When you pray, do you ask God for something. Perhaps an answer to a problem you’re having, or for a blessing you may need? Do you ask God a question on why God has allowed something to happen? Have you asked him about what you are supposed to do next in a situation? I’m sure we all have, that’s a natural part of prayer. In fact, in the book of James, we see that God actually wants us to ask him, He wants us to seek his wisdom.
If you need wisdom — if you want to know what God wants you to do next — ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. -James 1:5
God will give us answers, he will answer your prayers. That doesn’t always mean we will receive the answer we want, but He will answer and we can be assured that the answer is the right one, the one that is best for us and fully within God’s nature and will, even if we disagree with him or don’t like it.
Let me point out something else that I believe we often forget. It comes from the very next verse in James.
But when you ask, be sure that you really expect an answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. -James 1:6
So when we ask, do we really believe that God will answer? Again, I don’t mean just a disagreement in the answer that we do receive….but do we really believe he will answer at all? I find myself often praying for direction from God and then as soon as my prayers are done, go back to stressing, worrying and trying to figure out an answer to that which I just asked God to answer. I laid my burdens down at the feet of God, which he says in so many places in the Bible that we should. And then I pick them right back up when my prayers are done as if to say….”OK God, I’ll take those back since I’m not sure you’ll take care of it for me.”
People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. -James 1:7
God promises to answer our questions and petitions we pray about in a way that fulfills His holy will. We just need to believe that He actually will answer. Just think of how much stress and anxiety we could be rid of if we simply believed. I know I seem to be ending this post on a bit of a bleak note…so let’s go back to James 1:5, see God’s promise and then believe that he will provide answers. The joy will be unending if we simply believe.
If you need wisdom — if you want to know what God wants you to do next — ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. -James 1:5
Exceptional Christian 
good post…..God has given us permission – indeed he bids us – to approach him and through the cross and Jesus, we may bodly approach God – but we must have faith and truly believe he hears us or what is the point? was blessed by your words!
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Faith is all about asking, then trusting and sometimes (very often) waiting – we just can’t give in to unbelief. Great post
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Why would we not take our concerns and questions to the One who has the most wisdom and the best answers? Indeed, He also expects us to be persistent – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) Great reminder.
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Thanks all for the comments….I for one tend to be an impatient person, so when I don’t receive an answer in a time frame I want one, doubt starts to creep in. Deep down I know God has everything under control, so reminders like these are important for me.
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