Know What To Do & When To Do It
By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon
From: Thibodaux Police Department
Several years back, I read where an Oregon middle school was having problems with girls applying lipstick and kissing the bathroom mirrors. One day, the principal gathered the girls she believed to be involved, and stood them before the kissed mirrors.
The principal told the girls, “Please help me to stop this problem. It is so hard for our janitor to clean this off. Watch, I will show you.” Then the janitor promptly dipped his mop in the toilet, and began scrubbing the mirrors. Needless to say, the mirrors were no longer kissed. Wisdom in action!
A simple definition of wisdom is – knowing what to do and when to do it; just good sense. How do we get wisdom? The wisdom of man is often a product of good teaching and learned actions, but the best decisions of mankind still come up short.
One thing is certain, the wisdom of God never fails. The bible teaches us that [God’s] ways or not our ways. At times, God’s way doesn’t make “good sense” to the natural mind, but it always produces the right results.
We often apply quick fixes to our problems to get things in order, but short-term fixes eventually fizzle out. There is hope, the bible teaches us that God knows the end from the beginning. God’s wisdom leads to the permanent solutions we need in life.
I encourage you to read one chapter a day in the book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. It will only take 5-10 minutes of your time, but will shape your thinking for success in life.
Here are some simple scriptures that I have applied to my life and the Lord has blessed me through them.
Proverbs 8:17 (Wisdom speaking ) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (KJV)
James 1:5-7 – 5 If you need wisdom– if you want to know what God wants you to do– ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.
6 But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. (NLT)
Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. (KJV)
Psalms 1:1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,… (NLT)
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. (NAU)
Lord bless,
Chaplain Ronnie Melancon