The Wisdom Challenge (eBook)

Chapter 1

WISDOM’S IMPACT

Walk with the wise and become wise.

PROVERBS 13:20 NIV

Have you ever felt that your heart was as dry as a dirt clod, like a brittle tree with parched roots long deprived of water? Have you ever longed to hear from God, wondering where He might be? I have. It’s rare for me to hear so clearly from God, but on March 1, 2012, I had an exception. That day I discovered that not only did He care for me in a rather personal way, but in that desert, He had also prepared a surprise that would alter the course of my life.

For whatever reason, over the previous decade, my dynamic connection with God had shriveled up to the point I began to wonder where He had gone or if He even really cared about me. I remember being at our home in North San Diego county, sitting in the comfy recliner in the early morning before anyone else in the family was up. I was a bit down emotionally but regrettably had come to accept that as the norm. That was soon to change. The conversation went like this:

God, what can I do to reconnect with You? I asked silently.

He answered, unmistakably, Each day eat spiritual food before you eat physical food.

Okay. That’s simple enough. So, You want me to read the Bible before I eat breakfast? I answered.

He replied, Exactly.

Where do I start? I asked.

He answered quite simply, Proverbs.

And that was the beginning.

I was glad God didn’t ignore my question and especially glad for the nudge to take the first step in a specific direction. That morning, reaching for my leather-bound Bible, I went straight into the book of Proverbs and, unexpectedly, enjoyed it more than the best breakfast I could have eaten from an award-winning chef. It was rich, alive, and delicious. It felt as if the pages radiated an energy I hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

The proverbs of Solomon son of David,

king of Israel:

for gaining wisdom and instruction;

for understanding words of insight;

for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to those who are simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young—

let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

PROVERBS 1:1–6 NIV

The words quenched my soul as God Himself brought verse after verse into vivid focus. God was clearly present. Each line I read breathed fresh life into my heart. It was as if my soul were coming out of a long, cold winter. This thing called wisdom was beginning to grip me as some sort of obsession. My appetite for it was rising up and driving me forward.

I believe God was smiling, that He looked over my shoulder and carefully released insight and understanding as I read the sentences one after the other. From the beginning of my brief conversation with God to the time I finished the first chapter of Proverbs, it must have been only about ten minutes. But when it was over, my soul was filled up like I’d just consumed a buffet, and I was ready for whatever the day had for me. I can’t remember what I had for breakfast that day, but that encounter with God remains vivid in my mind these many years later. Those ten minutes changed my life.

I repeated this exercise the next day. And the day after that. Each day the same thing happened, all the way to the end of the month. I was spiritually hungry, and Proverbs fed me. At the beginning of each month, I desired to keep going. I’d begin with the first chapter of Proverbs, reading the chapter that matched the month’s date. With most months having thirty-one days and Proverbs having thirty-one chapters, it was easy to stay on track.

Three months into my personal wisdom journey, I had another nudge from God and sensed He wanted me to walk this wisdom journey with someone else. I wasn’t to keep this for myself; God wanted to multiply it! He was forming The Wisdom Challenge. It wasn’t to be my own personal exercise but rather a movement that would spark a thirst for wisdom and feed a spiritual hunger among thousands all over the world.

God put my friend Dan, at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, on my heart. Dan is a kind, God-loving man with a heap of wisdom already, and he has a dynamic leadership role in a global ministry. Our friendship had been an ongoing source of encouragement for about ten years, and I sensed Dan was the person God wanted me to invite into my wisdom journey. I called him and shared about my month-long encounter with God. Then I invited him to take The Wisdom Challenge with me. He accepted.

Walking with Another

I had spent time with Ron for several years, and as our relationship grew, we were spiritually sharpening one another on a regular basis. I loved how he would always go out of his way to care for those he encountered, especially the “least of these.” He carries a special awareness for the people most others ignore or don’t take the time to help. I was stretched in my faith when I spent time with Ron. It was always good to hear from him. When I got Ron’s call, he shared that he wanted to read the book of Proverbs with me for the upcoming month.

“Would you like to be my partner to go through Proverbs with me?” Ron asked. I jumped on it! Ron was getting ready to stretch me once again, and so was God.

I already had a regular morning devotional time, so when Ron explained The Wisdom Challenge, I just added another ten minutes each day. It seemed simple enough. In the past, I had taken on some Proverbs challenges where I read a chapter of Proverbs each day for thirty-one days and greatly benefited from this exercise; however, I had never done it with someone. I was ready to experience something new.

Ron and I decided to both read the same chapter of Proverbs (the one that matched the date), and then we would text each other what God revealed to us. We encouraged and commented on one another’s insights. After only a few days, I was blown away.

The big surprise wasn’t necessarily what I was gleaning from Proverbs but the dynamic interaction with Ron through a couple texts each morning. It made our insights from Proverbs come alive. It gave them substance and application. And accountability! The interaction was life-giving. Each morning I couldn’t wait to see what God would show me in Proverbs and share it with Ron. Additionally, my excitement would grow reading what Ron discovered. I found myself eager each morning to know:

Will his inspiration come from the same verse as mine?

What will God reveal to my friend this morning?

How can I encourage Ron in his walk?

How will Ron challenge me?

For thirty-one days, Ron and I texted at least once each morning for The Wisdom Challenge. It was a powerful month of revelation, understanding, and growth. As Paul writes in Ephesians 1:18–19, the eyes of my heart were opened. Each day was a double portion of learning—my own insight and Ron’s. Throughout the day, I was compelled and convicted to live out what I shared with Ron because I was motivated to apply the wisdom I had gleaned. This was a game changer.

Toward the middle of our month, Ron challenged me to begin thinking of someone I could invite to do The Wisdom Challenge with me at the start of the next month. I immediately accepted. I couldn’t wait to share this exercise with others. My mind swirled as I thought of all the people who would benefit from doing it. It felt like I possessed a special gift that could bless another person for an entire month. So the following month, I carried it on. I decided to start with my son, Elijah. Spending thirty-one straight days in God’s Word with my son and hearing how God was speaking to him was a gift from God—something I will never forget!

Growing Together

Once we finished our month in Proverbs together, we each started The Wisdom Challenge with someone else. Although technically reading the same Scripture passages each month, Proverbs still felt so new. Taking the challenge with others brought new insights. New principles. New lessons. New takeaways.

Over the years, we have journeyed with countless friends, coworkers, and family members through Proverbs. The crazy thing is that it often feels like we’re going through Proverbs for the first time again.

Ron has walked through Proverbs with at least one new person each month for over one hundred months. Dan has also taken the challenge with many friends and family members. Through his teammates at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he’s seen it take off around the world. Numerous international leaders in dozens of countries are doing this simple discipline. Men and women around the world are growing in wisdom. And it’s changing lives!

What’s Your Impact?

What kind of impact do you want to make in life? Have you ever thought about that? Everyone desires to make an impact. The question is never, “Do you want to make an impact?” but rather, “What kind of impact do you hope to make?”

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