A Prayer for True KnowledgeBy Meg Bucher  "If you need wisdom‚ ask our generous God‚ and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." James 1:5 NLT The moment I opened my mouth to speak‚ words started to fly out of another person’s mouth. Surely there would be a pause ...a breath ...a break in conversation. As soon as I anticipated a stop‚ I took a deep breath and ...was interrupted before I could get a full sentence out. Deflated‚ I waited again. Finally‚ I was able to ask my question. Immediately‚ I regretted it.  Everyone knows someone who knows a know-it-all. God really does know it all‚ but He doesn't make us feel foolish for asking Him questions. Maybe even things we've asked several times before. God is compassionate. Our Savior‚ Jesus‚ is empathetic toward us. Empathy means a wise understanding of what another person is going through. Many people say‚ "I know how you feel." Jesus actually knows.  James is reminding us in the verse above to ask God! He is generous! Questions build strong faith and initiate good conversations. God loves talking with us through prayer and Scripture‚ worship‚ and the beauty of His creation. "Christ is called ‘the wisdom of God‚" the NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary explains‚ "On the basis of the OT‚ wisdom can be personified." Paul wrote to the Corinthians:  "To those whom God has called‚ both Jews and Greeks‚ Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:24 NLT We are never alone‚ for the Holy Spirit lives within every believer of Christ. "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus‚" Paul wrote‚ "who has become for us the wisdom from God- that is‚ our righteousness‚ holiness and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT) When we seek more of God‚ we will find Him.  Let’s pray: Father‚ Praise You‚ God! You are the One‚ True‚ Triune God! Father‚ Son‚ and Holy Spirit‚ You are all-knowing‚ everywhere‚ and always in control. Though our perspective of the world is that it's out of control‚ we know You are sovereign over all. Even when we cannot feel you working‚ God‚ we know You are faithful‚ compassionate‚ just‚ and merciful. Your grace is sufficient for us‚ God! We know this all too well!  Thank You for the gift of knowledge‚ Father. We are grateful we get to come to You with questions and needs. You are our Healer‚ Provider‚ Creator‚ Loving Father‚ and Generous God. We appreciate Your patience with us‚ Father! How many times do we interrupt You when You are trying to help us figure something out or share a piece of wisdom with us? Help us to pause in those moments‚ Father. Convict our hearts to be sensitive when You are trying to speak to us.  Give us empathy and compassion for the know-it-alls in our lives‚ God. And patience! Father‚ we are supposed to love one another‚ not only when it's convenient and beneficial but also when we are annoyed‚ out of time‚ and uninterested in listening to our adversaries. Help us to see people through Your eyes‚ Father. Give us a wise perspective in life‚ and an obedient heart to follow Your lead. When we need the courage to be assertive and speak the truth in love‚ help us to find the strength to do so! Remind us of Who we are filled with‚ Your Holy Spirit!  Jesus‚ thank You for coming to earth willingly‚ as the Father sent You‚ to sacrifice Your life for ours. We can hardly talk about praying for wisdom without remembering You‚ the Living Word of God. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to help us along the way. We are so thankful to you‚ Holy Spirit‚ for helping us understand Scripture and what's going on around us. We pray for a fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit today‚ Father. We want to see the world and navigate daily life as You will. In order to follow You‚ we understand we have to submit and surrender‚ even when we don't fully understand what is happening or what to do next. Make Your next steps in our lives clear‚ Father.  Protect us from evil‚ and we pray to remain humble and patient listeners‚ Father‚ not only to You and Your word but the people You have so purposefully placed in our lives. Let us be wise and knowledgable stewards of everything You have given us to pursue and do on this earth‚ Lord‚ for Your glory.  In Jesus' Name‚Amen. Additional resources: NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary. Copyright © 2015 by Zondervan. Photo credit: ©Playbackmedia.com/sparrowstock Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ at Joy Overflowing and Sunny&;80. She is the author of "Friends with Everyone‚ Friendship within the Love of Christ‚" "Surface‚ Unlocking the Gift of Sensitivity‚" "Glory Up‚ The Everyday Pursuit of Praise‚" "Home‚ Finding Our Identity in Christ‚" and “Sent‚ Faith in Motion.” Meg earned a Marketing/PR degree from Ashland University but stepped out of the business world to stay home and raise her two daughters ...which led her to pursue her writing passion. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016‚ Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the editorial team at Salem Web Network. Meg loves being involved in her community and local church‚ leads Bible study‚ and serves as a youth leader for teen girls. Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week‚ she gives you practical‚ real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day‚ click below! Now that you’ve prayed‚ are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for True Knowledge – Your Daily Prayer – January 21 appeared first on GodUpdates.

1793 - Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine in Paris‚ following his conviction for "high treason" by the newly created French Parliament (Convention nationale)‚ during the French Revolution 1908 - "Sullivan Ordinance" is passed in NYC‚ making it illegal for a woman to smoke in public places. It was vetoed 2 weeks later by mayor George B. McClellan Jr. 1930 - Boston Bruins become first team in NHL history to score 100 goals in a season‚ in a 5-1 win over Chicago at Boston Garden; Cooney Weiland scores Bruins' 100th goal in their 26th game of the year 1941 - Australian and British troops attack Tobruk‚ Libya 1961 - "Conquering Hero" closes at ANTA Theater NYC after 8 performances 1973 - 23rd NFL Pro Bowl‚ Texas Stadium‚ Irving‚ Texas: AFC beats NFC‚ 33-28; MVP: O. J. Simpson‚ Buffalo Bills‚ RB 1980 - Gold hits record $850 an ounce 1992 - Bill Cowher becomes the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers‚ becoming only the second head coach of the team since 1970 (Chuck Noll) 2010 - LA Lakers forward Kobe Bryant becomes the youngest NBA player to reach 25‚000 career points at 31 years‚ 151 days; beats Wilt Chamberlain by 35 days 2013 - 30 people are killed in a car bombing in Salamiyeh‚ Syria More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1749 - Verona Philharmonic Theatre destroyed by fire. Rebuilt 1754. 1900 - The second contingent of Canadian troops sails from Halifax to fight in South Africa against the Boers 1948 - Three of the greats of cricket make their debut in a drawn 1st Test match at Bridgetown‚ Barbados; Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Everton Weekes for the West Indies‚ and Jim Laker for England 1972 - Mizoram‚ formerly part of Assam‚ creates an Indian union territory 1978 - Bee Gees' album "Saturday Night Fever" goes #1 for 24 weeks 1990 - 41st NHL All-Star Game‚ Civic Arena‚ Pittsburgh‚ PA: Wales beats Campbell‚ 12-7; MVP: Mario Lemieux‚ Pittsburgh Penguins‚ C More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1878 - Egon Friedell‚ Austrian journalist‚ actor and writer (Kleine Portratgalerie‚ Der Partylowe)‚ born in Vienna‚ Austria (d. 1938) 1888 - Herbie Collins‚ Australian cricket all-rounder and captain (19 Tests‚ 1‚352 runs @ 45.06‚ 4 x 100s)‚ born in Sydney‚ Australia (d. 1959) 1937 - George Flynn‚ American pianist‚ composer (Trinity)‚ and teacher (Columbia; DePaul)‚ born in Miles City‚ Montana 1971 - Tommy Puett‚ actor (Tyler-Life Goes On‚ America's Top 10)‚ born in Gary‚ Indiana 1980 - Aubrie Rippner‚ tennis star (1995 USTA National Girls 18)‚ born in Los Angeles‚ California 1988 - Felipe Neto‚ Brazilian vlogger (YouTube)‚ born in Rio de Janeiro‚ Brazil More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1118 - Pope Paschal II‚ born Raniero (1099-1118)‚ dies 1519 - Vasco Núñez de Balboa‚ Spanish explorer executed on charges of treason at about 42 [birthdate undocumented‚ born c. 1475; exact death date uncertain‚ may have been as early as 15 January) 1815 - Matthias Claudius‚ German poet (Death and the Maiden)‚ and journalist (Der Wandsbecker Bote)‚ dies at 74 1881 - Wilhelm Matthias Naeff‚ Swiss Federal Councilor (b. 1802) 1942 - Henryk OpieÅ„ski‚ Polish violinist‚ conductor‚ choral director‚ composer (Zygmunt August and Barbara)‚ and musicologist (Moniuszko)‚ dies at 72 2005 - John L. Hess‚ American journalist (b. 1917) More Famous Deaths »

West Belfast rap group Kneecap have premiered their biopic at the Sundance film festival‚ and critics are loving it

Video surfaced late this week of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis promising on the campaign trail in 2020 that she would not date people with whom she worked‚ which comes as she faces allegations of doing just that. The Free Beacon discovered video of Willis talking about the subject in April 2020‚ just months before she was elected. Willis now faces allegations that a prosecutor she hired‚ Nathan Wade‚ in her criminal case against former President Donald Trump‚ is her lover. “I certainly will not be choosing people to date that work under me‚” she said. “Let me just say that‚ you know‚ we are at a place in society where things happen and people’s relationships‚ a husband and wife‚ sometimes they are outside relationships‚ I don’t think that that’s what the community is concerned about.” “Although there‚ you know‚ there might be a moral breaking in that‚” she continued. “I think that what citizens are really‚ really concerned about is if you chose to have inappropriate contact with employees. I mean‚ there’s nothing that I can say on it‚ other than it is distracting. It is certainly inappropriate for the number one law enforcement officer in this state. And it just‚ it really‚ really saddens me‚ and it will be very unfortunate if the taxpayers of this community have to pay for any of those lawsuits.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP WATCH: NEW: Fani Willis‚ accused of sleeping with the married man she hired at an exorbitant rate to prosecute Trump‚ promised in 2020 she wouldn't sleep with her staffers. She also said it would be "unfortunate" if taxpayers had to pay for an elected official's sexual misconduct. pic.twitter.com/sJs0g97yhP — Andrew Kerr (@AndrewKerrNC) January 19‚ 2024 TRANSCRIPT: FANI WILLIS: It is saddening to me if young women felt like they came to work and they were‚ one‚ even judged for being a woman‚ but two‚ if certainly they felt uncomfortable within the workplace. That will not be something that is allowed on my watch. Supervisors under my leadership that are not encouraging and building up my staff will not be supervisors long in my administration. And I certainly will not be choosing people to date that work under me. Let me just say that‚ you know‚ we are at a place in society where things happen and people’s relationships‚ a husband and wife‚ sometimes they are outside relationships. I don’t think that that’s what the community is concerned about. Although there‚ you know‚ there might be a moral breaking in that. I think that what citizens are really‚ really concerned about is if you chose to have inappropriate contact with employees. I mean‚ there’s nothing that I can say on it‚ other than it is distracting. It is certainly inappropriate for the number one law enforcement officer in this state. And it just‚ it really‚ really saddens me‚ and it will be very unfortunate if the taxpayers of this community have to pay for any of those lawsuits.

Is Salvation Only About Going to Heaven After I Die?

Sometimes I think we make studying the Bible more complicated than it has to be.