“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Jas.1:5;
Discussion
What an inspiring scripture we have in James 1:5. When you ask, God will not grudgingly give you. He isn't into fault-finding. He will surely give you as you have asked. This reveals a prayer answering God. A God who is eager to grant your request for wisdom. Wisdom is at the bedrock of all our desires. For example, when you pray for money, what you're really asking for is the wisdom required to get the money needed. If you pray for a spouse, what you're really asking for is the wisdom you need to choose the right partner. So, James tells us that when we make such requests, God generously grants our requests. This is very good news, don't you think? Skip to verse seven and the story seems to change. Jas.1:7; "For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." Wait a minute. I thought he just said God gives liberally to all who ask him. How come he now says a certain man asking will not receive anything from God. What changed between verse five and verse seven? A hijacker clause was introduced. Surely, God will generously grant your request for wisdom, but your receiving will be greatly hindered if you are double minded. Jas.1.6; "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
The criteria for your asking and receiving is to ask in faith. If you waver in your heart; doubting God's ability and willingness to grant your request, you have become double minded and your doublemindedness has hijacked the receiving process. Jas.1.8; "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.". Faith is singlemindedness; and singlemindedness is stability; and stability is required for answers to be received in prayer. Doublemindedness is usually revealed in our utterances and conversations after we have prayed. You can't pray for healing, then talk like God has not answered your pray, and then you expect to miraculously be healed. If you have prayed, believe that God has answered you. How do you know He answered you? Because His word says He will. Then doubt-proof your heart so that your receiving doesn't get hijacked. Do this by constantly meditating on God's word concerning the request you have made. Where the heart that doubts gets nothing, the heart of faith gets a miracle. I celebrate your miracle. Hallelujah!
Meditation
Mark.11.23-24; — For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.