My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3).
Heavenly Father, You are a God of infinite wisdom and power—"Your wisdom is profound, Your power is vast" (Job 9:4). No one is like You, Lord; You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. Who should not fear You, King of the nations? This is Your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like You (Jeremiah 10:6-7).
Apart from Your wisdom Lord, there is no wisdom; apart from Your light, there is only darkness. And yet, under the guise of "enlightenment", under the pretext of "progress" the world shuts out your "message of wisdom" (1 Corinthians 2:6). We see so much around us that is "senseless and foolish;" taught, informed, and driven by worthless...idols (Jeremiah 10:8).
And all the while, the treasures of Your wisdom are hidden in plain sight: Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech (Proverbs 1:20-21).
O Father, You have given us Your Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Yet the world rejects Him in favor of choices that create hurt, and havoc, and destruction.
The "rulers of this age" still choose to crucify the Lord of glory, (1 Corinthians 2:8) and continue to clamor for "Barabbas" (Matthew 27:16-26). Blindly we build on flawed foundations and faulty paradigms, opening more and more pathways to rampant greed and idolatry, dishonesty and deception, hatred and violence.
Forgive us Lord! Change and renew our foolish, darkened hearts! Open our understanding to connect our terrible choices with their consequences—to see the calamity that follows when we "refuse to listen when [wisdom] calls"— refuse to "pay attention when [wisdom] stretches out [its] hand;" —"disregard all wisdom's advice—" and "do not accept [wisdom's] rebuke" (Proverbs 1:24-25).
Open our minds to admit the costly toll of our godless solutions. Open our hearts to recognize and embrace "the glory of the immortal God" so we will no longer exchange it for worthless idols and counterfeit "treasures."
Open our entire being to receive the precious treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ. Encourage the hearts of Your people. Unite us in love. Fill us with Your knowledge. Give us Your wisdom. O Lord, have mercy on us!
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