The Man God Denies

“That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;” James 1:7

 

Who is that man?  That man is the one we talked about yesterday- the one who asks God for something but doubts and is tossed like a wave of the sea.  That man should not think he will get anything from God.  These are pretty strong words.  This makes me believe that God takes doubt very seriously.

Faith is God’s chosen vehicle for most – if not all- of the blessings of God.  Salvation is dependent on faith, in Ephesians 2:8 we find:  “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith…”   In several places the Bible talks about the just or righteous living by faith. Faith is integral to the Christian experience, which is why we call it the Christian faith.

We must work to keep doubt away from our mind.  When we ask God for something, in accordance with His will, we must believe that He hears us and will answer. We must operate in undiluted faith.  Otherwise, we place ourselves in a line that prevents us from receiving anything from the Lord.

Keeping our doubts at bay is pretty intense work.  We must constantly arrest those thoughts in our mind and make them line up to the truth of God’s word.  In fact, if you believe God to answer a prayer, His Word, is the best place to find encouragement to build up your faith.  Life will bring us doubts, but we must draw more deeply from the Spirit of God through prayer.  We must cling to the truth of God found in the study of the Bible.  We must guard our thoughts and words to ensure they line up with what we have declared that we have believed.

Pray today to be a believing believer, rather than a doubting believer.

Dear Lord, forgive me for having a wandering mind that lends itself to doubt, fear and unbelief. Help me to build up my most holy faith that I might receive all that you have for me.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen. 

Sherri