American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 110
ARC Prayer Meeting:
This past Sunday at the American Reformation Church we expounded a sermon focused on Proverbs 2:6–7, "For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly."
One of the greatest truths in Scripture is that God is the source of all wisdom. Solomon urged us to seek wisdom like silver and search for it like hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:1–5). But then he reminds us of a profound reality, we may seek, but only God can give. That is why prayer is indispensable in the search for God’s wisdom.
Prayer acknowledges our dependence on God. Prayers admit that we do not possess wisdom within ourselves. As stated prior, we live in an age overflowing with information but starving for wisdom. Degrees, experience, and intelligence have their place, but true wisdom begins when we humble ourselves before God.
When we pray, we are seeking the Lord to help us navigate through life and we understand we cannot do it successfully without Him. Psalms 25:4, 5 contains this prayer, “Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.”
The first step towards gaining wisdom is not just reading another book—it is bowing another knee.
Second, prayer positions us to hear God's voice. Proverbs 2:6 declares, "From His mouth come knowledge and understanding."
God still speaks through His Word by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Prayer prepares our hearts to hear what God has already spoken. Prayer and Scripture belong together. We should not just read the Bible; we should pray over it. "Lord, open my eyes." "Teach me Your ways." "Apply this truth to my heart."
David asked God to open his eyes to behold marvelous things from His Word (Psalms 119:18) And as you study redemptive history, the greatest Bible students have always been men and women of prayer. They poured over the Scriptures and bathed them in prayer.
Third, prayer invites God's protection. Verse 7 says, "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly." God's wisdom is never merely intellectual—it is protective because it grants us skillful living to negotiate the snares, pitfalls, and traps of life. Many sins, broken relationships, financial disasters, and moral failures could have been avoided if someone had paused long enough to pray. "Father, give me wisdom." Prayer often keeps us from battles we never have to fight because God's wisdom redirects our steps before trouble arrives.
Prayer is not simply asking God to bless our plans. It is asking Him to replace our plans with His wisdom. Before every decision... Before every conversation... Before every temptation...Before every opportunity... we pray. Because the God who gives wisdom also gives understanding, discernment, and protection to those who seek Him.
