Praying for Wisdom and Strength

Dad, I remember talking about wisdom with you from a young age. For as long as I can remember, you taught me to pray for “wisdom and strength like Joseph and Daniel in the Bible.” I truly believe this focus on wisdom his what has helped me to grow into who I am today.

I am excited to revisit Wisdom Class, continue to grow, and hopefully share lessons that can benefit the readers of this blog.

The beginning of Wisdom Class

Hi my name is Mike Oltersdorf. I am here at Panera’s Bread beginning to write my first entry in computer for the new http://www.wisdomclass.com/ I'm very honored and thrilled to be working on this with my two wonderful sons - Daniel & Isaac who are both married and living lives that reflect God's answer to their prayers since they were very small. Every night starting when they were probably 3 years old, their mom and I would pray with them at bed time. The boys would ask God to make them strong and wise like Daniel and Joseph in the Bible. Daniel and Isaac had listened to stories about Daniel and Joseph over and over . . . the only 2 men in the Bible that God never recorded as missing their way.

One morning I was reading Proverbs chapter 3 in the Living Bible, when Daniel was about 8 and Isaac was 4 or 5 years old, one of the verses in that chapter jumped off the page. It said, Have two goals: wisdom, which is knowing and doing what's right, and common sense. So I told the boys that we were going to start a wisdom class.

Each night we will read a chapter in Proverbs and we would pick out verses that helped us learn more about knowing and doing what is right. Since that time I have seen the other side of the wisdom coin - which is foolishness and foley, losing my way at times. Yet, despite my many sins and failures, God has blessed wonderfully Daniel and Isaac with wisdom, discernment, and lots of common sense.

Daniel, Isaac and I would love to have you join in and tell us of your stories of how God has blessed you, as you have sought after wisdom. Enjoy with us this never ending search for Wisdom - which is knowing and doing what's right, and common sense.