This 5-day reading plan on seeking wisdom will encourage readers to have an eternity mindset and to live each day to an audience of One. Each devotion is based on a specific theme (such as focusing on goodness and wisdom, and renewing your thoughts) and ends with a prayer. The content for this reading plan is based on Angelique du Toit’s “Pearls of Wisdom”.
Struik Christian Media and Angelique du Toit
Day 1
Scripture: Matthew 7:24
A Treasury of Wisdom
Wisdom provides an immovable pillar on which to lean the ladder of your life. Wisdom is designed to take you to higher levels and will neither fail you nor let you down. Embrace wisdom, and its abundant success will benefit you for eternity. Wisdom desires that you learn from her insights and commit to the disciplines that will define you.
To reap the rewards of wisdom you first have to apply the instruction. Wisdom is a treasure awaiting your discovery. Its inspiration and promises abound, but it has to find you working towards it.
Usually, wisdom’s first call to action is to be disciplined. Your daily disciplines determine your destiny, brings order out of chaos and helps you to value and honor time. Discipline keeps daily stresses under control as you plan your day effectively and keep your priorities in order.
Our relationships rightly respond to the disciplines of respect, affirmation and kindness. Physical activity blesses you with health and longevity if you obey the sensible laws of healthy eating and exercise. A good night’s sleep is the best medicine that can be prescribed. Living with wisdom produces a satisfying life.
One of the traps of having the fast-paced lifestyle of this era is that we reject wisdom in favor of instant gratification. Wisdom 24/7 is not an option. Distractions and temptations surround you and leaning towards instant gratification could have lifelong implications. Raise the flag in time and save yourself mental anguish and heartache. You will be so glad you did.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that Your wisdom, like a beacon of light, will show me the way to excellent judgment in all things that touch my life. May I always be led by Your Spirit and not by my emotions. Amen.
Day 2
Scriptures: Colossians 3:9-10, Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 23:7
Renewed Thinking
The apostle Paul exhorts us to put off our old self and to be renewed in the knowledge of our God. Paul was a man who underwent an extraordinary transformation: from an extremist religious murderer to a man of love. He spread joy and brought about a reconciliation between different groups, cultures and religions.
If God could save Paul, change him and send him out into the world to preach the gospel, then He can do it with anyone.
The renewal of our minds is a long-term commitment and takes ongoing desire and determination. Your mind is powerful and it has had its own way for a long time. Reshaping, reforming and renewing your thinking is going to take some effort.
It is true that as a person thinks in their heart, so are they (see Proverbs 23:7). You need to reflect the Owner of your new identity, who is Jesus Himself. This mirroring of your Redeemer is not an overnight makeover. His representation comes from living a higher life—not as people of the world know the high life of glitter and glam, but one that genuinely reflects a glory that is not of this earth.
Your mind dictates to your heart, your body and your daily life. Do you know you can literally think yourself into paralyzing fear, a state of inertia, immobility and a sense of hopelessness?
Jesus desires for us to be anxious for nothing, to live in perfect peace and confidence. We have been warned that troubles will come, that there will trials of many kinds, but we have to choose His peace. We must deliberately choose how we think.
Prayer
Enlarge my capacity to receive this measure of Your life, Lord, not as the world knows the high life, but the higher life in Christ. Amen.
Day 3
Scripture: Colossians 1:4
Wisdom and Goodness
Today’s Scripture clearly shows that faith—being fully persuaded—is no small matter. It requires the full immersion of your entire personality in God in absolute trust. No gray areas allowed.
This trust is so that you may have confidence in His power—His ability to do all things, being convinced that there are no impossibilities with God. His wisdom is all-seeing, all-knowing—His omniscience, His formidable power and His goodness.
Wisdom calls for total reliance on God. Anything less leads back to doubt—and doubting God is never a wise thing to do. Without a sure foundation you are sure to stumble. But God can be trusted—His wisdom reigns supreme; He does indeed know the end from the beginning.
Being holy means to be consecrated and set apart for Him alone; to be dedicated, and spiritually and morally excellent. Oh, there are many twists and turns in this journey: high highs and some stumbles—and many lows. Thankfully, God looks at your heart—He knows what resides within you. He loves you when you get it right and loves you no less when it goes wrong. His joy is that you commit to doing your best in every aspect of your life.
God’s goodness knows no end. Stir up your faith, take a risk and lean your entire personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence and you will experience the depths of His goodness in ways you never knew.
Prayer
Lord, of all the increases I receive in life, let wisdom be the most abundant. Give me ears to hear and a heart to obtain wise counsel. Amen.
Day 4
Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 3:11-13, Psalms 2:4
A Sense of Eternity
Life presents many reasons for us to question, to doubt and to deeply reflect, and questions seem to outweigh the answers.
What we see with our natural eyes does not always line up with our interpretation of the Bible. And yet through it all, we must believe, maintain and strengthen our faith, trusting implicitly that God makes everything beautiful in its time.
Eternity is because God is. Eternity means that God is all-in-all and He knows exactly what He is doing in and through your life. Life can at times seem harsh and unfair, and circumstances can frustrate you. But the truth remains: God makes it all beautiful in His perfect time. There is a divine thread that runs through our times and seasons. Just go with it.
If you ever thought that life in Christ was meant to be dreary, severe and somber, read Ecclesiastes 3:12–13 (CSB): “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.”
There is indeed nothing better for us than to be joyful. If you lack joy, ask Jesus for some of His. Joy is a God-emotion and laughter should be a natural part of life. When trouble comes your way, choose joy. Trade your worry for happiness and watch the trouble turn around.
“Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing,” reads Psalm 2:4 (MSG). Today, choose to laugh away the blues!
Prayer
Establish an eternity mindset within me, Lord. Let me not get stuck in my present circumstances. Amen.
Day 5
Scriptures: Psalms 34:9, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Romans 8:28, Psalms 46:10
Worship While You Wait
Meditating on the fruit of the Spirit, patience is probably the hardest fruit to develop. We live in an “instant everything” society; we want it all—and we want it now! Good things, however, take time. One of the most beautiful lessons I was taught was to worship while I wait.
Worship, whether it be in the form of singing, whispering, meditating or resting in God’s presence, is the most beautiful use of time while you wait. It takes your focus off the situation or the delay and places it on the One who makes all things beautiful in His time (see Ecclesiastes 3:11).
What is valuable for you to possess in life? Write it down. The secret to receiving it is to worship the Eternal One. Something magnificent happens when He becomes the most important of all people and things in your life. Worship becomes a strong desire and you will want to pursue Him. Worship helps you learn to speak the language of His heart and while you wait, God is at work on your behalf, working all things together for your good (see Romans 8:28), and always at the right time.
Be still, and know that He is God, we are told in Psalm 46:10. If you believe this, then you can be entirely dependent on Him.
You can find the place of quiet in the depths of your heart. When the world’s calamities are swirling around you and the storms surround you, you can still have peace of mind. Rather than worry, be encouraged to worship—to keep your eyes and your heart focused and dependent on Jesus.
Prayer
I live to worship You, Lord. Teach me Your ways, that I may walk in Your truth. Amen.