God In Our Lives

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask 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 the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 

(James 1:5-6)

We all want God to be in our lives, to see and feel the presence of God around us. In this past Sunday's lesson, we learned that abiding in Christ (Jn.15:4) is that wordless, secret conversation between you and God that doesn't cease.  James teaches us two particular things that you have to have in place, in order for that level of conversation to occur.

1.) You have to ask the right person, God.   So many times we say, “God, please guide me!” and we walk away, not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work. We say, “God, I want you to give me wisdom; help me make the right decision.” But we don’t really expect him to do that. We think it all depends on us. It doesn't!  It depends on God! That's what James says, that we have to learn to place our dependence, trust, and expectation in God. 

2.) You have to ask with the right attitude — in faith, expecting an answer.  Have you ever asked God for something and didn't expect to get it? That’s why you didn't get it. God works in our lives according to faith. God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view, not our own. It is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions, or the wisdom to allow God to make the decision. 

When have you seen God answer a specific prayer in your life or the life of another? Hasn't it always been when total trust in God was given? Wasn't it always when you couldn't do it yourself? When you had to cry out to God because you didn't know how? When your expectations came to the point of being powerless to do it of yourself?

Try keeping a journal of all your prayer requests, and then record how you see God answering your prayers. Do this for a three month period and then go back and review what you wrote. I think you'll be amazed, at how much you will see God interacting with you - and in ways that you did not expect!

Jim