If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 NKJV

Reading the Bible is a journey to hear from the Lord. It’s a time to pause and reflect on God and the truths of Scripture. Journaling as you read the Bible is a valuable way to process your thoughts, reflect on God, and apply biblical wisdom to your life.

What better way to start the practice of journaling than reading through verses on biblical wisdom! These 3 passages are coupled with journaling prompts to help you meditate, reflect, and consider how the Scriptures can be applied to your life.

1 Administer Justice / Deuteronomy 16:18-20

You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

In this passage, God directed the Israelites to appoint wise judges and faithful administrators to lead their tribes. Judges were expected to be impartial and repudiate bribes which might change the balance in favor of the giver. Today, as in Old Testament times, we are to follow what is altogether just, reflecting God’s love for what is just and true for the good of all people.

What does a wise judge and faithful administrator look like in your life? Are you taking your responsibility to “appoint” wise judges and faithful administrators” as seriously as you should? Consider ways you can help ensure that justice and God’s ways prevail in your home, job, and church.

2 An Understanding Heart / 1 Kings 3:7-9

“Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

Solomon, son of King David, comes to God humbly asking for wisdom. Interestingly, he did not ask God to take away his problems, fears, and responsibilities. Instead, he expresses his desire for an “understanding heart” in order to lead well and make wise decisions.

The phrase “understanding heart” suggests a willingness to listen to all sides of an issue. What else does this phrase mean to you? Do you, like Solomon, have responsibilities that are weighing you down? Do you have any fears and concerns? Take a moment to ask God for an “understanding heart” and wisdom to address what troubles you. Acknowledge Him as the source of true wisdom.

3 Meditate on God’s Word / Psalm 119:97-104

Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

The psalmist again and again proclaims his love for the Law in this passage. Why? Because he has experienced first hand how the meditation of God’s Law has provided him with wisdom, understanding, and protection. Thinking on this causes him to express his deep love not only for the Law, but also for God Himself, the originator of the Law.

We become wise by meditating on the Law – God’s Word to us. What does it mean to you to make the Bible your “meditation all the day?” Beyond just reading and understanding, we need to act on God’s precepts. Just like the psalmist, take a moment to thank God for His Word and praise Him for how His wisdom has made a difference in your life.

See more Journaling prompts about wisdom – Free Download – Reflecting on Biblical Wisdom: 15 Journaling Prompts