One aspect of living intentionally is seeking wise counsel from a friend. What’s that look like in practice?
Where to look?
Often, we seek counsel from a close friend. We’re not looking for off-the-top-of-the-head, shallow input. Instead, we need deep advice from the heart of that friend.
Regardless of the issue, we need wise counsel and sound advice. We choose a close friend for counsel because there’s an existing relationship. There’s trust. And we’ve gone to them before with concerns.
A Word Picture
According to Proverbs 20.5 good advice is deep: “… Counsel in the heart ,,, is like deep water …” Thus, wise counsel is like water deep in a well that must be drawn out (see Exodus 2.16).
To draw from a well, we need a rope and bucket, or a pump. In Proverbs 20.5 we draw out wise counsel from a friend by way of our understanding, that is, by our experiential insight.
Our understanding enables us to know who to ask and what to ask. We receive deep-water insight because we’re in front of the right person and we clearly communicate our needs. Their wise counsel reaches deep into our soul, Proverbs 27.9, thus is deeply impactful!
The development of experiential insight is a key aspect building a strong character. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Some Expectations
We rarely stumble upon wise counsel. Instead, when we need access to wise counsel we must be discerning enough to recognize a friend or associate who can provide sound advice.
Moreover, we must be humble enough to listen to and act on that wise counsel.
In short, we’re applying the Seek/Find precept to getting advice. Finding requires action; that drawing out requires us to use our experiential insights in the conversation.
We don’t know what we’ll hear, but our insights from prior encounters give us the sensitivity to probe, to ask follow-up questions, and to inquire if there’s something essential we’re missing.
Deep-water insight is only valuable when applied in a timely manner. Thus, we must know and we must do! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Apply This Today!
Our insightfulness enables us to draw out new insights, thus to multiply our learning, when we seek wise counsel from a friend. Similarly, our discernment multiplies when we accept correction (see Proverbs 19.25).
A wise friend will share his/her insights with us because they recognize our learner’s attitude. Hence, ask wisely in order to learn deeply.
A Question to Consider
What’s your relationship like with that go-to friend who offers you wise advice when needed?
I’m Dale Young. My posts share the balanced life to build wise character and guide wise behavior.
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