Prudence: Wisdom That Thinks Ahead

Proverbs 8:12  “I Wisdom from God make prudence my dwelling and I find out knowledge and discretion.”  
 
Proverbs 22:3  “The wise and prudent see danger ahead and avoid it, but the foolish keep going straight into it and get into trouble.”  
 
Prudence defined is:  The ability to govern our decisions with wisdom, foresight and careful judgment so that our choices lead to the right outcome.  It’s wisdom that pauses long enough to think about the consequences before acting.  
 
We could say that prudence is wisdom that thinks ahead.  

A prudent person takes the time to consider where a decision will lead before taking action. Instead of acting impulsively, they evaluate the situation, recognize warning signs and adjust their course before trouble arrives.

The Hebrew word used for ‘prudence’ in Proverbs carries the idea of shrewdness or strategic thinking.  In the wrong hands this kind of thinking can become manipulation or craftiness, but when guided by God’s wisdom it becomes “Holy strategy”, the ability to navigate life with divine insight and foresight.  
 
We could also define prudence as, good judgment, thinking clearly on one's feet, and circumspect.

Sometimes our problems in life are not sudden disasters but the result of unexamined decisions.  

When people act on impulse, emotion or under pressure, they often create consequences they never intended.  Wisdom teaches us to pause and consider long enough to invite the Holy Spirit into the decision-making process and get His mind on things so that our choices will align with His direction.  
 
Prayer:  Holy Spirit, thank You for helping me to hear Your voice clearly and that You guide me with prudence before all decisions are made.