James 1:7

"For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord." James 1:7

Why would God waste His gifts on someone He already knows will not use them... isn't sure that God "will" give them... or worse... that God "isn't able" to give them? Why are you asking for this gift? Is it because the letter instructs us to? Please, bear with me for a moment... are we following a collection of writings, while the One Whom inspired this Word is aloof - reserved and distanced from us... checking in once in a while to see if we are following it?

All that has truly happened to our world is hidden away from most of the people in it... "the reason", I mean, why everything is so messed up. Those whom even have answered the call of their Creator, have not even fully come to understand. And so, even having come to believe in Him, we still don't realize all of what we need to do to please God, be changed, and be of any real help to others. Many of us, whom have accepted God as our Lord and Savior perceive that we now have God on our side, when in reality, it is "us" whom now are on His side. It is what "He" wants that we should want.

So easily, we look at what is going on around us with our new eyes, and out of a new heart and we naturally want to right the world... fix a problem... and so we call on God to help us do this or do that. It seems obvious to us what is needed, but it has nothing to do with what He wants. And so we ask in vain.

Part of our problem is moving out ahead of God, merely because the bible says that we should do this or that... but that's not ALL the bible says. The bible also says that it is "Him" who wants to work through us... the bible says that we are to Wait on the Lord... we are to ask what He wants us to do amidst all the things He says in His Word that we are to do. And so asking for power and resources or "anything" for something (even biblical) that He's not confirmed in you to do, is in vain. Why are you asking for "anything"? Think about it... I don't want the answer. Answer that question in your heart, and if God hears what He likes, "you will then ask, and "it shall be given".

Let's pick up with James verse 1:8 next time.

I love you.