Ask with a Believing Heart....

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.  ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ 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. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. ⁹ Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.--James 1:12

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

Continuing in the first chapter of the book of James we are looking at  today at the fourth attitude necessary to help us triumph in trials, asking for wisdom with a "believing heart."  Here are verses 5-8.
 
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ 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. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."--James 1:5-8


I am laughing at the first part of that verse....which one of us does NOT lack wisdom.  I am always asking for it and am grateful that it is divine wisdom that I receive.  The wisdom from the world is constantly changing and is filled with "agendas".  The wisdom from above and the wisdom from this world are contrasted in James chapter 3. These verses are good ones to hide in your heart.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Wisdom is the practical aspect of intelligence.  It is the understanding and skill needed to live this life for His glory.  It is the practical application of the Word of God in our lives.  By design, God uses trials to wean us away from dependence on the things of the world to total dependence on Him.  He wants us to cry out to Him in prayer for wisdom. Jesus Christ contains all the wisdom and knowledge of God.   He wants to pour it on us abundantly.

Look at the next verse, however.  It tells us to ask in faith with no doubting.  I have said it before and I will say it again: the book of James is where the rubber meets the road.  Where do you really and truly place your faith or your trust--In the wisdom of man or in the wisdom of God?  Are you only hedging your bets when you ask God for help or are you truly and willingly putting all your eggs in His basket and waiting on Him for your answer?  If your loyalty is divided...if you are double minded...maybe not completely convinced that God's way is best or even of His loving care -- than James tells you will receive nothing from the Lord.

According to John MacArthur, the definition of double-minded in the Greek is literally  having one's mind divided between the world and God.  Girls, we are not to go back and forth like the tides between the world and God.  Truly that is the picture of spiritual immaturity and instability.  God does not want equivocators....He does not want lukewarm...He does not want our occasional belief.  He does not want us to go to Him for wisdom if we are reserving the right to disobey if we don't like His answer.  He wants a heart united for Him.   A believing heart that knows that He is sovereign and does all He does for our good and His glory. He wants our wholehearted devotion, trust and commitment. This is the man that God will give to liberally and without reproach.

How does God answer when we ask with a believing heart?  He responds through His people, through His word and through what I call heart direction.

Proverbs tells us that there is much wisdom in many counselors and where there are no counselors the people fall.  As we discuss issues on our hearts with the people of God, His light will shine through and perhaps give us some guidance.

The second way God answer's is through His word. God's will is revealed to us in His word. Christ is wisdom incarnate...He is the Word. In Him lay all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Psalm 119:105 says "Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path."  Psalm 119:130 says "the entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple."  How perfect is that.  The heart David had for God's word is the heart we are to have.  Search His word daily and allow Him to light and guide your path...His word is His gift to us.

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.--Psalm 119:97-104

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. ¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.--Hebrews 4:12-16

The third way God answers us is by heart direction. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path."  Basically, I pray and acknowledge His sovereignty and  my own inadequacy in knowing what to do or what path to take.  I then ask the Lord to direct my steps even if and when I misstep! I ask Him to guide me through His word and His people...to open and shut doors as I walk.  In another words, He walks the path with me. The key is to acknowledge that He knows better than me the direction I need to take and that MY DESIRE IS TO FOLLOW HIM!

So let's once again put it all together to see the big picture that James is painting. We can COUNT it all joy and make a conscious effort to face our trials with joy because we KNOW it is HE working in us and through us and HE loves us and has our best interests at heart.  Therefore, we can LET HIM work knowing we have nothing to fear.  When we do that we become perfect and complete and lack nothing.  Mature.  If we do not know how to respond in a trial God tells us to ASK Him for wisdom with a believing united heart and He will give to us liberally and without reproach.

Love
Mom


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