wisdom to make good choices

I first learnt from Philippians 1:9-11 about five years ago. It was amazing as it opened to my eyes to how God's love in my life helps me to make good decisions, resulting in good fruit.

My spiritual eyes were first opened to the wisdom contained in that passage. I love the version from the AMPLIFIED as it explains so clearly the significance of how growing in the love and knowledge of God impacts our decision-making. And i'm still learning and growing.

Philippians 1:9-11 (AMP)

⁹And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], ¹⁰So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. ¹¹May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].

His love has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:8) We grow in this love by first exercising the love we already have. Then, as we seek Him and spend time in His presence, we grow by being more conscious of what has already been supplied to us. The thing about love and knowledge is that because these are originate from God and divine in nature, they are eternal and infinite. There is thus an endless supply (or flow) to all who desire.

As we grow in love, which is the very nature of God, the very essence of who God is, resulting in knowledge and insight, our love is able to discern so that when there are choices to be made, we begin to recognise that which is vital and excellent and valuable. In other words, we begin to see that which is from God, and that which is not (but is of our own thinking or even from the evil one). Of course His divine plan and will for us would be the highest and best. Growing in this love for God which is ultimately from God reveals His best for our lives.

Because perfect love or God's kind of love has no fear, we set aside all fears that God will sabotage us by sending us to somewhere we don't like, or calls us to do something we hate. No, no, no! His AGAPE assures us that He has the best for us, and the plan is for our welfare... something we will definitely find fulfillment and contentment. Of course there may be aspects that we will have to bear or persevere through, but the plan will be BEST for us. And it will impact many lives, bearing good fruit.

And as we grow in this love, we begin to please Him more and more. We respond to His goodness in our lives as we are more conscious of His love towards us. And His love is towards us ALWAYS!!

We also begin to walk in love with those around us as His love begins to show us who they are, how He sees them. We begin to see others from His perspective of love - a higher perspective. That's how we walk blamelessly. Of course we start from a good place. We start from righteousness that Christ has won for us because of his death and resurrection. We are the righteousness of God in Christ.

The fruit produced is a natural outflow of this love relationship and right standing we have with our heavenly Father.