James (W1D3) Believe and Not Doubt
Wednesday: Believe and Not Doubt
PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.
READ: James 1:5-8
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words
Wisdom: Knowing the right thing to do is knowledge. Doing what you know is right is wisdom. With trials as the context, James is saying we should ask God for wisdom when our faith is being tested. Trials make us emotional and that is when we will need wisdom the most.
Gives generously: God gives wisdom to those who ask. Not only that, God gives generously, meaning that He gives wisdom beyond what we knew we needed. As our Heavenly Father, God enjoys giving us good things (see Matthew 7:7-11).
Without finding fault: God knows every single one of our faults. But our faults are not a barrier to God. He does not let the fact that we sin limit His grace.
Believe and not doubt: When we ask God for wisdom we must believe that He not only wants to but that He actually will give us wisdom. Our belief does not move God to do or not do anything. Our belief renews our minds to have the right attitude.
A wave of the sea: James uses a word picture to illustrate how doubt can control our direction. Waves are not created on their own nor do they move on their own. Waves are created and controlled by the current and the wind. Doubt is like the wind in that it can blow us around in all different directions.
Double-minded and unstable in all they do: When we doubt that God will gives us wisdom or that He has a plan in His control, we will be unstable in our faith. When we are double-minded in our faith, we are unstable in every area of our lives.
APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?
How often do you ask God for wisdom?
In what ways does doubt make us unstable in our everyday lives?
PRAY: Ask God to generously give you wisdom.
