ISAIAH 33:6

“Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and the strength of salvation.  The fear of the Lord is His treasure.”

Rumors of wars….earthquakes….political upheaval….unstable weather patterns….financial volatility and financial uncertainty….

In the past 30 days including January 1, 2017, there have been 1,380 earthquakes recorded with a magnitude of 4 or greater over every continent and all the seas.  There are certain regions of the world that are experiencing earthquakes to a greater degree.  The Australia/New Zealand region has had 325 earthquakes in the last 30 days.  The Polynesia region has had 362 earthquakes.  We have had 17 in the United States with 13 of them being in California.

The definition of political stability is the durability and integrity of a current government regime.  This is determined based on the amount of violence and terrorism expressed in the nation.  A stable society is one that is satisfied with the ruling party and system of operations.   There are many nations that fall into this category of instability but these are the top ones:  Nepal, Syria, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Ukraine, Lebanon, Egypt, and North Korea.  More than half of US citizens are extremely unsatisfied about the new ruling group about to reside in the White House.

The United States is currently 19 trillion dollars in debt.  We have virtually no cash reserves because we have such high credit card debt.  That in itself is very dangerous. That means there is much financial uncertainty and we are exposed to great volatility regardless of the fact that since the election the stock market has rallied.

The bottom line is this:  there is nothing stable.

The earth is shaking, nations are shaking, and the financial systems are shaking.  The Lord spoke to Haggai in chapter 2:6-7 saying “For this says the LORD of hosts: Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

Jesus is quoted in Hebrews 12:26 “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Verse 27 and 28 go on to say, Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

REMEMBER, we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

If there was ever a time to gain wisdom, it is now.

Wisdom (the ability to judge and act according to God’s directives) is the most valuable of assets.

Wisdom is available to anyone, but the price is high.

Wisdom originates in God, not self, and comes by attention to instruction.

Solomon, David’s son who wrote the book of Proverbs, begins this book by saying the beginning of knowledge is to know wisdom and instruction and to be able to RECEIVE the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity.  Proverbs 1:5 says, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”

If we desire wisdom, we seek the One who has all wisdom.

Proverbs 2:6-8 says, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;….He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.”

Your stability in these troubled times must come from His wisdom and His understanding.  He desires that we seek His counsel on all matters.  And it is His delight when we acknowledge that He is the final answer.  It is a gift to the Father that we walk in the fear of the Lord humbling ourselves and recognizing that we can do nothing without Him.

As you move forward in this New Year, your path ahead will remain stable as you negotiate all turns and highways by gaining the WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.  He desires to guard your path and preserve your way.  You can’t ask for better than that.

A good New Year’s Resolution would be to start reading the book of Proverbs and chewing on its riches.  You will become “fat” in the things of the Lord!!!

Amen and May the Lord cause an explosion of wisdom and knowledge be granted to you as you glean His sayings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!