Greetings, wisdom chasers!
Today, we’re tackling the question of how to ask God for wisdom and exploring what it means to ask in faith without doubting (James 1:5-8). So, let’s dive right in and debunk some misconceptions about doubt, faith, and asking God for help.
5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
James 1:5–8 (NIV)
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: doubt. When James says we “must not doubt,” he’s not telling us to suppress all our spiritual questions, ignore any struggles we have with understanding God, or work ourselves into a frenzy of absolute belief. That’s not what he means by doubt.
In context, James is talking about a specific kind of doubt: being “double-minded” (v 8). This is someone who wants to have their cake and eat it too. They’ll ask God for wisdom but also look elsewhere for answers. They’ll read the Bible but also rely on worldly wisdom. They’re trying to juggle two opposing forces at once, thinking they can switch between them and have the best of both worlds. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work.
In fact, James says this double-minded approach makes you “unstable.” Picture a surfer at Huntington Beach trying to ride two different surfboards at once. They’ve got one foot on one board and the other on a second board, legs drifting apart, doing the splits before wiping out spectacularly. That’s what it’s like to be double-minded spiritually – it’s a precarious position that won’t end well.
So, how do we ask God for wisdom without being double-minded? The answer is sincerity. We need to be as committed to receiving God’s wisdom as He is to giving it to us. When we genuinely seek God’s way in difficult times, trusting that His way is the right way, we can be confident that He will provide the wisdom we need.
But hold on a minute! This doesn’t mean that we’ll suddenly feel flooded with divine insight. There’s a difference between receiving wisdom and feeling wise. When we ask for wisdom, we may not feel any wiser for having done so. However, that doesn’t mean we haven’t received wisdom. God’s wisdom will guide our decisions, even if we don’t feel more confident.
In conclusion, when seeking God’s wisdom, be sincere and focused, avoiding the trap of double-mindedness. Trust in God’s promise to give wisdom, even when you don’t immediately feel it. Keep seeking, keep asking, and keep trusting – God is faithful to guide us.
How can you practice being sincere and focused when asking God for wisdom in your daily life?
The practice of being sincere and focused when asking God for wisdom I would agree comes from not trying to have your cake and eat it too. Also, I have found that faith is equally important as well. The faith I refer to is the faith that God’s wisdom is better than what our limited wisdom is and whatever anyone else or thing is trying to proffer. Sometimes it can mean waiting and being patient and sometimes it can be an answer that we will not necessarily like. But I have found that in time God is faithful and that ultimately His ways are not only higher than ours but are the best.
How can you practice being sincere and focused when asking God for wisdom in your daily life? I do so by praying. Doors has been opened for me left and right, not days later, but seconds… all because i prayed whole heartedly. I’m focused, poured out my soul and allowed myself to be vulnerable in my decisions because i trust him. My God knows when he got my undivided attention.
(from Maury)
Good morning Bumble,brothers,and everyone putting these prayers and thoughts into practice as well… I have no problem being patient with my father God when I ask for wisdom and guidance strength and the like, he works with me at our own pace. I know this from being in a jail cell so much… The thing is when u really are set free really and truly you can be a free man walking in a crowded room of people and a prisoner in your own mind lonely and scared etc. The devil has the power to extinguish all that energy the Lord God can fill our hearts and minds with ,prayer,James, Proverbs, Psalm, and where two or more are gathered is the N.A. saying but with The Lord it could just be me and him… In Jesus name
I feel like for me since my daily prayer and talking to God isn’t the best I feel the same as daniel where I feel a bit insiceure where I just say it cause I feel like I should which makes me feel like talking to him seems forced. I guess I would want more wisodm by talking to him more daily and letting myself know that it’s all a process and it will feel weird at first
Being focus and sincerely asking God for wisdom is about being still before Him. It’s also about staying connected in prayer and His Word daily. Allowing God to renew and reorient our minds and hearts.
I’d like to practice being sincere and focused when asking God for wisdom by being mindful of filtering out advice of the world and discerning His truth by being rooted in scripture daily. I’m thankful for the people God placed in my life because I know He uses people to love on me but I should also use discernment when talking with different people. I pray to continue to trust in God’s perfect wisdom, He never fails