Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

How many decisions do you make in a day?

Think about it. From the moment your feet hit the floor to the moment your head hits the pillow, you’re deciding what to wear, what to eat, where to go, how to respond, who to text back, what to post online, and the list goes on. Some decisions are small and quick—like coffee or tea? Others feel heavier—like navigating a tough conversation, giving advice to a friend, or parenting through a hard moment.

Now let me ask this: how many of those decisions are shaped by godly wisdom?

Let that sink in.

James 3:18 wraps up a powerful section in the book of James about wisdom—real wisdom. Not the kind that comes from life experience alone or from reading a hundred self-help books. James is talking about heavenly wisdom. Wisdom that is “pure, peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” (James 3:17, NLT)

Whew. That’s a checklist if I’ve ever seen one.

And here’s the thing: James isn’t saying this kind of wisdom is for the elite, the hyper-spiritual, or the people who never mess up. This wisdom is for all of us—regular, messy, trying-our-best, coffee-fueled people who are just trying to make it through the day.

But let’s be honest. We don’t always live or speak with this kind of wisdom.

We often give advice based on our own experiences. We react based on our feelings. We speak from a place of frustration, anxiety, pride, or people-pleasing. We say what we think, not always what God says.

And that can get us into trouble.

Not all experience is good experience. Not all knowledge is helpful. And not all advice, even if well-intentioned, is wise.

Charles Spurgeon—one of my favorites—said it so well:

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise… There is no fool so great as a knowing fool; but to know how to use knowledge is wisdom.”

Boom. That one hits.

So how do we learn to live wisely and speak wisely in a world full of noise, opinions, and pressure? Let’s get practical. James challenges us to ask some big questions—ones that can shift the whole direction of our lives.

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Question 1: Am I living God’s way or the world’s way?

This one’s foundational.

If I’m living like the world—if I think like the world, consume media like the world, chase success like the world—then I will speak like the world. And so will my advice. Even if I slap a “Christian” sticker on it, worldly wisdom wrapped in spiritual language is still just…worldly.

But if I’m living God’s way—really seeking Him, really choosing to honor Him with my decisions—then His wisdom will begin to shape my voice. It will influence how I respond to people, how I counsel others, and how I handle conflict. Living God’s way isn’t about perfection. It’s about posture. It’s about being humble enough to say, “Lord, I don’t know everything—but You do.”

So pause for a second and ask: Who’s shaping my mindset right now? Culture or Christ?

Question 2: How am I spending my time and energy?

This one’s about your calendar and your priorities.

Where does your time go? Your energy? Your focus? Your money?

Whatever gets your attention will eventually shape your attitude—and your wisdom. If you spend your time binge-watching shows that celebrate chaos and broken relationships, scrolling social media accounts that stir up envy and comparison, or pouring all your effort into chasing money or approval, then your “wisdom” will come from those places.

But if you’re feeding your soul with God’s Word, soaking in His presence, giving Him the first part of your day, then your heart starts to shift. You begin to think more like Him. You begin to care about what He cares about. Your words become more life-giving. Your advice becomes more rooted in truth.

You don’t even have to force it—it just flows from your time with Him.

Let’s be real: what we’re full of is what spills out when we’re under pressure. So the question isn’t just what are you giving your time to?—but what’s giving its time to you? What’s filling you up?

Because that’s what’s going to overflow into others.

Question 3: What kind of fruit is my life producing?

James 3:18 says, “And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” That’s fruit. That’s visible evidence of the kind of wisdom you’re walking in.

Is your life producing peace—or confusion?

Are your relationships marked by love and sincerity—or tension and strife?

Are your conversations filled with encouragement—or sarcasm, criticism, or one-upmanship?

The fruit of godly wisdom is peace—not just inner peace, but peace you bring into the room with you. Peace in how you handle hard conversations. Peace in how you speak to your spouse, your coworkers, your kids, even strangers online.

The opposite of that is confusion and conflict—and those usually show up when we lean into our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5–6 puts it beautifully:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The more we rely on ourselves, the messier things get. But when we trust God—really trust Him—we begin to walk in clarity. Our words begin to carry His peace. Our advice begins to carry His truth.

So where do we go from here?

Let me ask you a few questions to think on today:

• Who are you letting speak into your life?
• Who do you turn to when you need advice?
• Who are you influencing?
• Are your words leading people toward peace—or pulling them into confusion?

Wisdom isn’t just about knowing stuff. It’s about knowing how and when to use what you know. It’s about knowing who to listen to—and who to tune out. It’s about submitting your knowledge, your opinions, your experience, and your instincts to God, and saying, “Lord, use this for Your glory. Help me speak wisely. Help me live wisely.”

Let’s not be “knowing fools.” Let’s not settle for worldly wisdom dressed in Christian clichés.

Let’s ask God for the real thing.

James 1:5 makes us a promise:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

God wants to give you wisdom. He’s not holding back. But we have to want it. We have to ask. We have to stop assuming we’ve got it all figured out.

So today, let’s slow down.

Let’s invite God into our decisions, our conversations, our advice-giving moments.

Let’s stop reacting from pride and start responding from peace.

Let’s be people who plant seeds of wisdom—and who leave behind a harvest of righteousness wherever we go.

Because real wisdom?

It changes everything.

And it’s yours for the asking.