Do Not be Double Minded (James 1:6-8)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-22-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Do not be double minded

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  James 1:6-8

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  (NASB)  “But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave on the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  They can’t make up their minds.  They waver back and forth in everything they do.”  (NLT)

            In verse five James says we are to ask God for wisdom, and in verse six he tells us how to ask God, and that it in faith.  When one prays he must believe that God is able and willing to answer our prayers.  When God answers our prayers He may at times say no to our request, or maybe He will ask us to wait, but God wants us to align our wills with His will for us, and we must believe that this is best for us in spite of what things may look like at the present.  Also in verse six James says we are not to doubt God when we ask Him and he describes this doubting as being double minded, (having ones soul or mind divided between God and the world).  These verse tell us that we must trust the Lord to do His will in our lives, doing what He knows is best for us, and for His glory in spite of consequences and circumstances. 

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am glade that the Lord has shown me more about what this section of James means.  I use to think that it was all up to me, that if I did not have enough faith to believe God would answer my prayers, and if I would just doubt for an instant then God would forget answering me all together.  I do not want to have my mind or soul go between God and the world, for I want to have the strong faith that God is in control of my life and to trust Him to do what is best for me, and bring glory to His name.

 

The Word of God was both refreshing to my heart and at the same time convicting to my soul.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord to continue to fill me with His Spirit for the things that He would want me to do.  I want to be able to trust the Lord completely for the outcome of our investments, and also that He will guide Sandy and I to a place where we can invest them for our good and His glory.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Psalm 121:8

 

The Lord will guide your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever more.