The Way of Wisdom

Proverbs is so Awesome!!  I pray for wisdom all the time.  Proverbs 9: 10-12 states the following: 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.  If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone. 
My Women's Study Bible explains it this way:
Wisdom Personified
Wisdom, together with the virtuous wife(Prov. 31) and the aldulteress of folly(Prov. 5-7), is one of the three dominant personifications in the Book of Proverbs.  This literary device does not present a literal woman or godess but is a means of picturing the contrast between good and evil and between wisdom and folly.  
This divine attribute and activity is personified as a dignified and noble woman who is warm, caring, and competent.  She offers life with long-term satisfaction(Prov. 1:33; 8:34, 35).  In contrast, her rival or "counter-wisdom," called "folly"(Prov. 15:21), provides immediate gratification but ultimate ruin.  
Wisdom pleads with her hearers, begging them to follow her and learn how to take their knowledge about God and apply it to the lives in a practical and successful way(Prov. 8: 1-11).  She sets forth her virtues and her rewards.  She is incomparable, better than rubies (Prov. 8-11); her instructions more precious than silver and her knowledge exceeding the worth of choice gold (Prov.8:10).  Excellent things from her lips lead to life, and her followers are blessed materially and spiritually(Prov. 8: 17-21).
After detailing why wisdom and not folly is the appropriate choice.  Wisdom invites all who wish to sit at her banquet, to eat of the fruits of wisdom, to forsake foolishness,  and to go in the way of life and understanding (Prov.9: 1-6).  The shining and winsome godliness of Wisdom set against the dark and evil seductiveness of the adulteress shows the path of wisdom in all its beauty.  Wisdom, in fact, foreshadows the divine wisdom found in Jesus Christ.
When women move away from Scripture as their sole authority and rather claim a collection of extra-biblical texts as authority in order to establish a biblical deity, they are reconstructing the basic foundation of theology itself.  For example, to introduce goddess worship through creating a feminine deity named Wisdom or "Sophia" (a transliteration of the Greek word for "wisdom") is using language loosely in order to blur the distinction between the Word of God and pagan ritual.  We must reject any union of Christianity and paganism.  A careful look at Wisdom points directly to the God who names Himself by revealing to us who He is.

Reflection

I have been thinking a lot lately about God's Purification Process.  All week, everything I have listened to or watched have been talking about purification.  When a silversmith purifies silver or gold, he has to sit continually watching (without turning away) the metal as it is melted at a heat so high as to separate the impurities from the metal.  The impurities will rise to the top and a mirror reflection will remain.  This is how the silversmith knows when the silver or gold is pure, he can see his reflection in it.  This is what God is trying to do with us.  We must go through the fire to remove all the impurities.  God wants to see his reflection in us.  
This revelation hit me so hard.  I never thought of all the hardships we go through as a purification process.  It makes so much sense to me now.  It was a lightbulb moment for me.  I have repeatedly heard this message all week.  God has gotten my attention with this message and I felt so led to tell everyone.  This answers so many of my why's as to why we go through so many hardships, PURIFICATION PROCESS.   God wants to see his reflection in us, in all that we do, say, think and so on.  He wants us to depend solely on him, no other.  Not our jobs, spouses, finances, toys, etc.  It's a scary thing to ask, for purification, this means we have to go through the fire to get God's desired outcome.  We must have faith in him to take care of us, and when it's finished we will mirror God.  Oh, how I want to have God's reflection, but the process is scary.  My human nature says to stay comfortable and play it safe.  
I have been struggling this week with fasting, I have felt led to fast and pray, but I haven't been faithful to do this yet.  It's something so different for me.  I think it will teach me to not rely on food for comfort but to rely instead on God.  We must be faithful and obedient to follow God's instructions.  It's so important to listen to him, how do we expect him to hear us when we don't listen to him.  How selfish of me to ask for so much and not to obey his simple request.  
Father, I pray for your reflection to be seen in me and all those reading this.  My desire is to obey you and listen when you speak.  Forgive me for not obeying you when you have spoken to me.  I love you and praise your Holy Name,  in Jesus Name, Amen.