~ Gwen Smith- My husband is a wise man, and God has placed him as the head of our home, so I like to talk through difficult things with him. He gives me a perspective that’s often quite different from mine.

When I need to hash out confusion, I sometimes go to the small group of women I call my besties. They're godly. They love me. They like me. They laugh at and with me. They pray for me. They mentor me and provide counsel. (Google image, Small group of women)

Now, it's true: God always needs to be our go-to guy when it comes to counsel. Our first call. But the Bible also gives us the directive to connect with other Christ followers for guidance: seek godly counsel.

“The LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless” (Proverbs 2:6–7).

When I make an effort to seek godly counsel, I benefit from the power of the Lord that is at work in the lives of those around me. I benefit from their mistakes and from their successes.

It frees me from the pressure of having to figure everything out on my own.

It frees me to move forward beyond my own limited experiences, faith, and knowledge.

Struggling with a tough work situation? Tangled up in a messy marriage knot? Are you being held captive by fear, doubt, and insecurity? Get some godly counsel. The writer of Proverbs tells us, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22 ESV).

We’re all in different seasons of life and have different needs for godly wisdom. I'm a poppy, you're a rose, she's a daisy—we're a wildflower bouquet! If you’re single, divorced, or widowed, you might be the head of your home. If so, you could connect with a pastor for godly counsel, or a trusted friend who follows hard after Jesus, or a godly family member or coworker.

Another person I encourage you to reach out to is the women’s ministry director of your church. Grab coffee or lunch with her. She'll love you!

Are you a journal girl? Write about the areas in which you need God’s wisdom. Write a prayer in your journal that spells them out in black and white. Pursue the treasure! There are many ways you can gain godly wisdom and add greater power to your life. Add to this list as you discover what works for you.

And here’s a wonky twist: sometimes God answers our prayers for wisdom by sending us to talk with someone who doesn’t even follow Him but has the knowledge we need.

Case in point, when our son Preston broke his jaw and needed reconstructive surgery, Brad and I got counsel from a highly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon. We prayed for the Lord to lead each decision we made and to guide the hands and choices of the surgical team, but our medical counsel came straight from the medical expert. His faith had nothing to do with it. Though that medical advice may or may not have come from a follower of Christ, Brad and I prayed for the Lord to lead with His wisdom in, on, and through it all.

God’s Word promises that He will walk you to the understanding you need.

Just ask.

I know you want His leading as much as I do. So, when life gets crazy confusing, remember that you can gain clarity and direction when you surround yourself with godly people.

Let’s Pray-

"Dear Lord, You are the source of all the wisdom I ever need. Thank you for using others in my life to influence my success. Please help me grow in and welcome godly counsel.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen."

Our Ambassador to Israel, Michael David Evens' comments:

"God delights to hear from us. The Bible compares our prayers to sweet-smelling incense rising up before the throne of God. Never hesitate to pray."

Psalm 141:1-3 "LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my payer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."

526-530 one-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

526- Ps. 91:10 "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling."

527- Mark 14:38 "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."

528- Prov. 11:25 "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."

529- Ps. 119:93 "I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou has quickened me."

530- Ps. 112:7 "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."

Quote for today-

~ Dr. Francis J. Sizer- 'It is interesting that the very thing we didn't have in life from our family, friends, or community is the very thing that drives us into the arms of God's love. We cannot come to God in success and greatness and power. We can only come to God in weakness and vulnerability. We come to God like a child in need. We kneel before Him; He anoints us; and we arise as king or a queen. He not only cancels our former life and ways of sin, but also restores us above and beyond." [p. 107 in his book, POWER ENCOUNTERS]

Words of wisdom-

The Faithfulness of God overwhelms us at times, when we see how creative He is, and how He keeps His Word. Just knowing that He will be with us is amazing and comforting. His commanding something to happen on our behalf, and to see it come to pass, is humbling and worthy of praise. May we watch to see Him at work all around us, proving that He’s with us, loving us every minute of each day.

Today's guest post-

10 Powerful Prayers to Protect Your Children from Satan

Beth Ann Baus
"We know the enemy wants our children; he wants to pull them away from us, from their faith, and from the one true God. We also know that Satan is crafty, and he tries to pull our children away in a variety of ways: by temptation, distractions, deception, etc."