God is Approachable & Generous.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (James 1:4-8)

One of the greatest gifts that God has given us is the gift of prayer. Prayer is the means by which we have a conversation with the LORD. As we grow towards maturity in our faith, we realise prayer is more important and life-giving than just presenting our requests to God. But let’s not forget that the LORD is able to give whatever we need, whenever we need it. God’s triune nature is to relate and interact with us, His people. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10). Within this passage, we see some of the dynamics of prayer. (Remember James is Jesus’ half-brother so he will have learned a thing or two directly from his brother!). Most of these rely on how we set our heart and mind before the LORD. 1. Persistently. Today’s culture is an instant culture we can get anything we want, whenever we want it. There is a line in a song by the band Queen which goes: I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now! Having to wait seems not natural, that however is the influence of this world. This should not be the attitude of the Christian. We need to fight against it when we feel it rising within us. Waiting before the LORD is the place of the believer. Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength. (Is 40:31). This requires us to keep going and not give up. Jesus even taught in the parable of the Persistent Widow that we should pray and never give up (Luke 18). This means that even Jesus experienced the need for persevering in prayer. The New Testament encourages every believer to come to maturity (1Cor2:6; Eph 4:13-15; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28, 4:12; Heb5:14, 6:1; Jas 1:4). James 1:4 tells us that as we wait in prayer and wait on God we will find that we will become complete, not lacking anything. This is an enormous promise for us. As we learn to wait in the place of prayer in order that the work of perseverance may bring us to maturity.

2. Single-Mindedly. Jesus taught that we should ask in His name for whatever we need and it shall be done for us. (Matthew 18:19, 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13, 15:7, 16:23-24). (Note the word is ‘need’ and not ‘want’.) James says but when you ask, you must believe and not doubt […anyone who does not] is double-minded and unstable in all they do. If this is the case, we need to pray precisely. We do this so that we can then give precise praise and glory back to Him. Never forget to give a praise report to others about the LORD and never forget to thank Him for what He has done for you.

3. Expectantly. When we approach God we come as people who will find a loving Father who is ready and willing to respond. The world seems devoid of much wisdom. Knowledge is horizontal. Wisdom is vertical. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad! James writes that if we lack wisdom we should simply ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.(I would also say if we lack anything we need to be the people God wants us to be we should ask).

We need to be careful that we do not enter the place of prayer doubting that God will reply (see above). God is generous and willing to respond to us. Sometimes even before we pray we find reasons and excuses for God not to bless us! But here we see that God gives without finding fault. The LORD is not looking for reasons to say ‘no’. Remember ‘for no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.(2Cor1:20). So we need to come expecting God to be generous! The reason is simple. You are clothed in Christ (Rom 13:14, Gal3:27, Col 3:9-12). When you approach the throne of grace (Heb4:16) you are as Christ in the sight of the Father.

God said to Solomon “Ask for whatever you want me to give to you. (2Chron 1:7). God was saying he was ready to pour out his blessing. Solomon asked for wisdom and he was given it in abundance and as a bonus, God gave him other things he did not ask for: wealth, riches, and honour. (2Chron1:11-12). God has not changed he is favourably inclined to being generous.

So approach the LORD persistently, and without self-doubt, ready for him to be generous.

Have an incredibly blessed week.

Fraser