Paul and I are in an interesting place right now. We have been through one hell of a year or two and now, right when I was hoping it would all ease up, ka-wham (is that a word?) we're smack-dab in the middle of another firing squad. One of the common prayers around here is, "God, please give us wisdom." For quite some time, we weren't getting much by way of a response.
This morning I was reading a word based on this scripture in James: "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. 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. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double- minded man, unstable in all his ways."
I've thought about this last verse many times, heard it quoted, and quoted it in relation to being focused in faith. I had never really noticed that it comes directly in relation to asking Father for wisdom and believing that He will give that wisdom ~ and liberally even. For me, this makes the scripture more applicable and far less vague as far as how we are supposed to avoid this double-mindedness. I have to admit, I have often believed, without realizing it, that we avoid double-mindedness by trying harder to believe in our beliefs about Him. This, of course, is a work of the flesh, which in the end will produce zero fruit.
Instead, James is simply asking us to choose to believe in God's faithfulness, and His faithfulness to keep His promise. That's it. We don't know how or when or what it will look like but we can choose to believe in His character and goodness to do what He said He would do.
So I asked Him again this morning, "Father, give us wisdom and insight. Help us to see our circumstances and the trials before us with your wisdom and have the wisdom we need to make good choices." And this time, I believe. Not for a specific outcome but that He will give us wisdom liberally and without reservation.
J.
Pro 3:5-6 comes to mind. Maybe the mistake we make at times, is the belief that because we have been through a lot recently that we should get a time of relief and peace. I think it's actually a lie which makes us lay down our weapons. It has been said in times of peace we must watch more than in times of war.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those verses that I've had to de-institutionalize and come back to from the perspective of relationship. Everything about our relationship with Father is full of liberality from his heart to ours. It's a continual flow of his thoughts, love, and wisdom all flowing into our lives. I believe Holy Spirit reveals Father's wisdom out of that flow at the time that we need it.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you put this, Bob. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree . . . reading this verse with the idea that Father is pursuing us and filled with immeasurable love for us changes the concept to look more like us "accepting" or "receiving" something that is already flowing all over us.
ReplyDeleteEven the verse that Laurie mentioned looks different when you read it from outside of the perspective of religious obligation and looks strikingly similar to the same concept of Papa's extravagance.
J.
I just think, that we sometimes behave like our walk with Papa is some contrived thing.
ReplyDeleteI think if we trust Papa, then we already have His wisdom in our lives - but maybe we are so busy trying to find out what that wisdom is, that we are like some constipated person. Oh yeah, if I can think as hard as I can about this, then I will magically find the answer.
Trust Him - it is as simply as the verse says.
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART...after all, what else do we have to trust Him with?