Prayer for Wisdom

Lord God, Heavenly Father,

You have said through Your Son that we have only to ask in His Name and You will give us all things.  You have promised to give us all good things, as we remain in You and in Your Word.  (John 15: 7, 17)  As a good Father, You give only good gifts to those who ask of you (Matthew 7: 11) and You have charged us to be persistent in our prayers to You (Luke 18: 1 – 8).  You did not spare Your Own Son Jesus Christ, but gave Him up for our salvation; we are confident that You will also give us all things for His sake. (Romans 8: 32)

Source of All Wisdom and Goodness, Creator of All,

You have said that to fear You is the beginning of wisdom and that knowledge of You is the beginning of understanding.  I come to you with Solomon, with David, with all wise kings and rulers who stood before you seeking Godliness and insight.  Your wisdom is a supernatural wisdom; Your ways are not my ways.  I seek wisdom and discipline; words of insight and understanding.  I seek to acquire a disciplined and prudent life, and to do what is right and just and fair to all people in all situations.  You give prudence to the simple, and knowledge and discretion to the young and inexperienced; Lord, bless me according to Your infinite wisdom and according to Your lovingkindness toward both me and the people I will lead.  You add wisdom and discernment to the wise and discerning; You add blessing upon blessing to those who call on Your name.  (Proverbs 1: 1 – 7)

King of the Universe, You Who rule in unassailable light,

Open my ears to the wise and Godly counsel of those around me, my parents and mentors, my commanders and wise peers.  I do not seek awards nor recognition nor crowns, but only Your instruction and teaching.  Protect me from the lure of sinners and mockers, from those who seek to harm others, who seek dishonest gain; those who rush into sins and are so swift to shed blood.  Give me eyes to see clearly those who would fool me and lead me astray.  Give me wisdom in all interactions; make evil motives and evil methods transparent before me, so that I am never fooled into following the foolish.  (Proverbs 1: 8 -19)

Wisdom personified calls in the street to the simple, to the mockers, to the fools; they have spurned and rejected her rebuke, they have ignored her outstretched hand, her counsel and advice.  Therefore disaster overtakes them, calamity strikes like a whirlwind and like a storm.  Distress and trouble overwhelm them and there is no one to help. (Proverbs 1: 20 – 27)

I confess that I have trusted in my own strength, trusted in my wisdom and my own swiftness; like a flag on a mountaintop, I have been stranded and abandoned in my own sin and left to my own devices.  But I cried to You for help and in Your graciousness, You answered and You saved me.  (Isaiah 30: 15 – 19).  Open my ears to Your voice, the voice behind that whispers in my ears “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30: 21).  Lord, I desire Your wisdom; keep me from rejecting when You call.  Lord, I desire Your ways: keep me from ignoring Your rebuke and from spurning Your Word; prevent me from rejecting Your guidance.  Do not leave me and do not forsake me. 

Christ Jesus called to You on behalf of His disciples, that You would send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Comforter, the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth (John 14: 15 – 17).  Lord bless me too with Your Spirit; I know that You do not give a spirit of fear or timidity, but instead You give power, love, self-discipline and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1: 7).  You have given me Your Spirit in baptism, where I was washed and renewed, made dead and made alive in Christ.  You have declared me righteous for the sake of Jesus Christ and You have united me into His resurrection; I am free from sin and death (Romans 6: 1 – 7).  Strengthen my faith, preserve me to live eternal, and allow me to serve You in wisdom and righteousness.

Lord God, I accept Your words; I store up Your commands in my heart. I turn my ear to Your wisdom, I seek to apply my heart and gain understanding from You.  I call out to You for insight, I cry aloud for understanding.  I look for Your wisdom as my greatest treasure, more than silver and more than gold.  I trust that You are found by those who seek You, that You give wisdom to those who ask for it, and that You give understanding to those who fear You.  You hold my victory; You are my shield; You guard my courses and You protect me.  Give me understanding of what is right and fair; let wisdom enter my heart and let Your wisdom be pleasant to my soul; protect me with discretion and guard me with Godly understanding.  Protect me from wicked people, from those who use perverse and mocking words, from those who depart from Your straight paths and rejoice in evil, from the devious and the unfaithful.  (Proverbs2: 1 – 16)

Lord, give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.  (I Kings 3: 9).  All authority has been established by You, servants of the public to do good and to be an agent of justice. (Romans 13: 1 – 5)  Bless me as I serve in Your earthly kingdom, fulfilling the only outstanding debt—the debt to love other people.  Keep me from sin and every evil; let me live in light and righteousness, clothed in Christ Jesus and awaiting patiently for His day to come (Romans 13: 8 - 14).

I ask these things in Jesus Name and for His sake, Jesus Christ the Blessed One who died for my salvation and was raised for my justification that I may stand before You in holiness in this life and in the next.  AMEN.