Just Ask
Today’s Verse:
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ~James 1:5
As we start a New Year, I think we all feel like we could use more wisdom for the challenges and opportunities that are before us. Wisdom is seeing a situation and making a sound decision. It is the ability to foresee the evil and hide oneself. It is being circumspect in our behavior and not being foolish. Our devotion this morning gives us encouragement on what to do when we are in need of wisdom.
We see the glitch.
If any of you lack wisdom…Wisdom is acquired through experience, counsel, reading and observation. However, we all find ourselves deficient of wisdom when we face a trial. Health trials, family trials, financial trials, job trials, and unexpected events eventually become spiritual trials that test our faith and dependence upon God. We are unsure of what to do. We want to know why we are going through a trial. We feel lacking in information. We are anxious about the situation we are in and how to get out. We lack wisdom and want to know why, what, and when.
We see the gesture.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…God tells us to ask him for wisdom. When God places us in a trial, the first thing we are to do is count it all joy. The second thing we are to do is ask God for wisdom. Praying is asking. Jesus said “ask and ye shall receive”. Our God invites us to ask him. The devil does not want us to pray. Trials paralyze us and cause us to doubt God and our judgment. When we go immediately to prayer God lifts our burden, gives us peace, and gives a sense of direction for our next step.
We see the gift.
It shall be given him. God assures us that he will give us wisdom: wisdom in what to do and not what to do. The gift of wisdom gives us God’s mind on what he is teaching us. The gift of wisdom gives us foresight for upcoming steps. Without this gift, we are floundering and filled with unrest and turmoil. Let us remember that his wisdom is free, good, perfect, and Fatherly. It is a reminder that God does not fail us.
We see the generosity.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; The gift of wisdom is given to us in liberal and generous portions. It might be spread out over the length of the trial, but the sum total is an abundant supply. Then, God does not rail at us or berate us for asking. Sometimes our questions might sound foolish, repetitive, and very anxious. Yet, God in his Fatherly love to us bestows the gift of wisdom to help us see through the trial.
We see a guideline.
We are to ask in faith, nothing wavering. We must have faith that God will bestow us the wisdom. God does not promise when the trial will end, but he does provide us wisdom so that we can understand his purpose in our life. Be careful of vacillating and doubting God. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Start the year by asking God for wisdom. Be thankful for what he bestows and walk circumspectly.
Have a prayerful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Genesis 12-15