James 1:5-7 English Standard Version

⁵ 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;

Doubt sounds like a faith killer but it is not. Doubt is created within the mind which is flesh and the flesh opposes the Spirit. Doubt cannot touch faith which is a providence of God who dwells in our hearts according to Ephesians 3:17.

Why we ask and how we ask has more to do with God’s answer than we might think. Asking for wisdom will help correct what we ask for and how we ask. If we look to the issue of the sea and the wind we will discover that those two forces are related to God’s will and the effects of the Holy Spirit performing God’s will.

When our will opposes God’s will, we are fighting forces beyond our control. If we would ask for God’s will in earthly matters we might have a better understanding of how we fit into God’s plan. We often come to God with our wants with no regard for His Word or His will.

God might answer “I do not care, do as you like.” In such a case we are free to make our own decision because He knows that our choices will not interfere with His will. Then again God might have a say in the matter which serves His will rather than opposing it.

We will never know if we do not seek God’s will.

Knowing God’s will does not mean we will obey Him and that is on us.

Genesis 15:6-8 English Standard Version

⁶ And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

⁷ And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” ⁸ But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

The first step of faith is placing our faith in the atoning work of Christ at the Cross. It is simple to do if we believe on Christ. We have done nothing yet but believe. That, as with Abraham, accounts us as righteous. It is a declaration by God for which we have done nothing. Then comes this walk of faith that begins with the promises of God.

God promises us and the first thing we do is exactly what Abraham did, we ask how we will know that we have or will receive the promise.

God took Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees. God has taken us out of a life of sin and given us life with Him. Like every newborn our first look at the new life is full of observation and wonder. Is it real, have we really changed, do we understand what is expected of us?

Just as with Abraham, God speaks and ask Abraham to do something. When Abraham obeys, that obedience produces results and God speaks to Abraham again.

This is the walk of faith. God speaks, we believe, we obey and our obedience to God’s commandment produces results. This is the path of faith, one step at a time, over and over again.

The one common denominator for all who walk by faith is that our God wants to be known to us on such a personal level that we each will know without a doubt that this is our God.