Follow A Wise Counsel

“A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” (Proverbs 1:5, NKJV)

If you find yourself caught up in a difficult situation, your first step should be to turn to God and His Holy Word for wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and direction --- THEN, it’s time to start searching for knowledgeable friends and mentors who can give you good, solid, Biblical advice….Why do you need help evaluating the person in the mirror? Because you are simply too close to that person! Sometimes you will be tempted to give yourself straight A’s, when in reality you deserve lower grades; on the other hand, you will also at times become your own worst critic, giving yourself a string of failing marks when you deserve better…. Usually, the truth is found somewhere in the middle.

Finding a wise counsel is only half of the job --- It takes just as much wisdom, and sometimes more, to ACT UPON THE GOOD ADVICE!!
Marie T. Freeman said, “It takes a wise person to give good advice, but an even wiser person to take it.”
SO, FIND PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST TO GIVE YOU GOOD, SOLID, GODLY ADVICE -- LISTEN TO THEM CAREFULLY -- AND THEN ACT ACCORDINGLY!!!!!

When you find mentors who are godly men and women, you become a more godly person yourself through the process….That is why you should seek out advisers who, by their words, presence, action, and encouragement, make you a better person and a better Christian.

Seek counsel from Christian individuals ONLY….Look at your friends, family, your church family, and other churches you are familiar with to find godly mentors….Many times, the greatest mentors are right under our noses and we don’t pay close enough attention to see them; some of the best people to ask for advice and leadership are the senior folks within our church that have lived a full life serving the Lord -- people who have “been there, and done that”….These wonderful people have a wealth of knowledge that they would love to share with someone who genuinely desires to hear what they have to say!!!

Remember that not all good advice is easy to listen to and accept…Consider the fact that if you can’t seem to listen to constructive criticism with an open mind, perhaps you’ve got a severe case of old-fashioned stubbornness. If so, ask God to soften your heart, open your eyes, and enlighten your mind….You must listen carefully to the advice and be willing to accept that advice, even if accepting it requires effort or pain, or both….Consider your mentor to be God’s gift to you, and then thank God for that gift, and use it for the glory of His Holy Name and for the furtherance of His kingdom!
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