Asking in Faith

A little different than my normal cute baby updates, but thought I'd copy/paste this here for any reader who needs encouragement (as I do) in prayer. This is an email I just sent off to the ladies in my small group (we've been discussing the topic of prayer), and as I wrote, I was encouraged as I was reminded of this good news.  


--


Hey, girls. I read this morning in James 1:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Reminded me of what we talked about last week--how we often don't pray because we don't truly believe that prayer will make a difference; we don't have faith that we are praying to a mighty and loving and near God who hears our prayers and wants to help us. This passage is a pretty sobering picture of what that really is. I am convicted that I am often this "double-minded" woman. I want to be stable, built on the rock and trusting in His promises and character. 

But the good news is that, in repentance and true prayer, God "gives generously to all without reproach"(!!) Even without reproach for all the thousands of faithless prayers I've prayed. My record of faithlessness is wiped away by the faithfulness of my Lord Jesus, who prayed real prayers to the real God while on earth, and taught us to do the same. Who was forsaken so that I never would be, who bore the just wrath of God for my sin in my place so that, in Him, I am counted as righteous and a beloved child of God. "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Praying with you, 

Katherine