Years ago, a church member asked for my help with a problem. Unsure what to expect, I visited them. They shared how their neighbor was causing trouble, even using violence. Feeling for them, I turned to Romans 12:14: "Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them." I learned the neighbor had struggles too. My anger turned to sympathy. We decided to pray for him. I left, praying for their relief. A week later, they said he'd changed. He apologized—a miracle! You might've faced a similar situation. Remember, pray for those causing difficulty, asking for God's blessing. Trust that good things will follow. Witness the miracle unfold.

We're all a bit like addicts, chasing different desires for happiness. This feeling sticks, urging actions. Regardless of effort, we're bound. It brings discomfort, universal yet individual—wrongdoings. From birth, it tempts improper deeds, promising joy. Succumbing, regret follows. Another voice, quieter and wiser, advises for serenity. Here's the deal: good choices need time to grow. They foster learning and growth, while the allure of wrong choices is instant, halting progress. Solomon wisely said, "Good choices safeguard." How? God's wisdom prompts growth and goodness. Amid the loud urging, heed the quiet counsel. Opt for wisdom, letting it lead you.

Amid haircuts, revealing my pastoral role triggers an odd trend. Barbers either clam up or pour out their confessions, seeking solace. This mirrors our habit of lamenting self-inflicted consequences. Why mourn when we've forsaken divine wisdom? Our flawed choices yield suffering—a self-hammered blow. The verse in today's devotional holds truth: "In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Rejecting self-trust, we access God's wisdom through intertwined sources: the Bible and the Holy Spirit.