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In Proverbs 19:20 we read: “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” How about Proverbs 12:15 where you see: “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 13:10, “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Want some good advice? Listen to sound advice! While saying this, please make sure the advice is from a sound person. For example, just like you should never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t seek for advice, you shouldn’t question and ask for advice from someone you don’t trust or respect. Too often we just listen for the advice that sounds like what we want to hear. Stop that mess! Seek advice from those who love and wish nothing but the best for you. Don’t just take advice from those you know will agree with you or take your side. Don’t just take advice from things you read on social media. Don’t just take advice from one source only. Seek advice from those that have either been there and done that and survived or from those who are firmly planted in God so you can pick fruit from their labor. If you constantly take bad advice or advice that only fits your desires or counsel from those you probably shouldn’t have, then you will keep hitting the same wall. Is your marriage struggling? Then seek advice from couples who seem to have it going on, because I guarantee you they have had their storms and survived. Need financial advice? Don’t check with the ones that went from living check to check to now direct deposit to direct deposit…seek advice from someone who may have started at the bottom, and George and Weezy’d that mess (moved on up to the East Side). Could you use advice about parenting? Then stop listening to the ones who never had children or whose children are buck wild just because they give advice first. Instead, seek that parent you love and trust and hear them share their battles too. Over and over in scripture when it comes to advice, the key ingredient seems to be this: LISTEN. Don’t just hear the noise. Listen. Take notes. Ask questions. If you only listen or seek advice from those wrong sources then just go ahead and jump in the pond because you’re acting like a silly goose. In Acts 27:11 Paul had given strong advice about not leaving and this guy listens to someone not connected with God and the ship crashes. Need advice? Seek wise, dependable, trusted, loving, God grounded counsel. #bethegood

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com