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All throughout the Bible, we see that wisdom is the real deal when it comes to spiritual must-haves. I like to think of it as the little black dress of faith. An essential must-have for every Christian woman to possess and wear. And surely one that we all look good in!
But in today’s world, it can be tricky to make wise decisions and choices. We’re surrounded by foolish and conflicting messages. Messages that oppose the wisdom of God as revealed in Scripture. We get hit from all sides with opinions, posts, and tweets about what people have and want and do—and about what people think is right and wrong.
They write it on signs and walk picket lines in an attempt to sway us in their direction.
They Instagram it, pin it on Pinterest, send e-petitions to our in-boxes, and blog about it.
And then there’s the media that screams like a colicky baby, demanding that we take note of the angle that they are trying to sell as acceptable behavior.
One thing’s for sure, there’s a wide difference between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world. When I say wide, I mean Grand Canyon wide. I mean the distance-between-the-east-coast-of-America-and-the-west-coast-of-Europe wide!
Here’s what James had to say about godly wisdom:
The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” (James 3:17 NLT)
Does that sound like the world to you? Pure? Peace loving? Gentle? Willing to yield? Full of mercy and good deeds? Fair and sincere? I think not.
Keeping these truths in mind helps me as a friend. When I’m tempted to vent my frustration about that other person, God’s wisdom reminds me to be a woman of peace.
It helps me as a Jesus follower. When I’m tempted to read a book or watch a movie that is fifty shades of compromise, God’s wisdom reminds me that I’m to be a holy, pure vessel for Him.
Here’s a refreshing truth: When the world shouts its ways that are contrary to the wisdom of God, I have a choice. I really do. I might not feel like it, but I do. I get to choose my response even when the pressures of political correctness and tolerance squeeze hard. Even in my workplace. Those pressures are indicators that I need to address the issue and not run from it or cave in to it.
My behavior is my choice, no one else’s.
And I want my choices to align with the ageless wisdom of the all-knowing God.
So I choose to put on my little black dress of faith.
And some cute shoes, of course!
Lord, I want Your wisdom.
Please direct my choices, my behaviors, and my heart.
Forgive me for the times when I look to others or to myself
when I should be looking to You.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
Where is your little black dress of faith? Choose one:
- “I don’t have one, but I’m asking God for one today!”
- “Stuck in the back of my heart closet. I really need to dig it out.”
- “At the dry cleaners! Wore it last week but need to pick it up today!”
- “Wearing, it, baby! Dazzling with His amazingness! Party on!”
Where do you want it to be? Leave a comment on my blog wall making a statement about where you want to be!
Hope you wear it well today, friend!*
GWEN
C’MON OVER! I’VE GOT A GIFT FOR YOU! Since we are rebuilding our home after a house fire I figured I’d also rebuild my cyber home—my website. Why not? I’m already going a bit crazy. Might as well go all in! My home is still several months away from being livable, but my website is all ready to move in. I’d love for you to come by GwenSmith.net for a visit. I’ve got the welcome mat out just for you! I can’t serve you coffee and brownies, but I can offer you another goodie that’s even better…a 25% OFF coupon. And you don’t even need to take your shoes off. Use the COUPON CODE NEW25 and enjoy 25% OFF any purchase of $20 or more from the new store!
*Today’s post is an excerpt from my book, I Want It All.
Comments 38
Right on my sister. Thank you for the analogy.
Good morning, yes I want to wear the “little black dress of faith” everyday. The letter “A”
Number 1 is my answer
This was an awesome read just what I needed. God’s wisdom is so important. Without it how can we survive? really? To know the word and ways of the Lord is how we should live it’s our guide line, our road map our blue print of survival in this crazy world we live in today, We are nothing with out you Lord!!!
Author
Yes! God’s wisdom is everything! 🙂
Gwen
My little black dress of faith is “Stuck in the back of my closet. I really need to dig it out.” I want it to be, “Wearing it baby! Dazzling with His amazingness! Party on!”
Mine is at the dry cleaners, I didn’t have it when I watched Amazon Prime movies the last two days. Gravitated to the murder shows, which the Lord has asked me not to watch anymore. Sex, drugs, swearing, murder, betrayal, greed, all the worldly ways on these shows. I got rid of cable and TV to not have lust on all the lust shows to help me in my purity walk, yet I can see them on my laptop. He has called me to a walk of purity, that is my calling as a single woman. Amen.
Just wanted to say thank you for boldly saying what’s in the hearts of so many of God’s people. I’m gonna keep my black dress on
Gwen this post hit at my point of need and instruction. The NLT translation you chose to use for James 3:17 is perfect to give clarity to the word submissive in that verse – “willing to yield to others.” I have to say I am one who has been struggling with a willing spirit of cooperation to comply with certain recommendations that I do not feel are beneficial regarding COVID-19. (I do comply, but inwardly am having other thoughts.) Praying for the love and wisdom of God to reign in my life so His fame can be spread through me.
I am definitely #4. Even when times are rough I won’t lose faith. My husband at times will look at me and wonder how I can have faith when he doesn’t see a way around a situation. He used to say, “God doesn’t love me.” Which I would reply that that’s not true and he needs to pray more and have a talk with God more, build a relationship.
Somedays I feel like my little black dress doesn’t fit anymore. I’m focused on God and trying to get into shape and in the meantime squeezing myself into the dress and trying to stay comfortable in it.
I’m wearing my black dress by faith. Not to mention that black is one of my favorite colors. Asking God for His guidance in every thing knowing that His wisdom is far greater ! Romans 12:21; Proverbs 3:5-6.
Love this analogy with the little black dress!! Ha! Perfect reminder of how anchored we need to be with this staple item… not in our wisdom, but God’s!! Thank you. This will stick with me, with the cute shoes, of course!
I want to wear my little black dress every day, all day. Some times it is easy to wear but at other times, I wear it but don’t represent it well. I tend to get very passionate about God’s truths and probably am not as gentle as I should be. I try to taper my voice with kindness but sometimes I fail.
#2. Need to dig it out of the back of the closet
Thank you for encouraging us as we navigate these uncharted waters.
“I don’t have one, but I’m asking God for one today!”
My husband has a sex addiction and hides it even from me. I don’t know what is wise anymore….to try to get to the bottom of things or to believe he is being set free so that I can walk in peace….I want to stay married but I don’t know how.
My LBD of faith seems to be in all 4 locations these days. After 4years in a nursing home or in an acute care hospital, I am exhausted to my core. I am only 50 years old, and do not wish to be left to die in this prison. I love Yeshua with all my heart…waiting for deliverance is so hard!
Oh, girl you are beloved and cherished and planned in the heart of God and He has His loving gaze on you as the apple of His eye!
“8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.”
Zechariah 2:8 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/zec.2.8.NKJV
Song of Solomon 7:10 (NKJV)
“I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.” ♡
I always need the reminder to put on my lil black dress of faith and not doubt! God keeps showing me that I need to remember to put on my little black dress of faith and keep it on!! He keeps bringing to my mind the Truth of-
“5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
http://bible.com/114/jas.1.5-8.NKJV
James 1:5-8 NKJV
“17 “Ah, Lord God ! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”
Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jer.32.17.NKJV
Amen.
Wow, how can things be so possible! This week has been a rollercoaster ride and today’s word “wisdom” is very powerful. Growing up with My GrandMother this was something she always talked about, how you hold yourself and how you treat people. I’ve tried to always be positive and kept the negative things away from my daily life. 🙂 I so much Believe in God and Nothing is Impossible.
Oh, how I want to wear that dress every day! (I’ll just put some of those crystals on it every once in a while and go on!!) The best thing is as one of the ladies above pointed out, God never lets it get too small-it is always perfect for each day! Our God is awesome and only gives His daughters the best! A prayer for me is “please let my every word be tempered with grace, love and kindness; so that everyone can see how much God means to me!” Love you all! Carol
Hi, Gwen,
Cute illustration – the essential little black dress of faith!
Question – wondering what you meant by, “…. I get to choose my response even when the pressures of political correctness and tolerance squeeze hard. ” (especially the “pressures of…tolerance”)?
Author
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for your comment. I meant it as I said it… we are under a great deal of societal pressure regarding political correctness and tolerance. Every one of us has a choice as to how to respond. My responses will be always be determined and informed by the Word of the Lord and by the leading of His Spirit within, not by anything or anybody else.
Blessings,
Gwen
Thanks for taking the time to get back to me! that’s really cool. thank you for your hard work and sweet spirit – I read your email devotions almost daily 🙂
So, I was just asking because tolerance, to me, is merely a peaceful expression of grace, so I am having difficulty seeing it as anything that could possibly feel like “pressure”…I was just surprised by the wording – that’s a new one for me. I will have to pray about this 🙂
This was the perfect lesson to send to my two daughters in college! Sometimes it means more coming from someone other than your mom:)
I hear the small voice offering me wisdom, yet I fall into the trap of myself. I am saddened to say that I know better yet I fail. It’s the gossip. It is toxic and it offers no solutions. Misery loves company yet its still miserable. I have been challenged with a difficult work environment and today I ask for forgiveness and strength to be different. I pray for the courage to graciously remove myself from the conversations that offer nothing positive. And perhaps even be a light that will change the way people engage in our group.
My little black dress is coming off the hanger on I am putting it on. I have worn my green dress of envy(not a good shade on me), my red dress of anger(great shade of red, but wears me out) but my black dress of faith is on- I have faith that today God’s love will envelope me and help me to be the woman of God I so desperately want to be.
I’m 64ish and have a cute, lacey black dress that is a little bit too small now. (Smile) The glorious thought of my spiritual black dress of wisdom…I will always be able to wear it. Sometimes my actions and thoughts seem to say “take the dress off the rack and put it back on”! Our loving God never lets it get too small!
Black is my favorite color. You are right Gwen it does make you look slim and stunning. But to wear a “black dress of faith” is another story. Although I have a lot of black in my wardrobe I need to wear the faith with the dress. I love how you reminded me of how to use James 3: 17. That was awesome and Ephesians 5:15 is what I need to keep in my mind. So help me Lord to put on wisdom as I wear my “black dress of faith”. Wow one reason to wear black today. Thanks Gwen.
God bless you Rachael! I feel too fat to fit into it sometimes also. Thankfully God’s love, grace and mercy can enable us to fit into it if only we’ll try to put it on. Other times, for me, I need to shed the weight by repenting of resentment and all it’s siblings. Even then it’s God who leads us to repentance, so He will work with you..no matter what it takes..to enable you to get that little black dress on.
You’re not EVER too anything for Gods Word!!😊
He said, “Come as you are.”
I’m ashamed to say…….. I need to dig mine out of the back of my closet. Thanks Gwen for reminding me I have one…… just need to wear it every day!
I didnt have one ! As of this morning I do 😍
“Stuck in the back of my heart closet. I really need to dig it out.” – With God’s mighty hand
@ Rachael
Mine too. Let’s get them out together and put them on! Black is so slimming, we’ll feel like a million bucks dressed in God’s finest.
I pray for Godly wisdom this morning. For God to guide my steps as He has promised to. I want Him to take the lead in my life.
My faith and belief I have in God and within myself having been born again proves unshakeable. The same as does my dreams and deepest desires. When it comes to love, I believe, but I also know I’m only half of any successful love equation.
It’s stuck in the back of my (heart) closet because I’m too fat to wear it!!!! 🙁