“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 NIV)

How do you know if you are being wise according to God’s standards?

This verse at the top gives us the answer. God’s wisdom is not merely smart—it is visible in character and conduct.

It must be pure

Pure means not mixed or corrupted. It is morally clean, upright, honorable, blameless, and sincere—free from compromise and deceit.

It must be peace-loving

Peace-loving means peaceable, gentle, conciliatory, calm, and a peacemaker rather than a troublemaker.

It must be considerate

Considerate means careful not to hurt or inconvenience others—thoughtful, kind, patient, compassionate, and unselfish.

It is submissive

Submissive means willing to yield, teachable, not stubborn or self-willed—ready to follow God’s will and proper authority.

It is full of mercy

Mercy is compassion and forgiveness shown even when punishment is deserved. It demonstrates kindness, grace, patience, and tenderheartedness.

Full of good fruit

Good fruit is what the Holy Spirit produces in us:

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)

It must be impartial

Impartial means fair, just, unbiased, and without favoritism.

It must be sincere

Sincere means genuine, honest, and free from hypocrisy—real on the inside, not just polished on the outside.

Wisdom is the principal thing!

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)

Need God’s kind of wisdom? Ask Him!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

Therefore

Don’t measure wisdom by how clever or persuasive you are. Measure it by the fruit your life produces. If your choices are pure, peace-loving, merciful, fair, and sincere, you are walking in God’s wisdom. If not, ask God—and He promises to give it generously.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

“So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.” (Eph. 4:22–24 NIV)

Even though God could work a miracle and change us instantly, He usually works with us slowly and steadily, changing us little by little. That’s how Jesus developed the lives of His disciples, and it’s how God allowed Israel to take possession of the Promised Land—“little by little”—so they would not be overwhelmed (Deut. 7:22).

Both negative and positive habits develop over time

You don’t get out of shape instantly—physically or mentally—and you don’t get into good shape instantly either. I was reminded of this when my doctor told me I was pre-diabetic and needed to lose weight. It had taken me a long time to gain the weight, and I realized it would also take time to lose it. So I developed a plan that took a year and a half, and I lost 60 pounds. The progress was slow and the changes came in small increments—but it worked.

Good character habits take time to develop

To develop Christlike character, you must practice it over time. Your character is the sum total of your habits. You can’t claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind. Your habits eventually define who you are. There are no instant habits.

That’s why Paul urged Timothy:

“Practice these things; devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.” (1 Tim. 4:15 ESV)

Therefore

Don’t be discouraged by slow progress. God is far more interested in steady, lasting transformation than in quick, shallow change. If you keep walking with Him and taking small, faithful steps, He will complete the work He has started in you.

“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)

The heart is regarded as the center of a person’s inner life—the core of one’s thoughts, desires, choices, and emotions.

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the word heart is used to refer to the whole inner person, not merely the emotions. Biblically speaking, the heart is made up of three parts: the mind, the will, and the emotions. It is the control center of who you really are.

Everything you do flows from your heart

Believers are instructed:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” (Proverbs 4:23–26 NIV)

Guarding your heart

When Solomon refers to guarding the heart, he is talking about protecting the inner core of a person—your thoughts, desires, motives, will, and choices. The Bible tells us that our thoughts shape who we become (Proverbs 23:7; 27:19). A person’s mind reflects who he really is, not merely his outward actions or words.

That is why God looks at the heart and not merely the outward appearance:

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

“For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.” (Psalm 37:28a)

I often hear fellow Christians pray something like, “Lord, go with us today,” even though He clearly tells us in His Word that He is already with us—and that He will never leave us or forsake us. Instead, we might better pray something like, “Thank You, Lord, for always being with me!”

Here are ten powerful promises from God’s Word that prove His faithfulness to always be with you:

1. “‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Deut. 31:6)

2. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut. 31:8)

3. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)

4. “May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may He never leave us nor forsake us.” (1 Kings 8:57)

5. “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you…” (1 Chron. 28:20)

6. “For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.” (Psalm 37:28)

7. “For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.” (Psalm 94:14)

8. “I, the LORD… will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 41:17)

9. “These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

10. “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)

One final truth to remember

When you prayed to receive Jesus Christ, He came to live inside of you. Everywhere you go, He is already there. You never walk alone. You are never abandoned. You are never forgotten.

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16)

Therefore

Because God lives in you and has promised never to leave you or forsake you, you can face every day, every challenge, and every uncertainty with confidence and peace. You don’t need to ask Him to “go with you”—you can thank Him that He already is.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut. 31:8)

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15 NIV)

Compassion: concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. It includes pity, sympathy, empathy, fellow feeling, care, sensitivity, warmth, love, tenderness, mercy, leniency, tolerance, kindness, and charity.

Five important truths about God

It’s amazing to me how many people perceive God as angry and disconnected from humanity. Nothing could be further from the truth! According to this verse, we learn five wonderful truths about Him:

1.     He is compassionate

2.     He is gracious

3.     He is slow to anger

4.     He is abounding in love

5.     He is abounding in faithfulness

Therefore

Because God is compassionate, gracious, patient, loving, and faithful, we can come to Him with complete confidence—no matter our failures, fears, or weaknesses. And having received His compassion, we should freely extend that same compassion to others.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NIV)

He’s always with you!

God is always present, whether you sense Him or not! This verse declares that He is “ever-present.” No matter where you go, He is there with you. And no matter what you're going through, He is fully aware of it. So, do not fear! Claim this promise and turn to Him right away whenever trouble arises. He will strengthen and help you!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

And it’s all because of God’s wonderful love for you! The following verse says it best:

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.’) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39 NLT)

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”  (Deut. 7:9 NIV)

God Is Faithful—Always!

People will fail you sometimes. It’s part of human nature. If we’re not careful, those disappointments can make us wonder if God might let us down too. But He won’t—ever. God cannot fail because He is God, and His faithfulness is perfect and unchanging. He is always 100% true to His Word.

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13 ESV)

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Num. 23:19 ESV)

All God’s work is done in faithfulness 

“For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.” (Psalm 33:4 ESV)

His faithfulness establishes and guards you 

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thess. 3:3 ESV)

His faithfulness protects you in temptation 

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 ESV)

His faithfulness brings steadfast love and mercies—new every morning 

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23 ESV)

Therefore

Great is Your faithfulness, Lord! No matter what we face today, we can trust that You remain perfectly faithful.

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5)

We often say it: God is good all the time; all the time God is good. That isn’t just a comforting slogan—it is a foundational truth about who God is.

God is the very embodiment of perfect goodness

He is kind, benevolent, faithful, and full of goodwill toward His creation. He does not merely do good things—He is good.

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)

God invites us not just to know about His goodness, but to experience it

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (1 Chron. 16:34)

His goodness is not temporary. It is constant and enduring

“For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)

God’s goodness never runs out, never wears down, and never changes with circumstances.

Every good thing comes from Him

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

If something truly good has entered your life, it ultimately came from Him.

God’s goodness is our refuge

“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

Even in hard days, God’s goodness does not disappear. It becomes our shelter

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He teaches sinners in the way.” (Psalm 25:8)

His goodness is not only kind—it is redemptive

He uses it to lead us, teach us, and restore us.

Therefore

Because God is always good, we can trust Him even when life is not. We can thank Him in every season, run to Him in every trouble, and rest in Him with confidence—knowing that everything He does flows from a heart that is perfectly, unchangingly good.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.” (Eph. 2:4 NIV)

Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown to someone who deserves punishment. It is kindness when judgment would be justified. It is God holding back what we do deserve because of His great love.

We serve a powerful and merciful God. He knows we have all fallen short of His glory—and yet He does not turn away from us. Instead, He reaches toward us with forgiveness, patience, and tender compassion.

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5 NKJV)

Come boldly to receive mercy

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NKJV)

God does not tell us to come crawling in fear—He invites us to come boldly, because His throne is not just a throne of power, but a throne of grace and mercy.

Mercy gives us new life and living hope

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3 NKJV)

Because of His mercy, we are not only forgiven—we are made new and given a living hope.

Therefore

Because God is rich in mercy, we never need to hide from Him in shame. We can run to Him in repentance, confidence, and trust—knowing He delights to forgive, restore, and give us new beginnings.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22–23 ESV)