Wisdom and understanding set God’s people apart.
Deuteronomy 4:5-6 (NIV)
See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
Show off your wisdom and understanding — live your life God’s way. 
I often pray this passage from Isaiah 11 over myself and others. This visual helps me focus, as I pray for the touch of the Spirit, head to knees.
The road signs point my thoughts in the right direction.
Augustine of Hippo was the son of a pagan father and a Christian mother. His mother prayed tirelessly for her wayward son. His conversion to Christianity transformed his life. He knew what it was to trust and obey (and to distrust and disobey).
Augustine’s prayer works as well for us now as it did for him then.
This well-known hymn says it all in three short lines.
Fear not. Just trust. And obey.
John Sammis (1846-1919) served his local and state YMCA, pastored several midwestern churches and taught at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. He wrote more than a hundred hymns.
Life can be scary.
Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV)
When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you . . .
in God I trust;
I shall not be afraid.
With God on our side, it’s a lot less scary.
Jeremiah 17:7 (EXB)
The person who trusts [has confidence] in the Lord will be blessed. The Lord will show him that he can be trusted.
God is trustworthy. And willing to prove it.
In the end, we’ll account for our justice and righteousness
(or lack thereof).
Jesus is the final Judge. He has the perfect credentials.
God calls us to act justly and live righteously.
Where do you fall on the justice and righteousness scale? As for me, I fall a bit short.
OK, maybe a lot short. I’m a just and righteous work-in-progress.
