With the click of a mouse or a word spoken into a smart phone you can have the answers to your most perplexing questions.  People from all over the world can weigh in and give their opinion, advice, and direction.  With the abundance of information that flows through our lives on a regular basis it is easy to get confused by the plethora of voices vying for our attention.

Years ago, I found myself dealing with life altering decisions that caused me to search my soul for direction.  I listened more carefully to preachers and teachers waiting for a word from the Lord.  I over analyzed every circumstance thinking maybe the answer was hidden in life events.  One morning I came across a passage of scripture that changed my perspective, answered my questions, and clearly directed me into the deepest soul search of my life.

God helped me weed out all the voices that were speaking so loudly to me by having me ask a series of questions about the sources of wisdom or counsel that I was allowing to influence my thinking.

But the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.  James 3:17-18

I was forced to question every source of wisdom in my life.  I began to evaluate every book, website, teacher, preacher, blog, counselor, organization or person that I had allowed to influence me.  By asking the following questions I began to weed out Godly wisdom from ungodly.  If you are looking for answers, try using the outline given in James to evaluate your counsel.

1. Is the source of the wisdom pure, undefiled, and clean?

2. Is the source of wisdom peaceable, loving, and calming?

3. Is the source of wisdom gentle and considerate?

4. Is the source of wisdom easy to be entreated, or willing to be reasonable?

5. Is the source of wisdom full of mercy, good fruits, and compassionate?

6. Is the source of wisdom without partiality or open to compromise?

7. Is the source of wisdom without hypocrisy and non-manipulative?

When heeding counsel I now have a new process of evaluation that I can go through to evaluate if it is from God or if it should be disregarded.  Wisdom that is from God has specific qualities that will be unmistakable.   If you are seeking counsel and find yourself with more questions, more confusion, and a life full of circumstances you cannot wrap your mind around, try evaluating your source of wisdom.  Wisdom that is from above brings calmness, compassion, and peace.  Soul searching questions call for more than a google answer.

If you found this post helpful add your comments below.  I would love to hear your thoughts on wisdom and counsel and how it relates to your life.