Bible Time: James 1

James 1 speaks a lot of lessons to me, but upon contemplation and reflection I find v 6-8 to be the most convicting. He writes, "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." Too often I pray and ask God for something or I pray his will be done in my life, and then when I receive an answer, particularly an answer I do not like, I change my mind and decide to do things my way or I twist what God says to fit my own devious machinations. How can I expect God to give me anything if I don't trust him enough to provide it!? When I pray, am I sincere? If not, what is prayer if not simply talking to the ceiling? Moreover, how can I forgo the will of Almighty God for some petty human tactic. Am I really unwise enough to believe that I, in my limited knowledge and vision, am a better planner than an omnipotent, omniscient God? Surely he has reasoning beyond my comprehension for what he commands. I laugh aloud at my own foolishness, yet I continue to struggle with this all too often. What can I do to change this? First, I must pray with sincerity for the faith to trust the Lord that because his ways are not my ways, they are the best ways. Second, I must actually act in obedience to what he says to do; this is what he commanded. Thirdly, through this, it is important to realize I am not alone in these experiences, and God has provided me with a body of believers from whom to draw upon experience, encouragement, and wisdom. SB