We have a sweet young dog who is constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing.  Sometimes his actions are just inconvenient like his knack for lying down exactly where he’ll be in the way.  Other times his unwise actions put his life in peril- like running out into the road or snacking on a poisonous houseplant.  He just lumbers ahead oblivious to the consequences.  Our other dog intuitively knows the best line of action.  He gets out of our way.  He never runs into the road or eats dangerous plants.  He senses our moods and responds accordingly.  He anticipates what is going to happen.  He’s constantly aware and ready for action.

I identify with the dumb dog!  Yep!  I default to being out of sync with reality. I underestimate how long a project will take and overestimate my capacity.  I’m often oblivious to what’s on the horizon (or under my nose!).  I can’t seem to look ahead more than a few days so I’m perpetually unprepared.  I plod from day to day without a plan for the future settling for what is instead of what could be.    I’m often very embarrassed that I haven’t learned this or that practical skill although I’m in my seventies. But, guess what?  God isn’t finished with me until my last breath.  He can teach old dogs new tricks and I’m determined to be a humble learner!  It isn’t too late to change!

Recently a verse in Proverbs came to my attention thanks to dear Husband’s brother who sends out a daily Scripture reading and prayer via text.  I was waiting for my annual eye exam and pulled out my phone to read God’s life-giving words.  A verse jumped off my screen and embedded in my brain.  One word is still echoing in my head.  Prudent.

It’s at the very beginning of the Book of Proverbs. Wise King Solomon explains why he has written down all his advice.  He says his words are for the purpose of teaching people prudent behavior.
“for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple . . .”  Proverbs 1:3-4

Prudent is old-fashioned sounding, right?  I needed to get a clearer understanding of what it is. Here are the definitions I put together:
Prudent- discerning, choosing carefully and wisely, practically smart, acting with care and thoughtfulness, doing the right thing, deliberate, conscious of the future impact of current actions, having foresight, sensible, seeing reality, wise behavior, acting sensibly, wise and self-controlled, disciplined and successful. Give me more of that, please!

I know that God actually does want to give me more of that.  And he patiently leads us along giving us as much prudence as we realize we need. Sometimes he has to wait to bring it to us until we’re aware of how much we need it. Often I haven’t been discerning enough to know that I needed to be more discerning! Or I’ve been so out of touch with reality that I didn’t notice that I was out of touch.

Here’s a really mundane example of needing prudence:  I lacked prudence in our finances.  We were never in debt except for a mortgage, but money has always been uncomfortable for me.  I’d rather not think about it, and yet it’s at the forefront of every decision.  “How much does it cost?” is always the first question in my mind when making a decision. In the words of our friend, “If you have money, spend it.  If you don’t have money, don’t spend it.”  This philosophy kept us out of debt but didn’t bring peace.  I felt guilty over almost every purchase.  Oh, yes, I tried budgeting but it always seemed like I was simply recording what I’d already spent instead of making a plan beforehand for what to use our money for.  And when a new month rolled around, I went into a tailspin because I didn’t understand accounting practices.   Recently we had several unplanned expenses and money was at the forefront of my thinking.  At that time I stumbled upon, (was guided to?) an easy to grasp budgeting software that is helping me visually direct where our money is going before spending it and keeping track as it’s spent.  Definitely a work in progress with my poor accounting skills, but I’m hoping it’ll help me be more deliberate, disciplined, and have foresight with our money.  Ahem, prudent.  The Lord knows our needs and generously meets them at the right time.

Scripture mentions foresight in connection with prudence.  If I do this, then that will happen.  If I don’t do this, then that will happen.

“… the prudent give thought to their steps.”  Proverbs 14:15
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”  Proverbs 22:3

Jesus told a story about prudence.  There were ten young girls whose job was to meet the bridegroom and escort him to the wedding banquet hall.  He was delayed in coming and night fell.  All the girls lit their lamps so they could go out to meet the groom when he arrived.  Still, the groom delayed.  Finally, about midnight the shout went up, “Here’s the groom!  Come out to meet him!”  Five prudent girls had prepared for unexpected delays and had brought extra oil.  But five foolish girls were caught off guard and had no resources to fulfill their duty and enjoy the groom when he finally came.  They had to go find oil and in the meanwhile, the groom came and entered the banquet with the wise girls.  When the foolish, ill-prepared girls returned, the banquet door was locked and they couldn’t gain entrance.  Parable from Matthew 25.

So how do we gain discernment, choose carefully and wisely, be smart in a practical way, act with care and thought, have foresight, be sensible, and see reality?
~ Love God enough to want to do it his way. Make it our aim to obey God.
~ Read and meditate on God’s wise words so his principles become part of our thinking. Know what he wants so we can do it.
~ Humbly receive teaching from trusted teachers.  Get advice from wise, mature believers and spiritual leaders.
~ Ask with faith for God to give us wisdom.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”   James 1:5

Let’s ask ourselves as we go through our day, “Is what I’m doing prudent?  Is it wise, smart, sensible, realistic, and will it have a good outcome?  Does it please God?”