Posted by
TAB on Saturday, July 05, 2008 10:13:44 AM
Faith, No Doubt
"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:6 (NKJV).
Still concerning the matter of wisdom, James tells us that when we ask for it we must ask believing and without doubt. The doubt in a time of prayer is no prayer at all, but empty and shallow words.
Faith in prayer is humbly going to the throne of grace, solely depending on the Father to meet the need that is requested. In this case the need is for wisdom. As Christians we should know and believe that wisdom comes from God alone, so why should there be any doubting. Every believer has been given a measure of faith; faith that believes God, trust God, and is dependent upon Him.
It really doesn’t matter what need we bring to the throne of God, it should be asked without doubting. Doubting refers to having one’s thinking divided; not just mental indecision; but because of moral conflict or just an out and out mistrust in God - no trust in God.
The way of the doubter is likened to a "wave of the sea". These waves are those out at sea away from land. When a storm comes up the sea can get quite rough, due to the winds. We have heard it said of politicians and others, "They make their decisions by which ever way the wind blows". That meaning of course they have none of their own, but go with the direction of the "majority". Doubters cannot get an answer to their request for wisdom. They are doubting that God can and/or will give them wisdom.
If we cannot trust the Lord to give us wisdom, then, from whom shall it come? It will not and we will be in our own little world, condemned to follow the wisdom of the world, which is the wisdom of the devil.
Let us pray in faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). Faith as we pray shows a total dependence upon the Lord; and that He will bring to pass all that He has said. Faith is not believing that we will get all the selfish desires for which we pray; but that God will hear our prayer, and give us the desires of His heart. And of that there is no doubt.
Believe the Lord.
-Tim A. Blankenship