ASK IN FAITH

James 1:5-8
5 But 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, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (WEB)

Our Father loves to give us wisdom when we need it. He will never deny us the wisdom that we ask Him for when we ask in faith. The New International Version translates James 1:5 this way...  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. (NIV) I love how this translation describes the character and nature of our Heavenly Dad... He is generous and He gladly gives to everyone without finding fault!

However, a key component to us receiving, is that we ask in faith without doubting. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. When Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, He was always impressed when He encountered great faith. One such example is found in Matthew 8:5-13 where a Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant by just speaking the word. The Bible says that Jesus marveled at this Gentile's great faith.

The truth is that God absolutely loves it when we ask in faith, believing that we have already received that which we have asked for (Mark 11:24). Even when we waver in our faith but still have the courage to ask, He hears us. There is a story in Mark 9:14-29 where a man asks Jesus to deliver his son from demonic oppression. Jesus asks the man "Do you believe" to which the man answers... "Lord I believe, help my unbelief!" Even that kind of honest prayer was answered by Jesus and the father's son was set free.

My prayer today is that we would rely on our faith in the goodness of God rather than on our own wavering emotions that get tossed to and fro. May we know that even if our faith is as tiny as a mustard seed, it is enough to speak to a mountain and it will be cast into the sea (Matthew 17:20). May the Holy Spirit give us a holy boldness to come before the throne room of our Heavenly Father and ask in faith!

Mark 11:22-24
22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. (WEB)