If your car won’t start, don’t be so prone to get angry, slap the steering wheel and spout some kind of Christianized profanity at it, such as “Dad-Gummit!” The spirit behind that kind of reaction is the same one behind swearing.
It’s destructive to act that way even when you aren’t directing your anger toward other people because it’s a form of practicing bad temper. If you practice anger and ill temper, they will stay on the surface and activate before you have the opportunity to stop them. Don’t express anger even against material objects. Instead take authority over that anger and say, “No, you don’t. I’m not yielding to you. You get back under control right now.”
That will be easy to do when you’re practicing God’s presence because you know He is lovely, kind and gentle; and you will not want to offend him by displaying an ugly attitude toward anything at any time. Granted, you won’t be able to make all the changes you want to make in the first hour and a half. It takes time to do this. But you can make the decision in the next moment and a half and then walk it out moment by moment.

Amp—If any of you is deficient in wisdom,
let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to
every one liberally and ungrudgingly, without
reproaching or faultfinding, and it will
be given him.

Moffatt—Whoever of you is defective in
wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all
men without question or reproach, and the
gift will be his.

NIV—If any of you lacks wisdom, he should
ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 3:17
KJV—The wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Amp—The wisdom from above is first of
all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving,
courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing
to] yield to reason, full of compassion and
good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward,
impartial and unfeigned—free from
doubts, wavering and insincerity.

Moffatt—The wisdom from above is first
of all pure, then peaceable, forbearing,
conciliatory, full of mercy and wholesome
fruit, unambiguous, straightforward.

NIV—The wisdom that comes from
heaven is first of all pure; then peaceloving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy
and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Colossians 1:9-10
KJV—For this cause we also, since the day
we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,
and to desire that ye might be filled with
the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding; That ye might walk
worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing
in the knowledge of God.

Amp—For this reason, we also, from the
day we heard of it, have not ceased to
pray and make [special] request for you,
[asking] that you may be filled with the full
(deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all
spiritual wisdom [that is, in comprehensive
insight into the ways and purposes of God]
and in understanding and discernment of
spiritual things. That you may walk (live and
conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of
the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring
to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in
every good work and steadily growing and
increasing in (and by) the knowledge of
God—with fuller, deeper and clearer insight,
acquaintance and recognition.

Moffatt—Hence, from the day we heard of
it, we have never ceased to pray for you,
asking God to fill you with the knowledge
of his will in all spiritual wisdom and insight,
so that you may lead a life that is worthy
of the Lord and give him entire satisfaction.
May you be fruitful and increase in the doing
of all good, as you thus know God!

NIV—For this reason, since the day we
heard about you, we have not stopped
praying for you and asking God to fill you
with the knowledge of his will through all
spiritual wisdom and understanding. And
we pray this in order that you may live a
life worthy of the Lord and may please him
in every way: bearing fruit in every good
work, growing in the knowledge of God.

Colossians 2:2-3
KJV—That their hearts might be comforted,
being knit together in love, and unto
all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the acknowledgement of the
mystery of God, and of the Father, and of
Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.

Amp—[For my concern is] that their hearts
may be braced (comforted, cheered and
encouraged) as they are knit together in
love, that they may come to have all the
abounding wealth and blessings of assured
conviction of understanding, and that they
may become progressively more intimately
acquainted with, and may know more definitely
and accurately and thoroughly, that
mystic secret of God [which is] Christ, the
Anointed One.

In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom,
[of comprehensive insight into the
ways and purposes of God], and [all the
riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment
are stored up and lie hidden.

Moffatt—May their hearts be encouraged!
May they learn the meaning of love! May
they have all the wealth of conviction that
comes from insight! May they learn to know
that open secret of God, the Father of Christ,
in whom all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge lie hidden!

NIV—My purpose is that they may be
encouraged in heart and united in love, so
that they may have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may
know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Ecclesiastes 2:26
KJV—For God giveth to a man that is
good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge,
and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail,
to gather and to heap up, that he may give
to him that is good before God.

Amp—For to the person who pleases Him
God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy;
but to the sinner He gives the work of
gathering and heaping up, that he may give
to one who pleases God.

Moffatt—To a man whom God approves, he
grants wisdom, knowledge, and happiness,
but he sets a sinner the task of gathering and
amassing wealth, only to leave it to the man
whom God approves.

NIV—To the man who pleases him, God
gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness,
but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering
and storing up wealth to hand it over
to the one who pleases God.

Luke 21:15
KJV—For I will give you a mouth and wisdom,
which all your adversaries shall not be
able to gainsay nor resist.

Amp—For I [Myself] will give you a mouth
and such utterance and wisdom as all of
your foes combined will be unable to stand
against or refute.

Moffatt—For I will give you words and
wisdom that not one of your opponents
will be able to meet or refute.

NIV—For I will give you words and wisdom
that none of your adversaries will be
able to resist or contradict.

1 Corinthians 1:30
KJV—Of him [God] are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption.

Amp—It is from Him [God] that you have
your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made
our Wisdom from God, [that is, revealed to
us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation
previously hidden, manifesting itself as]
our Righteousness and thus making us upright
and putting us in right standing with
God; and our Consecration—making us pure
and holy; and our Redemption—providing
our ransom from eternal penalty for sin.

Moffatt—This is the God to whom you owe
your being in Christ Jesus, whom God has
made our “Wisdom,” that is, our righteousness
and consecration and redemption.

NIV—It is because of him [God] that you
are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us
wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,
holiness and redemption.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Proverbs 4:7-9
KJV—Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore
get wisdom: and with all thy getting
get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall
promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour,
when thou dost embrace her. She shall
give to thine head an ornament of grace: a
crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Amp—The beginning of Wisdom is, get
Wisdom—skillful and godly Wisdom! For
skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal
thing. And with all you have gotten get
understanding—discernment, comprehension
and interpretation. Prize Wisdom
highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and
promote you; she will bring you to honor
when you embrace her. She shall give to
your head a wreath of gracefulness; a
crown of beauty and glory will she deliver
to you.

Moffatt—At any cost get knowledge—
never leave her, and she will guard you,
love her, and she will take care of you, prize
her, and she will promote you, and bring
you to honour, if you will embrace her, she
will adorn you with charm and crown you
with glory.

NIV—Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get
understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt
you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor.

Proverbs 16:16
KJV—How much better is it to get wisdom
than gold! and to get understanding rather
to be chosen than silver!

Amp—How much better it is to get skillful
and godly Wisdom than gold! And to
get understanding is to be chosen rather
than silver.

Moffatt—Better get wisdom than gold,
better choose knowledge than silver.

NIV—How much better to get wisdom
than gold, to choose understanding rather
than silver!

Proverbs 24:14
KJV—So shall the knowledge of wisdom
be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it,
then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation
shall not be cut off.

Amp—So shall you know skillful and godly
Wisdom to be your life; if you find it, then
shall there be a future and a reward, and
your hope and expectation shall not be
cut off.

NIV—Know also that wisdom is sweet to
your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope
for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

2 Chronicles 1:12
KJV—Wisdom and knowledge is granted to
thee; and I will give thee riches and wealth,
and honour, such as none of the kings have
had that have been before thee, neither
shall there any after thee have the like.

Amp—Wisdom and knowledge are
granted you, and I will give you riches, possessions,
honor and glory, such as none of
the kings had before you, and none after
you shall have their equal.

Moffatt—Wisdom and intelligence I give
you, and I will add riches, wealth, and honour
such as no king before you ever had,
and no king after you will ever have.

NIV—Therefore wisdom and knowledge
will be given you. And I will also give you
wealth, riches and honor, such as no king
who was before you ever had and none
after you will have.

Proverbs 2:6-7
KJV—For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of
his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for
the righteous: he is a buckler to them that
walk uprightly.

Amp—For the Lord gives skillful and godly
Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge
and understanding. He hides away sound
and godly Wisdom and stores it for the
righteous—those who are upright and in
right standing with Him; He is a shield to
those who walk uprightly and in integrity.

Moffatt—For it is the Eternal who supplies
wisdom, from him come insight and knowledge,
he has help ready for the upright, he
is a shield for those who live honestly.

NIV—For the Lord gives wisdom, and
from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding. He holds victory in store for
the upright, he is a shield to those whose
walk is blameless.

Proverbs 3:13-18
KJV—Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
and the man that getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than
the merchandise of silver, and the gain
thereof than fine gold. She is more precious
than rubies: and all the things thou canst
desire are not to be compared unto her.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in
her left hand riches and honour. Her ways
are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths
are peace. She is a tree of life to them that
lay hold upon her: and happy is every one
that retaineth her.

Amp—Happy—blessed, fortunate [enviable]—
is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom,
and the man who gets understanding—
drawing it forth [from God’s Word and life’s
experiences]. For the gaining of it is better
than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it
than fine gold. Skillful and godly Wisdom is
more precious than rubies, and nothing you
can wish for is to be compared to her.
Length of days is in her right hand, and in
her left hand are riches and honor. Her
ways are highways of pleasantness, and all
her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to
those who lay hold on her, and happy—
blessed, fortunate [to be envied]—is every
one who holds her fast.

NIV—Blessed is the man who finds
wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and
yields better returns than gold. She is more
precious than rubies; nothing you desire
can compare with her. Long life is in her
right hand; in her left hand are riches and
honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all
her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to
those who embrace her; those who lay
hold of her will be blessed.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

God wants to bless you so you can be a blessing.
He’ll do that by causing you to grow spiritually in
your knowledge of Him and to grow strong in character
and full of wisdom by acting on that knowledge.
In other words, the more we begin to imitate
God’s ways in our own actions, the more we put
ourselves in position for Him to bless us greatly.

Joseph is a perfect example of that truth (see
Genesis 37, 39-45).

Right in the middle of slavery, God gave Joseph
such wisdom, ability and favor that he made his
slave master rich. As a result, the man put Joseph
in charge of all his possessions. Joseph’s circumstances
looked bad for a while. But the wisdom
and favor of God continually brought him success.
Finally, Joseph ended up in charge of the entire
country. During the time of famine when
Joseph was second in command, other nations
came to Egypt for food.

Over and over, in the midst of adversity,
Joseph’s soul prospered. And his prosperity
greatly affected other people—within and
far beyond the borders of Egypt. Just one
person walking in wisdom, favor and success
from God can bless nations. Much like
Joseph, that one person can be you!

Wisdom

Our ability to prosper is based on more
than just believing God. There is a part for
us to play in our own prosperity, and the
Word of God outlines what we must do in
order to prosper. We know that we must
be givers, but our responsibility doesn’t
stop there. The Bible shows us that God
wants His people to grow up and act as
wise adults, making wise choices. According
to the Bible, wisdom is the principal or
supreme thing (Proverbs 4:7). If wisdom is the
number one thing we should be seeking,
then let’s study it more closely and see
what God says about it.

In Proverbs 3, we are told that wisdom is
more precious than rubies, silver or other
riches. In fact, verse 14 even says it is better
to get wisdom than gold because it “yields
better returns than gold” (New International
Version). For when a person has wisdom and
understanding, they can know how to receive
the other things they need—benefits
such as promotion, honor, length of days
and riches, just to name a few.

Having the wisdom to make the right decision
every time, based on the understanding
you have received from God’s Word and the
leading of the Holy Spirit, helps you become
prosperous in every area of life. No wonder
Proverbs 3:13 says, “Happy is the man that findeth
wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

I discovered that I did not need to find my
identity. I needed to learn what my father, A.W.
Copeland, knew.

At one time I rebelled against him. I dishonored
him. I didn’t give him authority over me. Oh, up to a
point, I did. I gave him authority and dominion while
I was in his presence. But when I got out of his sight, I
did whatever I wanted to do.

The things that my father taught me and practiced
in front of me were for my benefit. They were honorable
things. I finally came to the point where I realized
I was being stupid. I was out trying to learn things
the hard way that my father already knew. I realized
I could learn them from him and not have to pay the
price of learning them for myself.

I came to understand that I could start my own
life of learning after I had learned what my father
knew—and I could get his years of experience free of
charge and in a whole lot less time than it took him
to learn it.

The reason some children of successful men and
women are not worth much is that they don’t bother
to learn what their parents know about building a life
or a business. In some cases, their parents fail to instill
it in them. Often, children set out to learn for themselves
rather than let the Lord teach them.

I found out when I went to college that if I didn’t
learn from God, I wasn’t going to learn a thing in college.
I came to see that honor was the answer—honoring
God, honoring His Word and putting it first
place in my life. Please don’t take me wrong.

I am not underestimating the value of a college education. But
if what a person learns at the university does not conform
to the principles of God and His honor, then it
is not an education. It is really just a head full of nonsense—
useless facts and procedures.

Wisdom Will Put You Over

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the
man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise
of it is better than the merchandise of
silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She
is more precious than rubies: and all the things
thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left
hand riches and honour (Proverbs 3:13-16).
It is not knowledge that will put you over the
top—it is wisdom.

Wisdom is the God-given gift to know what to do
with knowledge. Wisdom gives understanding. There
is in God a wisdom understanding of honor.

When you have a godly understanding of honor,
it takes away the fear of acting on it. In the next chapter,
we will learn more about the kind of honor that
comes only from God.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries