Wisdom or Folly – The Presidential Prayer Team

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge. – Proverbs 15:14

Have you ever watched a television show that documented a person’s weight loss journey? So often, the show describes them learning how to exercise and how to better nourish their bodies with healthier options. Just as these people had to acquire knowledge to better care for their bodies, people, especially Christians, need to acquire knowledge to grow in understanding and care for their souls.

Proverbs 15:14 says that a person with understanding (or a discerning heart, in another translation), seeks knowledge, while a fool will feed on folly. The basis for this verse is saying that whatever a person has already in his or her heart, whether it is wisdom or foolishness, is what they will crave more of.

Where is your heart? Is it on the healthier side, seeking and craving knowledge and wisdom? Or is it more like the people on the television shows, in need of a change toward health? The beautiful thing is that no matter where your heart falls on the spectrum, there is always room to improve, and space to get better!

Take some time today to pray for the Lord to show you the areas of your heart that are full of understanding. Praise Him for those placed in your life. Also, ask God to show you where you still need to improve and where you tend to settle for lesser things. As you pray, intercede for governing officials in the United States. Just as God reveals to you what He wants you to work on, ask Him to work in the hearts of the leaders, that they would also seek after knowledge and wisdom.

Today’s Verse: Proverbs 15:14

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Proverbs 4:13-23

Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
¹⁴Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of the evil.
¹⁵Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.
¹⁶For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.
¹⁸But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
¹⁹The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble.

²⁰My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
²²For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their flesh.
²³Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.