James Week Two - Walk it Out

<sup>I like this group Indelible Grace. Hope you enjoy them too. Listen to prepare your heart for God's Word.

Last week as we learned about considering our trials a joy because of the opportunity they bring in building endurance in us and testing our faith, we must consider what happens when we find ourselves in the midst of a trial. We often have questions. Questions are not bad. God knows how He made us. He knew we would have questions. Immediately after the verses we discussed on the trials we find this;</sup>

"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. 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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do"  (James 1:5-8.) 

^{If you need wisdom it is simple, ask God. I wanted to explore further what wisdom really is. As I have pondered this I was listening to a sermon by Tim Keller that defined wisdom like this,}

"Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies- I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!" (1 Kings 3:9-12.)

God gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart. Solomon asked with faith and God gave it. Now contextually to be fair I must say that Solomon asked this to God because God appeared to Him and said, "Ask what I should give you" (1 Kings 3:5). That makes it easier to ask by faith. However, we have God's word and His word is His promises to us. So we need to  believe that when God says in James, "if you need wisdom, ask Me. I give abundantly without finding fault" (James 1:5, ,my paraphrase) that He will do it.

Can you trust God to give you what He promises to give? Is that a silly question? I ask it because what follows is God's condition, we must ask believing and not doubting. If we doubt we are tossed like a wave back and forth. It makes me picture killer whales. They like to toss back and forth their prey, playing with them until finally they get devoured. This is the same if we are double minded. Double mindedness never ends well. If we doubt we cannot expect to receive anything.

Practically played out it looks like this.
God has promised to give you wisdom if you ask. His wisdom can be found in His word to us that we have and can open freely and read. We are privileged because we do not have to worry about persecution for doing this in America. You have all of this however you are double minded if you,

• Are looking for signs instead of His word as enough.
• Are seeking help from random people like fortune tellers or horoscopes.
• Are asking people until you hear what you want to hear.
• Are looking for an easy way out and not trusting as you endure.
• Listen to the advice of the world instead of the trust of His word on suffering and trials.

So today where do you need wisdom? Ask God He is pleased to give it to you. Will you trust Him?
As we pondered the areas we are struggling to trust Him in, just take time now to ask Him how to proceed. Go to His word. It will help guide you through. Do you trust Him? If you are struggling I am reminded of this prayer,  “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).