"Godly Wisdom/ Wise Counsel" by guest blogger Wilna Van Beek

As we prepare for our 14th annual conference "Wisdom" with Keynote speaker Mary Kassian and musical guest Point of Grace, we are featuring blog posts from our recommended speaker team to share their journey on wisdom! This week, Wilna Van Beek shares with us the value of wisdom in all situations...

     It’s been an interesting and very challenging fall for me personally. I had several speaking engagements where I would share my story of redemption and restoration through Jesus Christ, and how there is so much hope in Him! Then I heard that a protest was on the rise in my city... People were protesting my testimony! (What? How? Why?) My first reaction was to jump on the first plane and just fly away! But, because God calls us to be men and women of valour, I did not jump on a plane. Instead, I prayed and sought WISDOM!  I sought GODLY wisdom and WORDLY wisdom! When we  face difficult situations in life, we need both!

• Godly Wisdom - It is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God

• Worldly Wisdom - Having or showing sound judgment, great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them

Needless to say, God showed up in many ways!

He says that we must ask!  The wisest thing we can do in the midst of difficulty is to engage the assistance of someone who knows how to talk to God! Not only to pray, but also to help and assist in whatever way necessary. (Sometimes we are too proud to ask others to pray for us, or to ask for wise counsel!) 

 I asked for wise counsel…  

 ^“For by WISE counsel, you can wage your war, and in an abundance of counsellors there is victory and safety”. Proverbs 24:6 (amp)

…and God was faithful to bring many people alongside not only to intercede, but to give advice that the organizers and I needed.  (I had moments of being very scared though!)

I also asked for GODLY WISDOM…

“‘If any of you is deficient in WISDOM, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.”  James 1:5 (amp)

…and the Holy Spirit gave “insight into the ways and purposes of God” (which is Godly Wisdom). We received insight into God’s plans and purposes for the event despite the protest! 

^“He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the TRUTH we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free.”  1 Timothy 2:4 (msg)

So, WISDOM this fall meant to abide in Jesus!  It had to be daily, hourly, and even by the minute! (One of my speaking topics is about Abiding in the Vine, and this became such a reality for me! I realized how I needed to abide in His strength, power and wisdom in this difficult situation! I had to practice what I was preaching!) 

With Him, in Him, and through Him we have power to overcome and live victorious lives, but…. ”apart from Me (cut of from vital union with Me) you can do nothing!”John 15:5b

How precious was it to feel that life giving sap flow in times when I felt  discouraged, scared, and weak. To feel that sustaining power, love, grace and mercy is revitalizing!

Today, I look back with such a grateful heart and  I am in awe of what God accomplished through this event! He showed up and He did all the work of the heart because He is in the business of restoration, redemption, healing and forgiveness!   Those who were hungry, He personally fed them the bread of life! He quenched their thirst and stilled their hunger because of His love for all men/women! We heard so many stories of how lives were touched and changed...

So, how did all the people and I who organized the event receive wisdom?
The key was not so much what we knew, but rather, who we knew and still know!  It is friendship with the One who says:  

^“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” Jeremiah 33:3 (amp)

When this friendship becomes a lifestyle, answers and divine solutions, uniquely clever and true to their source, will come. These solutions are the kind we would never conceive on our own!

And today I can say, along with Job:

” God understands the way [to WISDOM] and He knows the place of it [WISDOM is with God alone].” Job 28:23 (amp)

I am so thankful to know the One! To be able to sit with Him and obtain WISDOM, whether it is worldly or godly wisdom, is a privilege... 

May this inspire you to know your source of WISDOM on your journey of faith! 

Wilna was born and raised in South Africa, later moved to Canada, and  is now enjoying her dual citizenship journey! She is a pioneer in ministering to diverse groups including homosexuals as she has had multiple gay relationships in her past. She speaks to groups of any size to grow in understanding, love and great empathy by sharing her faith journey. When speaking to Christ followers, she encourages them to put on the Jesus glasses as we treat others with both truth and grace. 

  

She is currently involved in outreaches such as: Winning Women (a ministry that reaches out to children in the inner city of Saskatoon) and is an active member of her local church. Wilna is also a recent graduate of the School of Women in Ministry. She owns her own grooming business and is passionate about it! Though the rest of her family is living in South Africa, she considers her two dogs, Daisy and Thursdae, a part of her family:)

• To find out more about Wilna click here: Wilna Van Beek
• To find out more about WJOF and our upcoming conference where Wilna will be on a panel with others on our speaker team, click here: WJOF/2013