• Contact
  • Return to IBSA
  • Advertise Through Us
  • Subscribe
  • E-Reader

IBSA News

Illinois Baptist State Newspaper

  • Quick Links
    • E-Reader
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Resource
  • News
    • IBSA
    • SBC
    • Culture
    • Illinois Churches
  • Stories
    • Church Planting
    • Mission
  • In Focus
  • Columns
    • Nate Adams
    • Eric Reed
    • Meredith Flynn
    • Table Talk
    • Reporter’s Notebook
    • Encouraging Words
Encouraging Words

I don’t know, but God does

October 5, 2020 By Doug Munton

I love the promise God gives in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.”

What a wonderful word from God. We can have wisdom. We can begin to see our world as God sees it and gain the perspective God gives. I love that!

The perspective of our culture is short-sighted and fearful and focused on self. God wants us to see the world from an eternal perspective that is filled with faith and focused on Jesus. That can be ours!

If you have ever traveled to a new place, it is so nice to have someone with you who knows the area. They can give you guidance, keep you from going the wrong way, and show you the best sights.

I’ve never been down the path of this life before. I don’t know all the twists and turns ahead. I’m not sure how to deal with pandemics and anxieties and questions. I’m not sure how to stay connected in a time of social distancing. But the Lord is capable of handling all those things. He knows the way. He knows the fears. He knows what is best and right and good.

In trying times, we need wisdom as never before. Ask God for this gift which he willingly offers to you. He wants you to have it and he offers it to you generously and ungrudgingly.

Join me in praying for a giant helping of God’s wisdom today. God promises to give it, and he always keeps his word!

Doug Munton pastors First Baptist Church in O’Fallon.

Share This Story

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Featured Columns

The heavens

“Made for More” Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

Tyler Shipley

How often do you think about your death and where you will be after you die? This is something that I have thought about more recently. It was something that terrified me as a kid. The average American believes that heaven and hell are real, but that majority say they will be entering heaven because […]

Stock image

The Million Dollar Question: Mark 8:22-30

Ryan Hall

Call me what you will, but I like watching people lose big on gameshows. It is far more enjoyable than watching them leave with a free car! The biggest gameshow loss happened on NBC’s “The Wall.” A father-daughter team worked to amass an unknown bank of cash, but then the daughter was offered a $230,000 […]

Three requests

Nate Adams

Last month the IBSA Board of Directors’ Executive Director Search Committee completed an eight-month process of considering the future needs of the IBSA organization, and screening and interviewing candidates to succeed me in the role of Executive Director. I’ve been praying for them throughout that time, as I’m sure many others have. On December 9, […]

More Columns

“Made for More” Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

Tyler Shipley

How often do you think about your death and where you will be after you die? This is something that I have thought about more recently. It was something that terrified me as a kid. The average American believes that heaven and hell are real, but that majority say they will be entering heaven because […]

News

Abbie Howard

Illinoisan named to national Acteens panel

Illinois Baptist Staff

Birmingham, Ala. | A young woman from Illinois has been named to the 2026 National Acteens Panel, a group of four who will serve with the national WMU at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando. Abigail (Abbie) Howard of Casey First Baptist Church has been active in missions service through Acteens for seven years. “Being […]

HLGU suit secures Christian schools’ rights

Nolin returns to consult new Northern Region

More News Stories

Mission

“While we have not yet arrived at the destination we envision, I believe we are clearly headed in the right direction,” said IMB President Paul Chitwood to trustees in the May 22 plenary session. IMB Photo

IMB trustees appoint new missionaries, elect first woman chair

Leslie Caldwell

Richmond | International Mission Board trustees approved 65 fully funded missionaries for appointment during their May 21-22 meeting near Richmond, Virginia. The missionaries approved for appointment will be recognized during a Sending Celebration on Tuesday, June 10, at 10:08 a.m. CDT in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas. The event will […]

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

Sallateeska baptism demonstrates SBC connections

More Mission Stories

  • News
  • Mission
  • In Focus
  • Columns

Copyright © 2026 · Website by Megaphone Designs