Practical Wisdom - PHRONESIS

“PHRONESIS”

The word translated “wisdom” above is the Hebrew “Phronesis,” and it’s a force that controls you.

It’s a spiritual elixir that locates you within the framework of God’s will, beyond your natural understanding, causing you to do God’s things God’s way, in God’s time for God’s purpose! It’s also a mindset; an excellent mindset that causes you to think in a certain way and to say the right things in the right way at the right time for the right purpose in the right place.

This was the wisdom Solomon received from the Lord that caused him to excel in good judgment, so much so that the Bible says,” … there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom….” (1 Kings 4:34). God gave Solomon an extraordinary amplitude of comprehension; he had practical wisdom.

“Phronesis” propels you to make accurate choices, sound judgments, and decisions, and to do things right the first time. You can develop “Phronesis” through studying and meditating on the Word of God and through praying in the Holy Ghost – speaking in tongues.” O, but I thought the Word says Christ has been made unto us wisdom from God?” you might ask.

Yes. But that wisdom is “Sophia” (Greek), which means theoretical wisdom, or insight into reality; it means all the collective understanding of all things.

There’s also a third kind of wisdom called “sunesis”; this is critical wisdom, the ability to understand concepts and see relationships between them. It suggests a quickness of apprehension; the penetrating consideration which precedes actions.

Whereas “Phronesis” is practical wisdom; it’s a force that makes you do and say the right things before you even think. God gives you “Sophia” – insight into reality, so that you can have “sunesis” – an understanding, for the purpose of developing in you “Phronesis”, a mindset for a successful and extraordinary life

“Phronesis” means practical wisdom, and in Christ, it’s available to you! The Bible says Christ has been made unto your wisdom from God. This wisdom helps us make wise choices, solve problems, and excel in whatever we do, whether in school, sports, business, science, or any career.

God’s wisdom isn’t just mere knowledge; it’s a spiritual elixir that guides you in the perfect will of God, causing you to be at the right place, at the right time, and for the right purpose. It also shapes how you think, helping you say the right things at the right time in the right way. With this wisdom, you stand out and shine for God.

Wisdom gives you the ability to decide and discern right from wrong. Wisdom helps you distinguish righteousness from evil.

When we say wisdom is the ability to decide and discern right from wrong, we’re referring to “Phronesis,” which is practical wisdom. “Phronesis” is a mindset, the mindset of the righteous; it’s a force. When we say wisdom is a force, we’re referring to “Phronesis.

Phronesis is that disposition of being in the will of God beyond your reasoning. It’s a special spiritual elixir that locates you within the framework or ambits of God’s will beyond your understanding

Phronesis locates you in the places where you ought to be; it causes you to do the things you ought to do without having to reason them out first, because it has created a mindset within your system. It’s your default setting to only talk right, think right, live right, and do right. It’s programming.

If, therefore, you know what is right by “Sophia” and you don’t do it, then it means you lack “Phronesis.” “Phronesis” is a propeller. It helps you see what you should see that others may not see. The beautiful thing is, you can develop yourself to function always in “Phronesis” through conscious and constant meditation on the Word of God.

God desires that you consistently make progress and excel from glory to glory. He expects you to be increasingly fruitful and productive in all your endeavors. Jesus said in John 15:1-8 (NLT), “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.

He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more…When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”

 If you’re already successful and productive, the Lord prunes you to be even more productive.

You don’t have to wait until you’re old to know whether or not you’re a success. Success is measured at different stages of your life. Solomon was a young man when God made him a success. If you’re conscious of success at the level where you are today, that consciousness will take you to a higher level of success tomorrow.

Realize that you’re in the world as an agent of change; those you work with or relate to should find you indispensable. Your boss and those you work with should be able to depend on you for excellent delivery. When projects are committed to you, see to it that they’re executed in perfection. Let those around you consider you central to their own success.

Cultivate an uncompromising attitude of success; never make excuses for failure. Keep away from the mundane and instill in yourself a culture of excellence and perfection.

The success-mentality gets you excited every day about life, and the opportunity to confront life’s challenges and win! Produce results; win every day. Be happy and ready to solve problems, answer questions, and be a blessing to your world; that’s the life of success to which you’ve been called.

Do you know that wisdom and righteousness are intertwined? The wisdom I’m talking about here is practical wisdom

It’s the outworking of the righteousness of God in your life. When we talk about the righteousness of God, it refers to practical wisdom at work, the expression of “phronesis.”

You’re a child of righteousness, and you can’t walk in righteousness and fail in phronesis

The underlined portion of our opening verse in the New King James Version says “...He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake....” Walking in the paths of righteousness is “phronesis.” It means you don’t go anywhere by chance. You don’t meet anybody by chance; in your path, there are no accidents. Everything is prearranged by God.

Wisdom says, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes’ rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness” (Proverbs 8:12-18).

With wisdom leading you in the paths of righteousness, you could never be poor. So, every day, declare, “Wisdom is at work in me today! No chance occurrences in my life. Predestination is at work in me.” Your life was planned by God to be in the paths of wisdom and righteousness. Praise God!