Maureen Pratt, Author and Speaker

Theherefore I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
Wisdom 7:7

Those of us who live with ongoing, serious illness know the struggle involved in making health decisions. Do we trust our physicians? Are we confident in the newest medication/​treatment/​diagnostic? Are we equipped to cope with the dark-of-night reactions to treatments, when we're seemingly alone and wondering what we should do?

Besides these medication-related decisions, we must decide how much is too much to do before sapping our precious energy. And, how much to tell others about our conditions. Or, how far in advance to plan our lives, given the unpredictable nature of illness.

Solomon gives us some guidance when it comes to making decisions. Rather than praying for a specific outcome, thereby skipping over the decision-making process itself, in this verse from Wisdom, we might take instruction on asking for, simply and potently, "the spirit of Wisdom." From this gift we can make decisions not based on fear or mistrust or other emotions, but rather the guidance from God that can steer our shakey "boats" into safe harbor.

Not an intangible at all, Wisdom is a very real guide and comfort for us - now and whenever we're faced with awesome decisions.

Amen!