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READ: PROVERBS 11:14; 12:15; 15:22; 20:18\n\n\n\nDo you have people in your life who want to give you advice, like parents, teachers, pastors, counselors, or coaches? They want us to listen to what they have to say, and often we can be tempted to shrug them off, but there may be a lot we can learn from them.\n\n\n\nSomeone who has been through different seasons of life can offer a lot of wisdom, and not in the \u201cI-told-you-so\u201d kind of way. There are people who genuinely care and want to help. And the Bible tells us how wonderful this kind of advice can be: \u201cThe heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense\u201d (Proverbs 27:9).\n\n\n\nWhen we seek the advice of others, we can be given more direction. Fellow Christians can point us to Christ and help us discern what He wants for our lives. Because the truth is, God doesn\u2019t expect us to be able to figure everything out on our own. He provides loving wisdom and guidance through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Once we\u2019ve put our trust in Jesus\u2014believing in His life, death, and resurrection\u2014He gives us the Holy Spirit, who gives all wisdom. And He gives us the church\u2014people who follow Jesus and also have the Holy Spirit inside of them. Through the church, we can surround ourselves with people who can offer biblical advice so we can do what Proverbs 19:20 says: \u201cGet all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.\u201d When we talk to mature Christians, they can help us align our plans with God\u2019s good ways. So often, it\u2019s easy to see the way we want things to go, but when we turn to different advisors, we can see if we are on the right track or completely off base.\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a blessing to have these people in our lives. Sometimes, it feels like other people want to criticize what we\u2019re doing, but when we humbly seek the advice of others and truly listen to their wisdom, it can have a profound impact on our lives. \u2022 Tynea Lewis\n\n\n\n\u2022 Have you ever been hesitant to ask for advice because you were afraid of being criticized, demeaned, or teased? This is not how God treats us, and it\u2019s not how He calls us to treat each other. Consider taking some time to talk to Him about your hurts and the ways people have looked down on you, receiving His compassion and healing.\n\n\n\n\u2022 What is one thing you\u2019re facing that you could use advice on? Who are mature Christians in your life you can go to for advice, people who display the kind of wisdom described in James 3:13-18? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.\n\n\n\nPlans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. Proverbs 15:22 (NLT)