“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). Today, we desperately need wisdom to discern what is true, right, and lasting. To start growing in wisdom, we must fear the Lord. Romans 3:18 well describes this generation: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” However, as Christians we stand apart with different values, fearing God and seeking to be more like Him as we are fitted for our eternal home. This can be challenging, but the good news is God has completely outfitted us for this, “according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:3-4). The Bible shows us when we are wrong, how to be right, and fully instructs us in living a righteous life, a life which pleases God and leads us to heaven (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

We must not trust ourselves nor follow our hearts as the world counsels us. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” When the prophet Jeremiah envisioned the disaster which God revealed would come upon Judah for their sins, he prayed, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Instead of walking in our own way, we must shape our thinking into God’s way. We should trust that He knows better than we how to live (Proverbs 3:5-6). We must not allow the world to conform us into its mold, but instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).

As we enter this battle for our minds, we take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). We ingest God’s word to grow spiritually as a baby ingest milk to grow physically (1 Peter 2:2). We must move on to solid food, the meat of the word, and have our senses exercised to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14). We should keep our hearts with all diligence, for out of the heart proceeds all the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). We must think on that which good, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance—will then be produced in our lives as evidence of this spiritual growth (Galatians 5:22, 23).

A wise life involves following the word of God and growing in the way just described. How sad it is to see individuals foolishly go through life wasting their energies on that which is fleeting (Proverbs 1:22). How sad to see people who claim to be Christian remain spiritually immature babies instead of growing to be more like God (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11, 12). Seek God’s word (Psalm 119:1-3). Keep it close to your heart (Psalm 119:11). It will help in the battle of life. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints” (Proverbs 2:6-8).