Wise Counsel

I was 11 years old, sitting on the far left end of the couch in our living room. Across the antique end-table belonging to my great-grandmother, was my precious dad in his favorite chair. These were the positions we assumed for those amazing dad and daughter dialogues I so cherish.

In this particular moment of time, I brought to my wise counsellor a perplexing and painful quandary for such a little girl. Trying to understand how to be more like Jesus as well as honor my parents, I had confusion that needed Christ-like clarity. My daddy patiently listened to my despairing heart and proceeded to explain with foundational wisdom instruction that would impact me and change me …forever. The Word of God was his blueprint and Jesus was his example for the guidance he provided to me.

This was only one of so many wise counsel conversations with my humble and incredible dad. However, it was the dialogue when I was 11 years old that I treasure because it set deep roots for my entire life thus far. I have returned to that day time after time - as a teenager, a young woman, a new wife. I have reached back to that instance as a mom desiring to offer wise counsel to my own sons. I remembered that most special occasion while I sat by my precious dad as he was taking his last breath, finishing his journey here to spend eternity with Jesus. I thanked my remarkable dad through the years, and even on the last day we shared, for being such a godly man. I also thanked him along the way and on that last day for imparting and impacting my life with such wise counsel. It has affected the growth and development of my walk with God immensely. How blessed I have been and how blessed I will be, forever.

I encourage you to be wise counsel to those in your world. Spend time in your favorite chair while your family member or friend is sitting near you and exchange dialogue about Jesus. The growth of a relationship with God could be influenced by your very wise counsel, dear reader. You might not know this side of heaven, but what a witness even one conversation could have at that juncture or maybe for a lifetime.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the opportunities you provide me to extend wise counsel to those in my life. May I offer what you want to each precious one by your Holy Spirit. Let it change a life for you and, I pray, for eternity. In your mighty name, I ask these things, dear Jesus. Amen.

Throughout this day: Pray that the Lord will prepare you to share his wise counsel. Be available to someone for dialogue and conversation in need of your godly and wise counsel. Spend time in worship and praise with our holy God. Let the song by Cece Winans encourage your worshipping heart.