how can we not ask of this if we truly want to be ambassadors and lead well for the glory of God? Leading without His wisdom, His understanding is absolutely fruitless.

We face many choices daily. When we choose with His leading, His wisdom and understanding, it goes well with us. When we are lacking in His wisdom and discernment, it often is disastrous. Disastrous because lives are being led in a wrongful focus or direction; Disastrous because Fathers provision and resources that are meant to build His Kingdom church, are being squandered in self-glorifying ways; Disastrous because those who do not know the Father are watching the foolish lead in ways that do not promote the King or His Kingdom justly.

Here are some directives we must WILLINGLY Pursue if we want His Wisdom activated in our lives…

• Value Wisdom beyond perceived needs and wants
• Allow His ways and wisdom to overwhelm our ways and mans wisdom
• Learn from our mistakes, stop it, just stop it, from making the same mistakes.
• Learn ways to impart wisdom to others
• Check your own heart first for wisdom before the hearts of others
• Build relationships with those who operate in wisdom
• Meditate on the word of guard regarding wisdom He has for you through His Spirit, and ask the Father to remove barriers to operating in His wisdom for your life.

Some Things to Remember

• Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. ----Psalm 51:6

• God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. ----1Kings 4:29

• Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.----Proverbs 3:13-18

• The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of [Wisdom and skill], [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of their Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever. ----Psalm 111:10

• Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. ----Psalm 90:12

• The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God. Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight. He won't judge by appearances, won't decide on the basis of hearsay. He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land. ----Isaiah 11:2-5

Zimbabwe

Joyce and I just returned from Zimbabwe. It was an incredible 6 days of watching, listening, and especially relating to those who have now become a part of our eternal family. We have loved and prayed for Zimbabwe for many years, and have fallen even more in love with the land and it's people. The suffering they have endured is unprecedented in so many ways. Inflation rates in the trillions, and most public systems have collapsed or are collapsing, including water, power, food supply, fuel...etc.

In the midst of all this, we found many of God's people with nothing but Him to hope for. They know that there is no hope from government, no hope from the outside, and it is up to God and His people who are willing to be obedient to His Kingdom ways and plans. We met with many leaders in business, church, and community. We know that Zimbabwe will be a continuous part of our future, along with South Africa. There are other African nations the Lord will be sending us to as well, but for now, most of our work will be in the south of Africa.

The new friends we have made have become family. Their resilience, faith, and courage, against incredible odds, can only be God. We were blessed to feel so welcomed, as well as received as partners for the future. God was recognized as the only source for them. They also realized how important it is to build relationally, and in the Spirit of unity, engage in the Fathers strategic plans daily. They were not to wait for the resources and stuff, but they were going to commit their lives and their every resource to begin to heal, restore, and build wherever they are led. Every one just doing what they are called to do while encouraging others to get in plans of God.

We are already planning to go back as early as January for training, implementing, and coordinating efforts as the Lord leads. Please pray for them, and for all those who God may call into His plan for this nation. One of the things we were able to do is bring some text books into one of the schools. We realized that even though we brought books in, they were just enough for one school. The Headmaster was so thankful, and the high school youth began to rush to look at the materials. It broke our hearts to see such eager learners and yet with no one to teach them. This school usually has 57 teachers and now only 4. So these children are left on their own. They dress every day in their uniforms and go to school knowing that there will be likely no one to teach them.

Joyce and I prayed for a small group of the High School age youth, and declared their future, their hope, and their destinies as they look to the Father. After praying there was not a dry eye as we cried out to the Father for only what He can and will do on behalf of the children, which are the future of the nation. For those of you who may be called to go, or send resource's as the Lord leads, we will gladly coordinate this for you and also provide a family for you to stay with when you go. It is such a beautiful place and it is sad how greedy and murderous hearts have been exploiting the land and it's people.

We also are preparing to go and train business leaders into the practicals of Kingdom life and business. God will not be mocked and those who have sowed the evil in that place will have a day of reckoning, and it is coming soon. We pray that they will repent, for the judgment will be swift and severe. We pray for Zimbabweans will not trust in horses, chariots, or even wall building foreigners. We pray that they will trust only God, and in hearing His voice only on what they must do. HE will send His horses, HE will send His chariots, HE will send the wall builders from foreign lands, and HE will retain all the glory as the world looks on in awe. Here are the natural realities of what is happening in Zimbabwe. The Lord is working in the midst. Please pray with us and partner with us as we engage in Father's miracle for Zimbabwe.

CRISIS POINTS

• Financial sector instability


• Critical food shortages


• Inadequate treated water supply for urban areas


• Crippled health delivery


• Education Collapse


• Forced business closures


• Failed agricultural seasons


• Collapsing infrastructure (roads, rail, water, telecommunications, etc.)


• People unable to access their cash from banks


• Unable to conduct business due to Infrastructure collapse
  

IMPACT OF CRISIS

• Unprecedented collapse of the financial sector, with imminent closure of all businesses.
  
• Businesses and private sector cannot transact through the banks and therefore cannot pay wages and salaries. We witnessed queues or lines that extended around the block. Individuals can only take 50 cents out of the bank daily. This is enough for one banana, and they have to go there and spend all day in line for 3 days to afford a loaf of bread.


• Soldiers ranked below captain are in the same situation and are becoming angry and taking it out on bankers, and civilians. Mugabe is now arresting his own troops in fear of rebellion to what is happening.


• Hunger and starvation countrywide leading to disease, low productivity, and threat to lives. CNN reports up to 5 million dead in 6 months if something does not change. Anthrax is now showing up in the cattle.


• Nationwide cholera outbreaks with over 500 dead already. This has been found in the public water system.


• Hospitals have closed down completely. Some aids patients have taken over a section of hospital for their treatment's.


• Closure of most public schools and colleges and now even the private schools are being impacted. Teachers cannot get paid, nor afford to even get to the schools to help.


• Accelerated flight of qualified and skilled staff. Massive exodus of doctors nurses and other professionals out of the country.
  

WAY FORWARD

• Only God! There simply is not other solution or back up plan than Him and His providence, wisdom, and direction for His people.


• For smaller communities, they must pool their resources and talents and possibly go to a bartering system or God created new currency.


• Start now. We told those who are able to begin now. Start to ask the father what they must to help others and prepare the way for the future.
  
• Pray for God to sort out and deliver the people from the current government and begin to build the government that honors Him and His principles of leading a nation.
  
• Pray for God's people to rise up and not move in fear, but supernatural faith, and His supernatural ways.
  
• Pray for Isaiah 60 rebuilders of the walls from foreign lands that will come with no agenda other than to serve. That the doors will open only for God's people and provision and that all roads in for those who are not coming to serve to be closed off.

Joyce and I welcome any and all partners in this. We have no idea how the Lord will provide for our way back, but we have no doubt He will do this. We believe God will get all the glory for what He is doing there, and what He is about to do. Please pray and also go, send, provide as the Lord leads, in Jesus name.