This is NOT the Fool's Month!
A thought came to me this morning about how odd it is to start a month with practical jokes and fooling people. I was brought up short when I heard in my spirit, “This is NOT the fool’s month!”Sensing the Lord’s unhappy heart in His statement, I immediately stopped and asked Him why He responded as He did. I heard two things:
- I give wisdom - “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6, NASB 1995)
- Look up the history of April Fool’s Day.
The history of April Fool’s Day is a bit muddied with historians not certain or in agreement on where or how it originated. It may have originated as far back as festivals celebrated in Roman times or tied to the vernal equinox and Mother Nature being unpredictable, or instead, in the late 1300's with Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. It could have been instituted as a result of a calendar change in the 1500's, or others have said it may have originated with Noah, coinciding with him sending the dove out of the ark too early. However it began, the day is marked by practical jokes, hoaxes, gullibility, mocking others, and no surprise – some explanations of its origins are rooted in the occult. The idea is to good-naturedly make a fool of others on that day.
The sense I was getting from the Lord for this April is He wants this month marked by wisdom, rather than foolishness. There are many needing wisdom and strategy RIGHT NOW for the plans of the Lord to be fulfilled in this season. There are outworkings of destiny and calling happening, including positioning in various realms of society (business, political, etc.), that are unfolding this month. We need His wisdom for the strategies for these alignments, as well as for walking in these new positions of leadership and authority.
I heard His words inside my spirit: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5, NASB1995)
If you need wisdom, ask Him for it – He’ll gladly give it to you, but there’s another part to this passage that’s incredibly important to keep in mind when asking. Reading on in verses 6-8 we find: “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
"Double-minded" is another way of saying doubting or hesitating. When we ask God for wisdom, we need to believe He’s given it and when it comes with strategy or next steps, we need to act on those, rather than hesitating.God doesn’t want to leave us as “fools.” According to Merriam-Webster, a fool is “a person lacking in judgment or prudence, one who is victimized or made to appear foolish, a person lacking in common powers of understanding or reason.”
Merriam-Webster defines prudence as “the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason, sagacity (foresight, discernment, or keen perception; ability to make good judgments) or shrewdness in the management of affairs, skill and good judgment in the use of resources.”
This is NOT the fool’s month! What areas in your life need self-governance and discipline? In what ways do you need to apply foresight, discernment, and keen perception as you lean in and listen to the Lord for wisdom and strategies? Do you need to make any adjustments in your stewardship of the resources God has given you? Act on what the Lord shows you!I also felt it important to declare you are NOT victimized, and neither do you appear foolish! You think clearly, have deep understanding, and possess sound reasoning. Any words to the contrary spoken over you by yourself or others are broken off NOW, in Jesus’ mighty name!
God always gives us invitations to grow in our faith, which includes our trust in Him. (The two words are synonymous and often interchanged depending on the Bible translation you read.) This is a year of alignment in every way and this month has a particular focus on implementing the wisdom and strategies needed to move forward in the things He’s called you to in partnership with Him.
Don’t doubt. Don’t hesitate. Wisely implement what God shows you and take action by faith! This is NOT the fool’s month!
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.” (Ephesians 5:15, NKJV)
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:6-7 NIV)
“Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:6-7, NKJV)
I bless you with incredible wisdom! Please share any stories about how this word unfolds in your life this month - I would love to hear them! If Brian and I can pray for you in any way, reach out to us. We’d love to hold you close to the Father’s heart!
Living for Him,
Andrea
P.S. Brian and I are launching out more in the ministry realm, including me writing more and Brian working to end sex trafficking. If you'd like to sow a seed by "buying us a coffee," please click the link below (more information is included on the page), and thank you for partnering with us!
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