This month I am reading the book of Proverbs for my daily devotion time. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, which makes it easy to read one each day.

Today I read a verse that Hs taught me for many years.

“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There are some people who have deep wells of wisdom. It’s more than mere knowledge and information; it is practical wisdom for real life. Some of it was learned by seeking the Lord and listening to other godly people, but some of it was learned through the pain and regret of failure and foolishness. Still, they gained wisdom.

These are the kind of people you want to learn from. In order to draw out their wisdom, you will need to come with some type of bucket. Obviously not a physical bucket, but a bucket of expectation, inquiry, and observation.

• Expectation is what compels you to bring the bucket in the first place. Expect that you will gain wisdom from the conversation or encounter. Expect that God will reveal something to you. Expect to be transformed in some way.

• Inquiry occurs when you let the bucket down into the well. Asking questions is a proven way of gaining wisdom. If you are with a wise person, don’t do all the talking. Talking out all of your issues may give you a temporary sense of relief, but you won’t be any wiser. Ask questions to a wise person – deep, meaningful questions – and then listen. Wisdom indeed has a voice – let it speak.

• Observation is how you draw the bucket up from the well and apply the waters of wisdom to your own life. Watch how the person lives, watch their marriage, listen to what they say (and what they don’t say), observe how they carry themselves in times of challenge. If you observe them carefully, you will know how to apply wisdom to your life.

This principle applies in many settings. When you go to church, bring your bucket. When you read your Bible, bring your bucket. When you are at a conference or listening to a podcast, bring your bucket. There is no shortage on wisdom, only a shortage on those actively searching for it.

If you will carry your bucket of expectation, inquiry, and observation, you will be continually refreshed by the waters of wisdom.