Read Proverbs 3:12

What brings wisdom into our lives? 

Accepting God’s reproofs. Reproof is from a Hebrew term that means "to correct...to convince.” 

I often think of reproofs as God’s prodding, those unmistakable nudges, His "still small voice.” They are inner promptings designed to correct our ways. They alert us to the fact that we are off course. They communicate, in effect, "My child, that’s wrong; change direction!”

These God-given reproofs sometimes appear in Scripture. On other occasions, the reproofs come verbally from those who love us.

All of us have sagging character qualities that need attention. To ignore them is to open the gate that leads to disobedience.

Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Wisdom for the Way (Nashville: J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001). Copyright © 2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.