LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
 
Monday 1st June 2026

WISDOM CRIES OUT

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8
 
Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift her voice? *Proverbs 8:1*
 
Wisdom has different dimensions. It expresses itself in many ways.
 
Spiritually, wisdom is the fear of the Lord.

 The fear of the Lord shows itself in the reverence we have for God. It is wisdom that yields to God’s supremacy. When we have the fear of the Lord, we defer to both the natural and spiritual laws that God has set in His world. Those who honour God’s principles learn to use those principles beneficially. It is akin to the fear an electrician has of electricity. The electrician acknowledges the awesome power of electricity but does not keep away from it. Those who fear the Lord have a hatred for evil and love what God wants.

Mentally, wisdom is understanding how life works.

Most of us associate wisdom with mental acumen. However, biblical wisdom is not the same as attaining high academic heights. It has a deep understanding of how life works with all its ethical, moral, and religious implications. We gain this dimension of wisdom through the observation and appreciation of how systems and structures work.
 
Morally, wisdom is righteous conduct.

This aspect of wisdom is the ability to tell between right and wrong. That is how we can live uprightly. Wisdom is a moral force that enables us to make proper judgments. For example, we would generally consider a person who gambles away all their money or uses all they have on wasteful purchases as unwise. On the other hand, we would consider a person who invests their resources in educating their children and building an inheritance for them to be wise. Those who live their lives wisely make moral choices that yield benefits to them.
 
Practically, wisdom is solving problems.

This is the technical aspect of wisdom. Wisdom is practical when it helps us find answers to the questions we face. In the Hebrew society of the Old Testament, this is how most people viewed wisdom. Wisdom is the practical application of knowledge. You see it in the way people solve their problems.
 
Governmentally, wisdom is ruling with fairness.

 This is seen in how we administer, manage and lead in our areas of influence – our lives, homes, and businesses.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you are the All-Wise God. Bless me with your wisdom so I will see life as you see it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.