May 29 – The focus of this week’s prayer letter is on James’ thoughts on wisdom.

James 1:5-8, CSB, ‘5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.’

John Blanchard, Truth for Life, a Devotional Commentary on the Epistle of James, 1986, p. 28, defines wisdom as ‘the God-given insight into our human circumstances and situations that enables a man or woman to see God’s will, coupled with a whole-hearted desire to see it done.’

Father, thank You, just as James writes about this true wisdom that it cannot come from within a person, it is a gift from You, so I pray that You will pour out this gift on all in our church, in person and online. Only Your word and Spirit can give this wisdom.

It is a wonderful, precious bestowal which transforms the whole direction and experience of the life of the one who asks You for it. It is about putting our trust or confidence in Christ, not in man or woman (see Psalm 118:8).

May this charism – grace gift – work deeply in my life bringing with it the wealth of Your wisdom creating a rich harvest of good fruit as a result. In the complexities and opportunities of life, may we be Spirit-led walking in Your wisdom knowing the right thing to do, and the right thing to say in each given situation. In Jesus’ name. Amen

May 30 – Father, thank You that James counsels that if anyone lacks this true and godly wisdom, they should ask You for it. You are our generous God who will give it without reproach – You do not chide us because we lacked it in the first place.

You are ‘the giving God’ (Blanchard 29) who loves to give to Your children. You come with grace, mercy and wisdom to those who ask You for it. You give from a heart of love and covenant faithfulness – teach us how to continually seek for fresh wisdom each day, and how to receive in faith.

This wisdom leads to the good application of biblical principles which guide us through life. It liberates us from the bondage of human ‘self-focus,’ and sets us free into a fruitful spiritual walk. It is also a spiritual gift linked to our speech, the word of wisdom so that we know how to give an answer, or not to say anything in the most difficult settings we face.

Grant many to be filled this amazing gift in our church overcoming the unwise words of the flesh, the senses, and the demonic. You counsel us to ask in faith, not with doubt nor the misconception that we ask for too much. You will give when we ask – Lord, fill us with Your heavenly wisdom today. In Jesus’ name. Amen

May 31 – Father, many seek to follow the type of wisdom the world offers which is wisdom that is limited and not spiritually able. Lord, grant us the discernment to know any who are following Earthly or Worldly wisdom; or Sensual or Soulish based wisdom; or even demonically inspired wisdom around us.

Each of these sources take people away from Your Son, create envy, self-seeking, and soulish ways. Your wisdom reflects Your nature. James 3:13, CSB, ‘13Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.’

You are the God who is all-wise. You know everything, and You know how best to think, speak or keep silent, and act in every situation. Your judgement is always just, wise and true. You call us to give evidence of our maturing faith by how we live and apply the Christian faith.

Anoint us, empower us, and draw us to learn at Your feet from Your word, Your Spirit, Your people and Your own gracious leading in our lives. As a result, may we be able to minister Your grace as we live for Christ as spiritually wise disciples. Amen

June 1 – Philippains 3:19, ‘whose mind is on earthly things.’ JA Motyer, The Message of Philippians, wrote about the people directed by this type of wisdom, ‘At the very centre of their being, where their life finds its direction, where their attitudes and tendencies are fashioned which subsequently influence decisions, and govern likes and dislikes – at this vital centre the world and its ways are the whole object of attention.’ 

James 3:14-16, CSB, ‘14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. 15Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.’

Father, we pray for any who are caught by such false mindsets. They need to find the truth of Your Son – they need Your word’s truth, Your Spirit’s touch upon their hearts, they need to be brought to Christ’s feet.

Bring across their pathway true friends who will challenge this mentality in them, or to hear the preaching of Your Gospel, or to take up Your word and begin to read it – and may Your Holy Spirit convict and draw them to repentance and faith in Christ.

The wisdom of this world is unspiritual/sensual and demonic in origin – it is ultimately antichrist in nature. It roots people into that which is destructive for their souls. It creates envy, selfish ambition, disorder and every evil practice.

O Lord, save, deliver and redeem many across our nation. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen

June 2 – Father, those following worldly wisdom have not got their focus on our Lord Jesus – it is firmly placed in the world around them. Although their model for living is derived from the world, its pattern of life, goals and aspirations, so were some of us, but Your Spirit broke through and set us free – set those we love, our neighbours, colleagues and enemies free in Christ.

We acknowledge that if we try to work or minister with this type of person they sap our energy, create frustration, and are not like-minded going in a different direction to what we think. Only Your love can enable us to do so.

Grant us the wisdom to know who to link with, to partner with, and to work alongside. In Jesus’ name. Amen

June 3 – Father, those who follow Sensual or Soulish wisdom give an appearance of being truly spiritually wise, but their wisdom is animalistic and rooted in the depths of the unregenerate human heart, not off Your Spirit.

These follow the wisdom, practices and religion whose origin is not in Christ; it is elemental, base, focussing on the senses – being selfish and extolling the virtues of similarly motivated and minded people – not Your Son; in fact, anti-Christ at heart.

Lord, we pray that many will be led to repentance and faith in Christ through the people and ministries of Telford Elim, in person and online. Christ is their only hope.

Without Christ they focus on roads other than following the way of the cross, highlighting the world of the senses, New Age, extolling angelology, dream catchers, crystals etc, religion apart from the Spirit, focussed on Mammon and getting on this life only – they seemingly start but well never flourish spiritually – in fact end up bound in sin.

Thank You that You have not left us without insight into this – enable us to be overcomers and truly spiritual in all ministry we do. We plead the blood of Jesus, choose to stand under His cross, and ask to be taught how to dress fully in the armour of light as we do battle with such unseen forces of darkness behind such worldly, sensual and demonic wisdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen

June 4 – Father, those who follow demonic wisdom are completely opposed to You and Your ways appearing to walk a pathway of light, but only in order to deceive, entrap and destroy – seeking to eradicate all mention of and adoration of Your precious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The unseen forces of darkness behind this wisdom are at the heart of encouraging practices which are in rebellion against Your commandments. May You grant us the gifts of discernment, prophetic insight and grace to reach such people with the Gospel of Good News.

Fill us with Your pure Heavenly Wisdom producing the good fruit of right relationships, prepared to see the best in people, open to reason, full of mercy, producing good lasting fruit, not showing partiality nor favouritism – sincere without being tainted with hypocrisy.

Anoint Your Church in the UK to expose the hidden roots of false wisdom leading people out of it into desiring Your gift of life in Christ, the true, pure wisdom which is at the heart of Your word. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen