One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment” (Matthew 22:35–38).

This year is my senior year of college and, as in many other important decision-making seasons in my life, I’ve been praying daily for God’s wisdom. “Lord, please show me what you want me to do after graduation. I want your will for my life, Lord. Please give me wisdom to know if I should go to graduate school or to the mission field or into the working world. I’ll do whatever you want me to do, Lord; I’ll go wherever you send me.”

My prayers have followed this same pattern for a month. I have been trusting God the whole time. I’ve been assured that I will not do anything outside of his will as long as I am seeking his wisdom. I’ve also known that he will let me know in his time what his will is. I have prayed these same prayers every day, waiting to hear a word from the Lord on what he has planned for me next year.

Then, yesterday, he spoke! He spoke to me not in an audible voice, but through my innermost thoughts. I was excited to hear from him, but I was not expecting what he had to say. If it had been audible, our conversation would have sounded something like this:

“Katy, you are always asking me for wisdom, but why?”

“What do you mean why, Lord? The Bible is full of passages saying God’s children should seek wisdom from him. I know you have the perfect plan for my life already figured out, and I know that I just need to keep asking you to show it to me when the time is right. I thought it would please you that I want your will for my life.”

“I’m glad you want what I want for you, Katy. But what is your motive for wanting it? Do you just want my wisdom because you know your life will be more fulfilling if you follow my plan?”

“I still don’t understand what you mean, Lord. Isn’t it right for me to want your wisdom? Is it wrong that I believe that your will is the best way for my life to go?”

“The question is, Katy, are you seeking wisdom for wisdom’s sake, or are you seeking me for my sake?”

There was silence for a moment as I let the realization of what he was saying sink into my heart.

“Oh. I see, Lord. I am running after your wisdom just so I can make my life the best it can be, when actually I should be running after you just because I love you.

“Exactly. I will give you wisdom, Katy. You are not wrong in asking for it. But when you ask for it, make sure that you are asking for it because you want to grow closer to me, not because you want it for your own selfish gain.”

I get it, Lord. If I chase after you simply because you are God and you love me, everything else will fall into place.”

“Right. Including this wisdom you desire.”

“Thank you, Lord. Teach me how to love you and seek you just because you are you.”

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

—Katy Sherrard is now working as a missionary for a literature mission agency that is headquartered just outside of Philadelphia.