I am going through a period of spiritual and behavioral metamorphosis. It hasn’t always been easy but it is something that I wanted and needed. I needed restoration, healing, and freedom. I am happier overall and there is much more work that I need to do. As a part of my process, at least once a week I take time to reflect on recent and/or past behavior. I try to figure out why I may have made a particular decision. These decisions could’ve been good or bad. I do this because I wish to be wise and this helps me gain wisdom and insight.
During this season of change, I’ve had to separate myself to grow without specific distractions. “Friends” and associates may feel like I’ve been to myself and I have. I have always been a loner anyway and would need my time to myself to think, create, write, and pray. Not to mention how busy I am with school, work, family and my health. However, I’ve been utilizing my time to do a little revamping and think of how allowing myself to listen to some people helped me get into bad predicaments. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have to take full responsibility for anything that I did and don’t blame others for things I had control over. BUT, that showed me that I needed to surround myself with wiser people.
Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. But he who heeds counsel is wise.
So, I read the above verse and began to think about people who usually gave me advice. You have:
1) The Jealous One.
The one who doesn’t want you doing better than them. So their advice can be harmful to you since they do not truly wish to see you grow.
2) The Fool
This person’s advice can be harmful but they aren’t trying to do this intentionally. They live their life in a certain way that may (or may not) work for them but doesn’t work for you. I’ve been the fool and had given advice then in retrospect, realized how bad or stupid it was. Sorry if I influenced any of you to do something stupid lol. The fools are usually impulsive and react swiftly before thinking (yup that was me too and thank God for learning to control that).
3) A wise and/or caring person.
Their advice may or may not sting sometime but they usually want the best. They are rational thinkers and may share their own experience as an example of what consequences can occur. You can look at their lives and see that they are attempting to practice what they preach. These people are still human so they may not be a 100% correct all the time either. However, you’ll see the want in them to want to grow and do better.
How do you begin to surround yourself with wiser people? Well I am learning that now. The first thing I did was remove and distance myself from events, places or people who are doing things I wish to no longer engage in. It’s a personal choice but it’s helping with my spiritual and emotional maturation. Actually, you’ll see people begin to drop out of your life when you decide to make certain changes anyway. You attract what you display. Also, you need counsel in more than one area in life. These areas can be professional development, parenting, relationships and more.
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.
I have a lot more to say about wisdom but I’ll talk about that next time. I’d like to hear how you feel about wisdom and wise counsel and your plans for seeking this if you haven’t already done so.
Reflect. Learn. Grow. 