They talk of conventional wisdom.  I know it is defined as traditional or customary wisdom.  I think the context often implies modern wisdom or current wisdom. I admit that wisdom changes with the accumulation of knowledge.  Medical science can attest to that, to name only one example.  If wise living changes with the times and advances in the natural and human sciences, then how would we know how to make decisions to the benefit of our communities?  What is the measure?  How will we know what is right and wise?

Wisdom is ultimately the application of knowledge.  It is defined as follows:

Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowledge, self-transcendence and non-attachment, and virtues such as ethics and benevolence.

It is a mouth full of words – wonderful words.  As I read it, I yearn for living like that.  It sounds good, it IS good and it will be good – no doubt.

The first important principle is that thoughts and action go together.  Wisdom is expressed in action.  The inner being of a human is directed by his thoughts and is demonstrated in his actions.

Thoughts are private – actions are public.

That with which your mind is occupied, is manifested in your being and defines you as a person in community.

Wisdom is the guide to determine and take control of our mind.  It is our topic under discussion – a big one indeed!  Thoughts and decisions from our inner being shape our lives.  We have talked about the significance of mind-contracts that establish something that has never existed.  Out of these flow tangible and real consequences.

The Bible has a lot to say about our thought-life.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

We have talked about Romans 12:2.  The change in our inner being takes place with the renewal of our mind.  Paul is very outspoken on this subject.  Sharp and clear he says:

The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will.

 The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

 Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6, The Message)

Not only does this Scripture describe the world in which we live with its culture of scandal and outrage, but also enlightens us to the fact that our thought-world is under evil attack.  Our enemy plants thoughts to paralyze our action.  I have heard it being said that the devil cannot be accused of laziness, as he is always ready with an attack of fear and confusion. He will pounce on every weak moment to sow anger and fear.

In all this we are equipped by the Word of God to fight on all fronts, clearing the ground of every obstruction.

Verses that I cling to like a desperate being drowning in the flood of fear and dejection of this world are the encouragement and comfort to be found in Philippians 4.

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life,  then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. (TPT)

The Amplified says: Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything…

 There it is – the disease of the day – anxiety.

How will we saturate our day with prayer?  It is a challenge especially when life’s demands swallow us just to spit us out dead tired at the end of a day.  Prayer is to call the Lord of hosts, of heaven’s armies into our thought world and truly live verse 8.

So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.

There is much to say about this.  I will continue in the next piece to discuss the implications of these wonderworking and life-changing words.

Until then, there is a lot to think about.  Think what you are thinking.

Are you caught up in the culture of outrage and scandal?  It often feels as if this culture is a vicious monster feeding on people through the very willing media and social media.

Grace, goodness and justice are foreign concepts to this frenzy that needs constant sensation in the name of the so-called right to know and transparency.