Ask For It! – March 27

Read James 1:5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Reflect

Think about a time in your life when you had to make a difficult decision. What was your strategy for making a wise decision?

What decisions are you facing today? Is it a day of routine “minor” decisions like what to wear, what to eat, etc.? Or are you facing some pretty major decisions today? During seasons like this, it would sure be nice if God could clue us in a little on His plan for our lives.

In today’s verses, James advised his readers to ask for wisdom when they need it! The NLT version translates it this way: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as the waves of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”

These verses reminded me of King Solomon in 1 Kings 3:3-14. In this account, Solomon had recently become king when God appeared to him in a dream and asked him what he wanted as a gift.

Solomon’s faith in God alone is evident in his response to God: “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David, my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people” (1 Kings 3:6-9).

The wisest thing Solomon ever did was ask God for wisdom! Do you see his humility in the request? Solomon wisely understood that being the king of God’s people was a high and holy calling. It was no simple task. He was smart enough to know that in order to govern well, he was going to need to depend on the Lord! He admitted that he didn’t know it all! So, he didn’t ask for riches. He didn’t ask for military strength or might. He didn’t ask for more power or to acquire a large empire. He asked God for wisdom. He wanted to be able to make wise decisions so he asked the Source of Wisdom to provide it for him.

We can learn a lot from King Solomon’s request for wisdom. Rather than pridefully leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-7) or forging in our own discernment, we should stop and pray. We should humbly acknowledge that we depend on the Lord and that we don’t know it all. When we need wisdom, we should follow James’ advice and ask for it! God isn’t stingy with handing out wisdom to those who whole-heartedly trust Him.

Respond

Lord, I need You. I want to make wise decisions but I don’t know everything that You know and I can’t see everything that You can see. Please, give me Your wisdom and understanding. Help me to discern Your will in all circumstances. I trust and depend on You alone, God. Amen.

Reveal

Do you know another believer who is struggling with a tough decision? Share today’s verses with them and offer to pray with them. Remind them that if they need wisdom, they should ask God for it!