But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6 Have you noticed how many decisions you make each day? In every decision and circumstance you can receive wisdom from God. Doubt, however, is a hazard which makes us halt instead of grasping God's promises in faith. In James 1:8, we see that a double-minded person is "unstable in all his ways." Elijah, the prophet, challenged the Israelites as they began to mix Baal worship with God worship, saying, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?" (1 Kings 18:21). The enemy attempts to break us by constant vacillation between doubt and belief. God is calling us to certainty.

Take your stand and believe. The absolute power of God and the reliability of His nature pull us out of double-mindedness. God knows how to take Cephas, whose name meant "a reed blowing in the wind," and change him to Peter, "a rock." As we trust God, He will solidify and strengthen us. Acting on the Word propels us from doubt to faith (Matthew 7:24-25). Become a doer and not only a hearer (James 1:22). When disheartening circumstances try to grip you, shift your focus to God's Word and become a truster. As you practice the Word, you will be blessed in what you do (James 1:25).

Trials and challenges actually prepare us for larger Kingdom duties. A doer of the Word rejoices despite adverse circumstances. Rejoicing produces endurance (James 1:2-4). In the middle of a hard situation, open your mouth and rejoice. Praise God for His faithfulness. Even if you feel like you can barely get the words out, do it in faith. God will take your one-handed hallelujah and stretch it as big as the universe.

Rejoice!
Pastor Jeff





© 2007 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.