I was chatting on the phone one day to a dear friend of mine called Katy and we were catching up on each other’s news from the week. Katy went on to tell me about how she and her young son Isaac had been walking by the river near their house in Wales the day before.
She explained that Isaac had expressed his desire to go paddling barefoot in the river but she had gently told him that he wasn’t to do this as it was very cold with lots of sharp rocks that could hurt his feet. Within seconds Katy turned around to find that Isaac had completely disregarded what she’d said, taken his socks and shoes off and was paddling about in the freezing cold river! Of course it wasn’t long before Katy’s words came to pass and Isaac was in tears from having cut his toe on one of the sharp rocks.
As my friend and I were laughing and lamenting over Isaac’s watery drama, she told me that as she was consoling him and taking care of his sore toe she’d gone on to tell him off for not listening to his Mummy’s words. At this he looked up at his mother through tears and said, “But Mummy! Why didn’t you stop me?”
Straight away I laughed at the irony and said to Katy,
“Isn’t that just typical of all of us? God reveals so much wisdom in His Word and yet we often do our own thing anyway then cry and blame Him when things go wrong! If only we’d listen to His wisdom.”
Before long I found myself writing down the title of my poem and the rest followed not long after. My poem hasn’t been written with any intention of coming across as harsh or judgmental in any way. It’s intended to have a very gentle, kindly tone and I pray this comes across as my hope is that it can be used to help encourage others to follow Jesus and trust in His wisdom.
To the non-believer, I hope these words can encourage you to listen to the wisdom of God and choose a life of liberty in Christ. So often we set off in pursuit of sin thinking we pursue a dream but we end up in a nightmare. Sin is only sweet for a time and although we may have begun in liberty, we’ll soon find ourselves enslaved to sin and the power of the flesh. To think we can live a life of liberty without God is a deception as true liberty is found in Christ and Christ alone.
To the believer, I pray this poem can encourage us to not revert back to the old ways but affirm our freedom and liberty in Christ. May we always seek to follow our Saviour closely as we journey down the path of life and listen to His wisdom on the small matters as well as the big. The One who created us certainly knows what’s best for us!
Listen to the wisdom of our Father God above,She explained that Isaac had expressed his desire to go paddling barefoot in the river but she had gently told him that he wasn’t to do this as it was very cold with lots of sharp rocks that could hurt his feet. Within seconds Katy turned around to find that Isaac had completely disregarded what she’d said, taken his socks and shoes off and was paddling about in the freezing cold river! Of course it wasn’t long before Katy’s words came to pass and Isaac was in tears from having cut his toe on one of the sharp rocks.
As my friend and I were laughing and lamenting over Isaac’s watery drama, she told me that as she was consoling him and taking care of his sore toe she’d gone on to tell him off for not listening to his Mummy’s words. At this he looked up at his mother through tears and said, “But Mummy! Why didn’t you stop me?”
Straight away I laughed at the irony and said to Katy,
“Isn’t that just typical of all of us? God reveals so much wisdom in His Word and yet we often do our own thing anyway then cry and blame Him when things go wrong! If only we’d listen to His wisdom.”
Before long I found myself writing down the title of my poem and the rest followed not long after. My poem hasn’t been written with any intention of coming across as harsh or judgmental in any way. It’s intended to have a very gentle, kindly tone and I pray this comes across as my hope is that it can be used to help encourage others to follow Jesus and trust in His wisdom.
To the non-believer, I hope these words can encourage you to listen to the wisdom of God and choose a life of liberty in Christ. So often we set off in pursuit of sin thinking we pursue a dream but we end up in a nightmare. Sin is only sweet for a time and although we may have begun in liberty, we’ll soon find ourselves enslaved to sin and the power of the flesh. To think we can live a life of liberty without God is a deception as true liberty is found in Christ and Christ alone.
To the believer, I pray this poem can encourage us to not revert back to the old ways but affirm our freedom and liberty in Christ. May we always seek to follow our Saviour closely as we journey down the path of life and listen to His wisdom on the small matters as well as the big. The One who created us certainly knows what’s best for us!
Let our ears be open to His voice.
For every word He gives is inspired by His love,
Obedience to Him will always be the better choice.
God will have His reasons for the boundaries He sets,
He sees the greater picture in full measure.
How it grieves His heart to see His children with regrets,
Yet one surrendered to His will brings our Lord such pleasure!
His wisdom is a safeguard from heartache yet unknown,
Protection from unnecessary tears.
He seeks to guide our footsteps with compassion from His Throne,
Preventing us from countless woes and many wasted years.
Yet should we choose to wander off and go our merry way,
Our God will never overrule free-will.
Then when we’ve learned our lesson and return to Him one day,
He’ll welcome us with open arms for He will love us still.
Like any loving Father He’ll be there to dry our eyes,
He’ll help us mend the things that fell apart.
Yet when we look with hindsight it’ll come as no surprise,
It would have been far better to trust Him from the start.
Listen to His wisdom for He knows us all by name,
He understands the challenges we face.
Our Saviour comprehends the trials in each mortal frame
But nothing is impossible for Jesus’ strength and grace.
Let us walk in fellowship, surrendered to His plan
For though our Father’s mercy has no measure,
Better to stick close to Him and rest in Jesus’ palm,
Knowing that our value is above all Earthly treasure!
Our Maker seeks to shelter us and guard us from frustration,
Thriving in His will, our soul can rest.
Let us not be foolish but in every situation,
Listen to His wisdom, Father always knows what’s best.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 103:13-15
“As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.”
Psalm 139:5-10
“You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.”
Psalm 40:6
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.”
Psalm 51:16
“For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.”
1 Samuel 15:22
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Romans 11:33
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”
1 Chronicles 16:11
“Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!”
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